By Staff
Don't let a little water keep you away from the fourth annual Hunter Ice Festival Jan. 18-20 in Niles.
Ice chips will be flying beginning Friday, Jan. 18 with Fire and Ice, featuring "the world's fastest ice carving team" of Dan Rebholz of Chicago and Rich Babin of Pittsburgh, Pa. turning 300-pound blocks of ice into works of art beginning at 6 p.m.
It will take place at the north end of Riverfront Park behind the Skate Park area.
There will also be wine tasting for adults at the Penguin Pit Stop tent. There will be red and white wines available for sampling, along with DiVine Vodka, one of only four vodkas made from grapes.
There will also be several different beers to sample.
On Saturday, the carving contest will be held throughout the day, beginning at 9 a.m. and wrapping up around 3 p.m.
The IceMasters multi-block, four-piece competition sculpture will be carved by a world class carver with celebrity judging. They will be located at six prominent corners throughout downtown Niles.
Also on Saturday, from noon until 3 p.m., there will be a student carving competition, located at the Riverfront Park Amphitheater.
From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Niles District Library will have its history of ice carving and harvesting exhibit available for viewing.
The day will wrap up with a speed carving competition on Second Street between Sycamore and Main.
Sunday will feature another professional carving competition from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the corner of Sycamore and Second Street, while a two-block carving competition will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the same location.
From noon until 3 p.m. will be the much-anticipated Niles Chili Cook-off with chili and beer located at the corner of Second and Sycamore.
The awards ceremony for the weekend will be held at 4 p.m. in the Queen Anne Room, 404 E. Main St.
So bundle up and get out next weekend.
There is fun for everyone at the Hunter Ice Festival.