Despite a snowstorm, attendees and participants were determined to have a great time.

The event featured activities galore, including live ice sculpture carvings, a sledding hill, a bonfire, horse-drawn wagon rides, children’s crafts inside the warming shelter at the Alpena Farmers Market, a broomball game between the Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments, the 17th annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, and more.

Over 70 ice sculptures were on display around town, with some at Mich-e-ke-wis, some at Culligan Plaza, and more throughout the city in front of businesses that sponsored the sculptures, each created uniquely to represent the sponsoring organization.

At Mich-e-ke-wis, local artist Autumn Bildson was carving an ice sculpture of a lion’s head. She has volunteered at every Alpena Ice Festival for the past four years.

News file photo A person dressed as the Grinch jumps into the icy cold water during the Polar Plunge in Alpena.

“It’s for the community,” said Bildson, who owns Stone Art Studio. “To get people out and about.”

Thunder Bay Arts organized the event, and many volunteers and sponsors made it a success.

In the friendly broomball game, the Alpena Police Department won 5-2 over the Alpena Fire Department. The game was held on the ice at Mich-e-ke-wis Park.

During downtown activities, Amber Bertolino, dressed in a Grinch outfit featuring a green tutu, did a cannonball into the 32-degree pool of water on Saturday afternoon in the 17th annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. Bertolino raised $865 for Special Olympics Michigan. She was one of 57 plungers, and more than $22,000 was raised by those participants to benefit Special Olympics Michigan.

“I heard it on the radio a couple of times,” said Bertolino, who signed up for the Polar Plunge on Feb. 7. “I told my husband, ‘I think I’m going to go ahead and do this.’ And then, within the hour, I signed up.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Many people took turns sitting on the ice throne at Culligan Plaza in downtown Alpena. Pictured, from left, are John Wysocki III, Robert Wysocki, Amelia Garant, and John Wysocki IV.

She is so grateful for the support she received from family and friends.

“It all goes to the village of family and friends that I have behind me, and they’re willing to support the crazy ideas that I have,” Bertolino said.

She talked about how it felt to jump in the ice-cold water.

“I just had to get myself really pumped up to go in,” she said. “And then I lost my breath when I jumped in, and kind of blacked out.”

She said she’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Courtesy Photo In this photo provided by Diane O'Connor, a polar bear learns to curl on the ice at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. Thunder Bay Curling Club offered the opportunity for attendees to try their hand at curling.

Bertolino’s brother-in-law has special needs, so raising funds for Special Olympics is a cause near to their family’s heart.

“I just think that this is a great fundraiser for a great cause,” Bertolino said. “Special Olympics is something that’s really important to my husband (Nick) and I. His older brother is special needs, so it’s really important to us.”

Polar Plunge Coordinator Stephanie Graham said the Alpena Polar Plunge exceeded its $20,000 goal, raising over $22,000.

“It means a ton to the athletes,” Graham said on Saturday. “Our athletes do not have to pay. All of this money that is being raised throughout the state is extremely important.”

Polar Plunges are held for Special Olympics Michigan throughout the state.

Courtesy Photo In this photo provided by Diane O'Connor, a penguin (Tim Kuehnlein of Thunder Bay Arts) learns to curl on the ice at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. Thunder Bay Curling Club offered the opportunity for attendees to try their hand at curling.

“Last year, we raised over $2 million on plunges alone,” Graham said. “It’s our biggest fundraiser. We’re at $1.3 million right now, with eight plunges to go.”

The Alpena Fire Department, Alpena Police Department, Alpena Public Works Department, and the Michigan State Police assisted and coordinated efforts to bring the Polar Plunge downtown for the first time.

Reach Darby Hinkley at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com, or call 989-358-5691.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Caroline Denlinger with Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union helps a child use a tool to carve his name into an ice sculpture at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley A tropical bird ice sculpture, sponsored by Holiday Inn Express, is seen at Culligan Plaza in downtown Alpena on Saturday during the Alpena Ice Festival.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Even dogs were bundled up on Saturday at the Alpena Ice Festival. Pictured are Louie the pitbull, wearing pajamas, booties, and a coat, with owners Matt Seguin and Mariah Seguin in downtown Alpena.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley A lighthouse ice sculpture, sponsored by Target Alpena, is seen on Saturday at Culligan Plaza during the Alpena Ice Festival.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Autumn Bildson, of Stone Art Studio, carves an ice sculpture of a lion's head on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

NewsNews Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

News PhoNews Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

NewNews Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Alpena Police and Alpena Fire departments play in a broomball game on the ice on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The police team emerged victorious, beating the fire team 5 to 2, but it was a friendly game and fun for participants and spectators.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena Ice Festival attendees enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival. The horse-drawn wagon rides were provided by Dan Kirschner.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Children sled down a snow hill on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena Ice Festival attendees gather around a bonfire made by the Alpena Fire Department at Mich-e-ke-wis Park.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Autumn Bildson, of Stone Art Studio, carves an ice sculpture of a lion's head on Saturday at Mich-e-ke-wis Park during the Alpena Ice Festival.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena Ice Festival gear was for sale inside the warming shelter on Saturday at the Alpena Farmers Market at Mich-e-ke-wis Park.