By Staff
Eight corporate sponsors have joined hands with the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce to host the 11th annual Ice Time Festival on Saturday, Feb. 3.
This year's winter fine arts event is being underwritten, in part, by Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, Dowsett Chiropractic Health Center, Harding's Friendly Market and First National Bank, which have co-sponsored the event for the past several years.
Joining the 2007 corporate line-up is Dowagiac Pizza Hut, Lyons Industries, McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home and the Kemner-Iott Agency of Cass County, formerly known as Guy Eby Insurance Agency.
"The non-profit organization is, indeed, fortunate to have gained the financial support of these fine businesses that have agreed to help underwrite the community event," said Dr. Timothy Dowsett, five-time event chairman and president of the Chamber of Commerce, who made the announcement.
"Seven of the eight corporate sponsors will also be among an estimated 55 businesses that will sponsor the carving of the single-block ice sculptures that will line downtown sidewalks."
"Since 1997, the Chamber of Commerce has been challenged with the need to find new ways to absorb the ever-increasing cost of the 440-pound ice blocks, while keeping the price manageable for those businesses that sponsor the individual ice carvings," Dowsett said.
The 440-pound blocks of ice are transported to Dowagiac by City Pure Ice in Michigan City, Ind., which purchases them from a company in Chicago.
Dowsett said the cost of ice has nearly tripled in price for the non-profit organization.
The first year of the festival, the Chamber of Commerce paid just over $1,000 to truck in the ice.
This year's event will spend more than $3,500 on the frozen product.
"Harding's Friendly Market, which has been a corporate sponsor from the very beginning, has returned to underwrite the show's featured, multi-block ice sculpture that will be showcased beneath the Haggin-Wimberley bandstand," Dowsett said.
"Store owner Rodger Smith is a long-time Chamber of Commerce member who served on our Retail Business Committee, when the festival was first started. His steadfast enthusiasm continues to be important to us, as we move into our 11th season."
"Dowagiac Ice Time is a great opportunity for families to get back outside, to enjoy the fresh air and to view the beautiful work that will be done by the culinary chefs who carve the hefty ice blocks," said Dowsett, who will mark his fifth year as event chairman. "While the winter arts festival is a great community activity, more importantly it provides a much-needed economic boost to our downtown during the slower months of winter. As families and day-visitors watch the working artists, it's also our hope they will do some shopping and enjoy lunch or dinner in our Grand Old City."
Dowagiac's Ice Time Festival in 1998 was featured in a special report on winter activities, along with Minnesota's Polar Fest and Tennessee's Winterfest, when it was profiled by The Chamber Executive Network as one of the many creative ways communities across the nation celebrate winter.
Richard Hakes, editor of the national publication based in Iowa, said winter festivals and special events are "hot" with chambers of commerce across the country, regardless of the climate.
Phillipson said members of the South Bend Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, who carve the 440-pound ice blocks into life-size sculptures, will compete for $1,200 in cash awards and will receive a $35 per diem for each block of ice they carve.
Businesses, wishing to be a part of the festival, can sponsor the carving of an ice block for $100 and can reserve their block of ice by calling the Chamber at 782-8212.
Community organizations that would like to secure vendor space are also encouraged to contact the Chamber.
Signage will be displayed on the ice sculptures that will be located on Front and Commercial streets to acknowledge each of the companies that sponsor the carvings.