Alpena Ice Fest still on for Saturday, regardless of weather
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ALPENA -- With temps in the 40s this week, and a predicted 37 degrees for Saturday, it's not a typical early February, but the Alpena Ice Fest will still be held as planned.
The family-friendly event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, starting at Mich-e-ke-wis Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and finishing up downtown from 3 to 7 p.m.
More than 70 ice sculptures will be on display, made by Ice Creations from Napoleon, Ohio. The sculptures will be on display both at Mich-e-ke-wis and downtown at sponsor businesses.
"We're proceeding as planned," said Tim Kuehnlein, second vice president of programming for Thunder Bay Arts Council, who organizes the event. "We kind of anticipated, even earlier in the month, just with the way the winter has been going, that we would probably run into something like this. But we're ready to go. There are plenty of activities down at Mich-e-ke-wis that can still be done, even without the snow."
Some of those activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, ice bowling, an ice sled, bean bag toss, a huge bonfire by Alpena Fire Department, s'mores, hot cocoa, demonstrations, visits with huskies, and more. Activities are free and open to the public. There will also be food available for purchase from food trucks, and the Alpena Farmers Market will be open inside the warming shelter.
"The ice sculptures themselves, we have more than last year coming," Kuehnlein said. "We're just going to be very calculated about when we put them up, and how we locate them so that we protect them as much as possible from melting quickly."
He said they need to be out of the sunlight to slow the melting process.
Plan to get to the Ice Fest early for best viewing of sculptures, Kuehnlein said.
"If it really is warm, get out there early," Kuehnlein said.
New this year, Thunder Bay Transportation will be expanding its hours to provide free transportation to and from the city parking lot behind City Hall to Mich-e-ke-wis Park from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. You do not need to call for a ride, as TBT will have two transit vans shuttling back and forth with drop-off and pick-up points at Mich-e-ke-wis Park.
Also new this year, the Alpena Fire Department will take on the Alpena Police Department in a broomball game, which was supposed to be held on the ice rink, but will still take place in the slush or mud at 2 p.m. at Mich-e-ke-wis.
"They're going to do it, no matter what," Kuehnlein said. "So, it may be a mud ball fest, but I think people just want to make something happen."
Elsa from Disney's "Frozen" and her crew, as well as Barbie and Ken, will be mingling with visitors throughout the day.
Head downtown from 3 to 7 p.m. to enjoy nearly 50 ice sculptures on display, fire bowls to warm up by in the Pocket Park, live carving in Culligan Plaza, live music at various locations from Alpena Street Performers, and more.
"People want a reason to get out right now," Kuehnlein said. "There's no way we could delay this. There's just too many logistics, and of course, the company does have other commitments, so we'll just have to make the most of it."
Alpena Ice Fest is sponsored by Thunder Bay Arts Council with generous financial support from a First Congregational United Church of Christ -- Comstock Grant, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Wolverine State Credit Union, and Nicolet National Bank. The City of Alpena, Alpena Downtown Development Authority, City of Alpena Fire Department, Alpena Farmers' Market, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, SOME CPAs, Michigan Arts and Culture Council/National Endowment for the Arts, and Besser Foundation provide additional support for this event and TBA programming throughout the year.
For a full schedule of activities, visit downtownalpenami.com/alpenaicefest.