While some Lake Michigan shore communities seemingly thrive only during the peak summer season, the city of St. Joseph is renowned as a full-on, four season, water wonderland thanks to not only the big lake but also nearby rivers and inland lakes. To accommodate the onset of winter along the shores, the focus turns to frozen water early next month with the arrival of the Annual Magical Ice Fest presented by Silver Beach Pizza.
Coming the weekend of February 5th to the 7th, the community gives itself over to ice competitions, a SnowBiz Scavenger Hunt and Ice Interactives as just some of the reasons to bring family and friends to a frosty, fun-filled downtown weekend.
Amy Zapal, Executive Director at St. Joseph Today, sums it all up by saying, “If you need a cure for the winter blues, this is it!” She adds that local hotels turn it into a great mid-winter getaway for families with children or a romantic pre-Valentine weekend for couples.
The winter festivities start Friday the 5th with the Professional Individual Carving Competition, presented by Caffe Tosi, along Pleasant Street from 5:00-to-8:00pm. You can watch as carvers magically turn frozen blocks of ice into amazing works of art.
Visitors can also participate in the SnowBiz Scavenger Hunt, presented by Berrien Community Foundation, all weekend long. All you have to do to get started is to make a stop at the St. Joseph Today Welcome Center located at 301 State Street to pick up a map and start your search. All participants who complete the hunt and turn in their entry are automatically in the running for a $25 St. Joseph Today gift certificate good at more than 80 locations.
The fun continues on Saturday, the 6th, with Professional Team Carving Competition along State Street from 7:30am-to-4:30pm. You can watch up close as teams of two transform eight blocks of ice into spectacular frosty creations.
At 9:00am on Saturday, runners and walkers can melt a few pounds in the annual Ice Fest 5K Chocolate Walk/Run presented by the Sunset Coast Striders. For more information about that chip-timed event and a complete list of sponsors, visit the link below:
https://thedriven.net/event-registration/site.race_reg/eid/39004234568?&.
Ice Fest attendees will also enjoy Ice Interactives on Saturday from 11:00am-to-4:00pm. Featuring fan favorites the Frozen Fish Toss, presented by The Livery, and Ice Tic-Tac-Toe, presented by BIGGBY Coffee of St. Joseph and Zoup! of St. Joseph.
This year’s event and interactive sponsors include:
- Silver Beach Pizza
- The Boulevard Inn & Bistro
- Beaudoin Electrical Construction
- Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council
- The Inn at Harbor Shores
- Caffe Tosi
- Cook Nuclear Plant
- Holt Bosse
- Honor Credit Union
- Schultz Roofing
- Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber
- Berrien Community Foundation
- BIGGBY Coffee of St. Joseph
- Zoup! of St. Joseph
- The Livery
- Mid-West Family Broadcasting
This year’s ice block sponsors include:
- Kilwins
- Olive Cart
- Pier 1000 Marina
- Silver Harbor Brewing Co.
- Spectrum Health Lakeland
- Sturgis Bank | St. Joseph Banking Center
- The Buck Burgers & Brew
- Tom & Judy Gawlick
- Vail Rubber Works
- DK Boutique
- G&M Variety
- The John DeVries Agency
- SWMI Brew Tours
- Fully Alive Chiropractic
- Michigan Pizza Hut
- White Pine Winery
- Abonmarche
Additional sponsor support can be found at http://MagicalIceFest.com.
Make plans as well to catch these upcoming winter and spring events:
- Countdown to Summer: Now through May 26th.
- March Mannequins: Friday, March 12th (7:00pm-to-8:30pm)
Zapal says, “Additionally, St. Joseph Today invites the community to support SWMI businesses and restaurants during Countdown to Summer for a chance to win weekly prizes,” noting, “While we’re holding out for cooler temps during Ice Fest weekend, we’re also counting the days down to sunshine and warmers days here in Michigan’s Great Southwest.”
For every $25 spent (one time or cumulative purchases) you will receive one entry. Qualifying purchases must be made at a St. Joseph Today member location between January 1, 2021 – May 26, 2021. Participants can earn double entries on purchases made during Ice Fest weekend. One winner will be drawn weekly, February 11, 2021 – May 27, 2021. Winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from various St. Joseph Today members.
To receive an entry form, simply present your receipt(s) of purchases to a St. Joseph Today staff member at the Welcome Center located in downtown St. Joseph. Visit http://stjoetoday.com/countdown for more information.
St. Joseph Today is a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and businesses in St. Joseph and its surrounding communities. For more information about upcoming events and details call St. Joseph Today at (269) 985 1111 or visit http://stjoetoday.com.
