Cold temperatures hoped for ice festival

Published 3:01 pm Saturday, January 14, 2006

By Staff
NILES - Everyone watched the warm temperatures and rain fall anxiously on Friday wondering how the second annual Hunter Ice Festival would be affected.
This year's festival will feature the works of 24 carvers attacking 150 pieces of 450 pounds of ice.
Three separate carving competitions will be held.
The Student Competition will be on Saturday, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. Six students will be competing for top honors and prizes totaling $300.
On Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon, eight carvers have entered the Professional Carvers Competition to be held in the parking lot at Riverfront Park. Three cash awards will be given, totaling over $700.
And on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. gather on the grounds of City Hall and be amazed as you watch seven of the best carvers in the Mid-West compete for prizes totaling more than $3,200 in the N.I.C.A Sanctioned Master Carving Competition. Top prize is $1,500.
The Awards Ceremony will take place Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Renaissance Place. Winners of these competitions as well as the winner of ‘Best of Show,' judged from all non-competition sculptures carved throughout the weekend will be announced.
Saturday morning the Hunter Ice Cream Stand will open at the corner of Second and Main Streets. There will be pre-packaged pints of ice cream, along with scoops.
The upper level of the Third and Sycamore streets parking lot will host the Wine, Cheese &Chocolate Tasting Tent, featuring 25 different wines from eight local vineyards.
The lobby of the 210 Main St. building will serve as a warming station and souvenir stand selling various Hunter Ice Festival memorabilia.
The building will also be Kid Central - children 12 and under can draw a picture to enter into the Clothesline Art Contest, have their faces painted, make balloon animals or do some origami while warming up with a cup of hot chocolate.
Saturday, visit the Niles District Library to learn the history of ice carving and the Hunter Ice and Ice Cream Company.