Fog causes a few nervous moments before Fire and Ice Festival in North Canterbury

Victor Cagayat working on a tribute to mark Blackwells Department Store's 150th year in Kaiapoi. Photo: Shelley Topp

Kaiapoi retailer Andrew Blackwell had a few nervous moments last Saturday when fog stopped early morning flights out of Auckland Airport.

Andrew, the Blackwell’s Department Store managing director, was busy preparing for the store’s annual Fire and Ice Festival later in the day when he was told about the fog.

For a short time it looked like it would derail the event with the show’s star, Auckland ice sculptor Victor Cagayat, still in Auckland and unable to travel south.

Andrew Blackwell, left, Greg Comfort and Maarten Loeffen beside the finished tribute. Photo: Shelley Topp

Luckily the fog lifted and Cagayat was able to catch a later flight to Christchurch to begin his ice sculpting demonstration in the Blackwell’s car park only 30 minutes later than scheduled.

The sculpting and Fire and Ice Night Market were run in support of the Kaiapoi Art Expo next door at the Kaiapoi Club.

“We wanted to complement it and give something back to the community for supporting our store,” said Blackwell.

A fire dancer performing during the festival. Photo: Shelley Topp

Cagayat carved four ice sculptures during his public demonstration, including one that recognised the Blackwell family’s upcoming 150th anniversary of retailing in Kaiapoi next month.

A large crowd later gathered at the night market to see the ice sculptures lit up, listen to Argentinian-born, Christchurch-based guitarist and guitar teacher, Santiago Samonta, watch the fire dancers perform and sample food from around 20 stalls.

Market visitors were also able to shop at Blackwell’s Department Store, which remained open until late.