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An Alpine Cocktail Snow Bar x LEMONADE.

For a recent brand activation, we designed and built a fully custom outdoor snow lounge, including bar and couch, right in the heart of a winter landscape. This wasn’t a rented setup or a repurposed structure - it was a custom space created from snow, sculpted on-site with the intention to host 15 guests for one incredible cocktail hour prior to a beautiful cabin dinner. The bar had to be fully operational, the seating comfortable and the view epic.


Location, Location, Location


Snow and ice sculptures are nothing new in the event industry. What has evolved, particularly alongside the rapid growth of experiential marketing over the last decade, is where and how they’re used. Content creation is built into design briefs and personalisation goes far beyond a carved logo. It’s about placing sculptural moments in unexpected, immersive environments that transform decor into experience.


Here’s what we set out to create:


  • A 4ft by 8ft snow bar

  • A custom bean-shaped snow couch, perfectly nestled between a cozy cabin and a wood-burning fire

  • A bar back setup for a mixologist to come in and prepare custom on-brand cocktails

  • Carefully placed lighting to add warmth and depth as daylight faded

  • Additional fire pits to enhance the outdoor atmosphere

  • Adirondack chairs for extra seating

  • An umbrella to add a touch of functional flair to the bar itself

  • A seamless flow of movement from snowcat transfers, to the outdoor lounge, followed by the cabin for dinner

  • A sunset locale


The result was to be an original outdoor lounge space, built literally from the ground up.


Canadian Wilderness Adventures' cabin with red roof on snowy hill, surrounded by tall trees. Sun sets behind mountains, casting warm hues in sky, person on porch.
Our scout at the exact time the guests were to arrive for the event to take place

Snow Bars and Sculptures for Whistler Brand Activations


Snow builds and sculptures offer a surprisingly accessible way to elevate events and activations, especially in winter destinations like Whistler. They transform a standard reception into an experience that guests remember long after the event ends.


Snow lounges:


  • Instantly turn a typical gathering into an immersive experience

  • Create natural photo opportunities that encourage user-generated content

  • Feel authentic and hyper-local to alpine environments like Whistler

  • Deliver strong visual impact without the need for heavy set construction

  • Offer plenty of opportunities for brand placement


This approach is a form of storytelling that uses the environment itself as a stage, making the event feel both natural and extraordinary.


Person in white beanie photographing a snow bar with champagne, glasses, and lit candle. Evergreen trees in foggy background, winter setting.

The Build Process


Building a snow lounge is not as simple as packing snow into shapes. It requires precision, planning, and an understanding of winter logistics.


Our build crew started work four days before the event. The location was truly backcountry, accessible only by snowmobile and snowcat. These vehicles transported the crew, tools, and finishing materials to the site. We also watched the weather like a hawk and requested that a snowcat push additional snow into the build spots to ensure we had plenty to build with.


The process involved:


  • Scouting the location to ensure the snow base, zone and area were flat enough to support our design

  • Logistics considerations including transport of crew and gear

  • Safety and risk considerations, plus mitigation

  • Once the location was mapped out, the crew started to sculpt the snow bar itself

  • Frequent visits back to the site across the 4 days to react to the changing snow quality accommodating temperature changes and precipitation

  • Designing the bar back considering all that was needed for the bespoke cocktail menu

  • Arranging fire pits that would not destroy the structures, but keep gugests warm, adding additional seating and umbrellas to balance needs with style


Every step required coordination to turn snow into a functional and inviting structure.


Snowy mountain cabin at sunset, surrounded by trees. A person assembles wood panels near a snowmobile. Clear skies and tranquil scene. LEMONADE venue prep for a brand activation in whistler.

The People Behind the Magic


Whistler is home to many talented individuals who make projects like this possible. Carvers, builders, technicians, operators, and designers all play a role.


The real secret to success is knowing who to call and when. This network of skilled professionals brings the vision to life, combining craftsmanship with local knowledge.


The Weather


Forecasts as we started build 4-days out were mixed but very promising, and the morning of the event delivered clear skies and a little sunshine. Sadly, just before guest arrival the clouds rolled back in! With event management comes planning and in the mountains, that planning includes a close relationship with the weather. It is a risk that you can either lean into, or steer very clear of at the point of the very first conversation about event design and itinerary.


In the end, this build didn’t see the action it deserved. As conditions shifted, we executed our contingency plan, moving the cocktail hour indoors rather than hosting guests outside in less-than-ideal weather.


We executed our contingency plan seamlessly. This is mountain event production. Pivots aren’t a sign of failure, they’re a core competency. Contingencies aren’t optional, they’re built into the design from day one.


Despite the conditions, the snow bar and lounge stood strong - proof that when you build properly, even a little bad luck can’t undo good design.


Moody skies over a log cabin in British Columbia where LEMONADE event crew set up an outdoor snow lounge including cocktail bar, fire pits, and a snow seat.
Final space preparation before branded elements were to be added.
A person in winter gear stands behind an outdoor snow bar built for a brand experience in Whistler by Lemonade, with lanterns and bottles under a large umbrella in a misty, snowy setting.
Just as the team decided to pack down the exterior lounge and move inside.

Bringing It All Together


Building a snow lounge is more than just creating a physical space. It’s about crafting an experience that guests will remember. The snow lounge we built was an example of how thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and a unique environment come together to create something special. Of course, we really wish we had the luck of the sunshine sticking around for the event itself - but the bar made it into the event content, the guests were happy and the interior of the cabin was set to be equally as impressive as the outside. More on that another time.


So, if you’re looking for a way to make your next winter event stand out, consider the power of snow. It’s a material that invites creativity, encourages connection, and turns moments into memories.



LEMONADE EVENTS & EXPERIENCES is a Whistler-based destination management company specialising in brand experiences and experiential events, production support, corporate events and private group itineraries throughout Whistler and British Columbia. Let’s build something unforgettable.


Whistler, BC, CANADA

www.experiencelemonade.com

hello@experiencelemonade.com

+1-604-905-8900



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