Eau Claire Plaza will feature 14 installations, including projection mapping, LED displays, interactive arches, and more. Music and live performance have also become central to the festival.
We spoke with several artists to learn how these works come to life and how they transform winter into something playful, social, and surprising.
THE DOME — BIG ART
This isn’t *that* ‘Dome; this one anchors the plaza with a 13-metre geodesic structure featuring 360-degree projection and immersive light. “We’ve experienced the power of immersive storytelling inside geodesic domes around the world, and we wanted to bring that feeling home,” said Paul Magnuson, founder and chief imagineer at Big Art. The idea is simple: create a space where people don’t just watch content — they step inside it.
True to its name, Big Art’s team is massive: it brings together engineers, fabricators, programmers, artists, and long-time creative collaborators. Building the Dome is physically demanding, especially in winter conditions, while programming requires designing for a fully immersive, 360-degree environment. But it is absolutely worth it, according to Magnuson.
The Dome fits seamlessly into Chinook Blast’s sense of wonder and offers a shelter from the cold. “It becomes a shared refuge where people can slow down, connect, and experience something together,” said Magnuson. Big Art hopes the experience leaves visitors feeling lighter, inspired, and more connected. “Once you step inside, the noise of the day fades, and you’re completely surrounded by light, sound, and movement.”
L’OMELETTE
January 30 | 7 p.m.
Presented by Block Heater
If you’re craving a taste of summer in the depths of winter, this is the show to catch. L’omelette weaves contemporary, colourful, genre-fluid soundscapes. Think prog and new-wave rock rhythms blended with synth and sax-driven dance-pop.
Their music reflects on human nature while celebrating presence, inviting audiences to dance and think at the same time. “We hope to warm everyone up by getting folks up on their feet and moving to our tunes,” said Meaghan Thompson (Meg Benedict), the band’s vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.
With their summer energy and optimism, the band is ready to brave the cold. “I have complete faith that we’ll get well taken care of,” said Thompson. “We just all have to wear our coolest warm outfits!”
DRAG ON ICE 4
January 31 | 5 p.m.
Drag on Ice returns with a full-on frozen disco extravaganza. To keep the festival fresh, the festival introduces new performers, numbers, props, and costumes each year. This edition also features special guest headliner Joey Jay from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The show debuted in 2023 amid protests, but also drew hundreds of enthusiastic attendees. Now in its fourth year, it continues to grow. “People in Calgary love coming to see drag shows, and we’ve been proven right every year since,” said Victoria Bucholtz (Karla Marx), co-founder and host of Drag on Ice.
For her, the best part about the show is the novelty of performing on skates and the freedom of a larger space after a regular stage. Shifting to skates was never the challenge; adapting to winter conditions was. The team adjusted costumes and performances to suit the cold. And for audiences, the show offers both a celebration of Calgary’s queer community and a uniquely wintery experience on ice.
See the full lineup at chinookblast.ca.
