Festival of Ice to feature tropical theme
Trending
From Staff Reports
LEWISTOWN -- Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Mele Kalikimaka.
The Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau recommends the latter salutation because the Hawaiian island greeting will be in full force at the Festival of Ice this year.
The visitors bureau is putting its own unique twist on the 26th annual festival with the theme "Christmas Island," featuring tropical-themed ice sculptures and decorations for an unusual kick-off to the holiday season.
"This year we are swapping pine trees for palm trees, sleighs for surfboards, reindeer for dolphins, and sweaters for Hawaiian shirts," said Jenna Stoner, coordinator of the Festival of Ice. "Come and ignore the holiday chill for some tropical flair."
New for 2023 will be the addition of wooden sheds to the Holiday Market at the Juniata Valley Bank parking lot. Shop nine different retailers for holiday shopping ideas inside the sheds, plus the many vendors located along the street. Also new is the addition of more food trucks to the festival grounds including Curbside Food Truck/Sticky Bun Café, Farm Show Milkshakes, Pine Ridge Coffee, alongside festival favorites Sinister Mini Donuts and Sam the Hot Dog Guy.
From the moment the sculptures are put out on Thursday, there's something to see at any time of the day. For visitors who want to see the ice sculptures during the day, a new activity has been created, the "Fa La La La La Flamingo Hunt."
The flamingo hunt invites visitors to find the hidden flamingoes in the windows of area merchants for the chance to be entered to win a prize. Entry forms will be available on the front porch of the Historic Courthouse. The contest runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday. Completed forms must be returned to the mailbox on the porch of the Historic Courthouse by Friday evening.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, the real fun commences with the start of the Crazy Parade! Everyone is invited to participate in the walk around Monument Square. Noise makers are provided at the Lewistown Municipal Building prior to the parade. This short parade route is great for small children, strollers, and wheelchairs.
Live music returns to the courtroom with the Lewistown Community Band performing two shows at 6 and 8 p.m., Thursday; and The Boyz and Nittany Knights A Cappella Barbershop Chorus performing Friday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. Even more music will be played on the street by the Sacred Heart School choir, Ice Fest Carolers, Ken Shubert, and Logan Guard Drumline. Live music will also be at the live nativity beside the Embassy Theatre, the McCoy House Museum, and at East End Coffee Co. both evenings.
Throughout the event, nearly 50 hand carved ice sculptures, sponsored by various businesses and organizations, will be displayed around the square. Stoner said that some of the sculptures will depict tropical images like Santa on a surfboard, a Tiki, and the word "Aloha." The JRV Visitors Bureau is currently accepting ice sculpture sponsorships. For sponsorship information, call Jenny Landis at (717) 248-6713 or email jlandis@juniatarivervalley.org.
More activities include a multitude of kid's activities, petting zoo by LoveTwo Farm, hay wagon rides, more than 40 vendors on the street, dance performances, Mifflin County Model Railroad Club display, Juniata Valley Gingerbread House Competition, and the Merry Mannequins display.
The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. For a map, schedule of entertainment and vendor information, visit www.jrvvisitors.com, follow the Festival of Ice - Juniata River Valley on Facebook or call (717) 248-6713.
A 12-page program for the event will be published by The Sentinel on Wednesday, Nov. 29.