Though the Hunter Ice Festival is technically only three days long, the city of Niles will be all hustle and bustle for days beforehand. Massive blocks of solid ice will be delivered to the City of Four Flags during the first week of January, and carvers begin creating on January 9th.
One of the first ice festivals in the area, Niles was ahead of the curve. With a nice connection to the ice carving world, the participation of world-renowned ice carvers aids in setting this ice festival apart from the rest. “Even before all of our downtown success, the ice fest brought thousands to our area,” says Justin Flagel, Vice Chair of the Promotion Committee. “Volunteers, community members, residents, and strangers all come together to celebrate Niles.”
Friday, January 13th is the first official day of the Ice Festival, and the calendar is chock full of events and happenings! Shops and stores downtown will feature specials and sales, attracting customers in preparation for the busy weekend. Homestory Vintage, an antique & vintage shop on Front Street, is hosting their Winter Market this weekend, and Shelf Life community bookstore presents their Giant Book Sale, starting at 10 a.m Friday. The Hunter Ice Cream Booth opens at 5 p.m, can be found near the intersection of Second and Main Street, and will be providing frozen treats all weekend.
“The first of our two main events is Fire & Ice, which takes place at Riverfront Park around 7:30 p.m on Friday,” Justin says. “We have live ice carving, where multiple carvers create a masterpiece all at once, and add some kind of fire element. It’s really cool!”
Saturday morning starts with the Frigid 5K, organized by LifePlan of Niles. This 5K Run and Walk will allow participants to register until 8:30 a.m on race day, and with the race route beginning at the boat launch, and ending near Front Street Pizza Pub. Registration costs just $35 per person, and the event will end with cookies and awards for multiple categories.
The rest of the day is a flurry of fun: live ice carving downtown begins at 10 a.m, On Base Productions celebrates their 5 Year Anniversary with a Hunter Photo Booth from 10 a.m to 4 p.m, and The Rage hosts a Baby Cakes Cupcake Contest from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. Front Street Pizza Pub is hosting a beer and wine tasting from 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m, and the Ice Toboggan Hill, sponsored by The Children’s Center, will be set up at Riverfront Park.
Apothica Teas will offer warm beverages at their Hunter Ice Express Station all weekend long, featuring caramel chai, hot cocoa, and a delightful tea option. Pop into the Conservatory door entrance to purchase a drink (or two) that will help keep the cold at bay. The festival’s second big event, Speed Carving, begins at 7:30 p.m at the Amphitheatre at Riverfront Park, and you won’t want to miss it!
“This is probably our biggest event every year, and it’s really amazing to see the town light up the way it does,” says Justin. “Our restaurants are busy, people are discovering new shops, and thousands get to enjoy Niles. We are evolving constantly, and even if you’ve been here before, you will discover something new.”
Follow the mouthwatering scent of Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe, as they open for a brunch buffet from 9 a.m – 2 p.m on Sunday, January 15th. Warm up with delicious, hearty eats before spending the day outdoors. The Interactive Ice Park near Front Street will be open for the kids to explore and play, and Iron Shoe Distillery will feature a Hot Chocolate Bar from Noon to 4 p.m.
“We support our local businesses and encourage them to ‘do something cool’ for this weekend,” Justin says. “ Our goal is to draw people to town to support our shops. Some businesses just simply need to be open for people to flock to them, and others do have sales and discounts to attract people in.”
The 19th Annual Hunter Ice Festival is an eagerly-awaited kickoff to the year, bringing in over 10,000 spectators, whatever the weather. Bring family and friends to the City of Four Flags January 13th – 15th, 2023, and spend time enjoying winter! For more information about the festival and its history, please visit uncoverniles.com, or nilesmi.org.
All photos by Hunter Ice Festival
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
