Complete Guide to Moosonee & Moose Factory Island
12 essential experiences for visitors.
By Mitch Bowmile
Cool Art in the Heart of Winter
Discover North Bay’s winter festival of contemporary and community engaged art on frozen Lake Nipissing.
Every two years, a strange phenomenon occurs in North Bay. Just off Marathon beach on Lake Nipissing, folks venture onto the frozen landscape, where atop the ice an arrangement of structures appears.
Ice Follies is a biennial festival of contemporary art on frozen Lake Nipissing, which sits at the heart of our communities and becomes an accessible site for a short period of time in winter. On a canvas as tranquil as it is volatile, the works are placed in direct harmony with light, water, wind, ice and snow.
Ice Follies 2018 (Photos: Vanessa Tignanelli)
In 2020, this event unique to North Bay opens on February 15, including sculptural, video, and performance-based installations and interactions. Artists exhibited from across Canada include Destiny Swiderski, Jon Sasaki, Emily Pelstring, Christine Negus, Aanmitaagzi, Megan Feheley, Jenna Dawn Maclellan, and more.
According to the official website, the theme this year is “mkomiiwi | be ice, turn to ice, be covered in ice, be icy: exploring that transformation from water to ice and from one realm to another. As we shift and adapt new worlds are opened and old pathways disappear. Our mode of travel changes. Ice heaves form from prevailing winds. Ice is pushed up against itself, the shore.”
Not-to-Miss Events
Opening Night 2020
Warm refreshments, artist activations, artist talks
February 15
5 pm
Marathon Beach (Memorial Drive, North Bay)
“Where Does Art Begin?: Mkomiiwi”
Performance by Aanmitaagzi
February 22
7 pm
Marathon Beach (Memorial Drive, North Bay)
Ice Follies runs February 15-29 at Marathon Beach off North Bay’s Waterfront.
Recommended Articles
The Seven's Best Hikes, Biking Trails and Lakes
Scenic vistas, white pine, and waterfalls await!
7 Best Spots to Check Out in The Seven
From Killarney to Kirkland Lake, Mattawa to Manitoulin, here are all the best things to see and do in Northeastern Ontario.
Budget Bliss: Explore Northeastern Ontario Without Breaking the Bank
These budget-friendly spots in The Seven offer affordable (and sometimes free) fun for everyone.
Bring Your Fam!
7 family-friendly places to explore in The Seven.
Time to Unwind: 6 Spa Havens to Discover In The Seven
Check out these next-level ways to pamper yourself on your Northeastern Ontario getaway
5 Amazing Places to SUP in Northeastern Ontario
From Stormy Lake to Marathon Beach, there's an incredible SUP adventure waiting for you here.
5 Amazing Bike Rides to Discover
Varied terrain, quiet roads, and flowy trails—The Seven is calling.
Northern Lights in Northeastern Ontario
5 great spots in The Seven to find the Aurora Borealis.
Northeastern Ontario's Best Pride Festivals
Get ready to celebrate inclusivity, diversity, and community in these vibrant Canadian areas.
Fish for one of the World's Rarest Species of Trout
Found only in 12 remote Ontario lakes–and nowhere else in the world–the aurora trout is a special fish.
An Insider's Guide to Manitoulin Island
12 communities, sights, hikes and experiences that most first-time visitors miss!
6 Small-Town Gems to Explore in Northeastern Ontario
Award-winning distilleries, quirky theatres, boating adventures, and historic museums, Northeastern Ontario is yours to explore.
11 Best Things to Do in Kapuskasing, Ontario
Gourmet cheese, hammocks in the park, and Canadian-Szechuan cuisine await in this historic lumber town
Best Things to Do in Kirkland Lake: The Town that Gold Built
Check out a self-guided gold mine tour, a northern chateau museum, and get some beach time!
Search Northeastern Ontario
Are You a Train Enthusiast?
Check out these 6 exhibits, museums, and attractions for train lovers in Northeastern Ontario!
Take in the Sights of Timeless Kagawong
Hike Bridal Veil Falls, walk the waterfront, and indulge in luxury chocolates.
Hiking Kitchitwaa Shkwaandem Trail in The Seven
so known as Heaven's Gate Trail, this hike outside of Sudbury, Ontario is one of the province's best-kept secrets.
Your Guide to Iroquois Falls in Northeastern Ontario
Discover this laid back town that's home to history, culture and plenty of outdoor adventure.
Discover the French River: Your Guide to One of Canada's Most Important Waterways
History, attractions, and outdoor adventures make this Heritage River in Northeastern Ontario shine.
The Ultimate Northern Ontario Road Trip: Week 2
Five cities, 15 provincial parks, and one epic road trip!
The Ultimate Northern Ontario Road Trip: Week 1
Five cities, 15 provincial parks, and one epic road trip!
Discover the Beauty of Kettle Lakes Provincial Park
Packed with unique lakes created by retreating glaciers, this uncrowded Ontario park is a must visit for campers, paddlers, and nature lovers.
Your Guide to Sables-Spanish Rivers
North of Manitoulin lies a historic township you've got to explore!
Paranormal Places: Northeastern Ontario's Haunted Hotspots
Take a ghostly tour and uncover why, for these historical locations, the past seems to refuse to rest.
7 Fabulous Places to Stay to See Epic Fall Foliage in the Seven
Perfect accommodations for enjoying everything about autumn in Northeastern Ontario.
The 13 Fishiest Bait Shops in Northeastern Ontario
Where to stock up on everything from live bait to species-specific tackle, plus the best local fishing spots to try it all out.