What says winter in Edmonton? Increasingly, it's stock photos of the fledgling Valentine's Day disco skate at City Hall that sell a winter visit to Edmonton to tourists around the world, say organizers.



"It's amazing how many times we see it used (by tourism agencies). It makes me really proud," said Sue Holdsworth, who heads up Edmonton's winter city initiative and is busy planning the fourth iteration for Feb. 14.



She pointed to Air Canada's EnRoute winter feature last February, ExploreEdmonton and planning-related publications.



Images of the ice castle, snowshoeing in the river valley and children on ice slides at Ice on Whyte are still more popular, said Lauren Farnell with Edmonton Tourism.

For the disco event, the team hires a DJ to play disco tunes outside City Hall with special coloured lighting effects to give a disco ambience to the rink. City staff co-ordinate free skate and helmet rentals, free hot chocolate and bannock and have a couple fire pits going for skate-dancers to warm up.



"It fits so well with the theme of falling in love with winter," said Holdsworth. "We have hundreds come out. People come and go over the course of the four hours we host it."

Stock images from the Valentine's Disco Skate are selling Edmonton as a tourism destination, say organizers. Supplied/City of Edmonton



Last year, the ice was so soft, many people were simply dancing all around the square, she said. This year, the ice is looking good so far. The event happens from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the City Hall Plaza rink.



City officials also announced dates and locations for Slip and Slide Sundays, the free hot chocolate handed out at three toboggan hills throughout the month of February. This year, hot chocolate teams will be at Rundle Park (2903 113 Ave.), Jackie Parker Park (4540 50 St.) and Gallagher Park (97 Avenue and 92 Street) from 1 p.m to 4:30 p.m., or until the hot chocolate runs out, on every Sunday in February. The winter city team started both events four years ago, aiming to help residents get outside and have more fun during a typically cold month.



This year, they're also working on a "winter party tool kit," similar to the city's summer block party tool kit, which will give ideas and how-to instructions to holding a smaller community celebration.



"We're very close to finishing it," said Holdsworth, promising the resource in time for next winter.



estolte@postmedia.com



twitter.com/estolte