Organizers are confident that the Hunter Ice Festival will be as good as it has ever been despite the loss of space due to ongoing construction to replace the Main Street Bridge.

Lisa Croteau, of Niles Main Street, said the festival will not be able to use the area normally dedicated to interactive ice sculptures because of the $10.6 million Michigan Department of Transportation project.

That area, located off Main Street near the east side of the bridge, is currently fenced off by MDOT.

“Logistically we won’t have the space that we’ve had in the past,” Croteau said.

The Hunter Ice Festival runs Friday through Sunday in downtown Niles.

Last year, the interactive area featured a ping pong table, race car track, skeet ball and signature wall — all carved out of large blocks of ice.

Croteau said this year’s festival will still feature interactive sculptures, they just won’t be located in one central area.

“It will be spread out throughout downtown,” she said. “We are looking at making some of the (storefront) sculptures more interactive.”

Croteau said organizers considered moving the interactive area closer to Riverfront Park, but decided not to because it would pull people away from Main Street and the downtown businesses.

The point of the festival, Croteau said, is to get people to discover the downtown businesses.

Apart from the bridge construction, Croteau said this year’s festival would offer similar features to past festivals, including ice fights, ice sculptures and Hunter Ice Cream.

Here is a full schedule of events:

 

Friday

• 5 to 7 p.m. — Psi Iota Xi sponsored Warming Center at 127 E. Main St. including the Psi Iota Xi Family Craft Activities

• 5 to 8 p.m. — Hunter Ice Cream Booth on Main Street

• 7 p.m. — Sponsored sculptures placed throughout downtown

 

Saturday

• 9 a.m. — Frigid 5K Run. Registration at Inertia Cycleworks, 211 E. Main St.

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m — Multi-block sculptures carved throughout downtown

• 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Psi Iota Xi sponsored Warming Center at 127 E. Main St. including the Psi Iota Xi Family Craft Activities

• 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Hunter Ice Cream Booth on Main Street

• Noon to 3 p.m. —Stop by the Chemical Bank Main Office located at 407 E. Main St. to enjoy warm refreshments and sleigh rides sponsored by Chemical Bank. Ask a Chemical Bank representative at either Niles location for a coupon and time slot. Limited space available.

• Noon to 4 p.m. — Children’s Activities at south side of Riverfront Park Amphitheater

• Noon to 4 p.m. — Free children’s crafts at Pizza Transit

• Noon to 4 p.m. — Wine and Beer Tasting at Massimo’s Backside Bar

• 1 to 3 p.m. — Pregnancy Care Center of Niles 4th Annual Baby Cakes Cupcake Contest/Fundraiser at The Bell Building, 305 N. 3rd St.

• 2 to 6 p.m. Wine and beer tasting and ice pong at Massimo’s Backside Bar

• 5 p.m. — “Chillin’ Ice Bar” at Massimo’s under the tent at Front and Main Streets

• 7 p.m. — 6th Annual Hunter Ice Festival Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Morris Supper Club, 1245 S. 11th St.

• 7:30 p.m. — “Ice Fights” at Riverfront Park Amphitheater

 

Sunday

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Psi Iota Xi sponsored Warming Center at 127 E. Main St. with Psi Iota Xi Family Craft Activities

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Hunter Ice Cream Booth on Main Street

• Noon to 3 p.m. — Children’s Activities at south side of Riverfront Amphitheater

• Noon to 3 p.m. — “Chili Crawl” chili cook-off. Tickets available at the Warming Center & Hunter Ice Cream Booth

• 4 p.m. — “People’s Choice” awards for sculptures and chili cook-off at the Warming Center