This year Niles residents might see a melted-down version of the Hunter Ice Festival due to a decline in funding.

While the main attractions, like professional ice carvers, will remain, a few of the usual activities may have to be cut this year.

While no final decisions have been made, the wine tasting tent and other event tents may be eliminated this year, according to Lisa Croteau, program director for Niles Main Street.

“Fact is, as wonderful as the festival is, it has yet to break even and there is no money left in the budget to underwrite it all,” Croteau said. “So all festival events must be able to cover their costs, either by sponsorship or revenue produced.”

The wine tasting tent made “a little money” last year, according to Croteau, but with cold and snowy weather it typically loses money.

“We are still planning to have, in some manner or another, a chili cook-off, a family friendly area, a warming station, carving shows and at least as many awesome carvings as we had last year,” Croteau said.

The festival committee hopes to build up enough money through this year’s festival to be able to bring back all the events the following year.

“Just like everybody else, we’ve got budget issues,” Croteau said. “We’re hoping to get a little stack of cash so we don’t run into this next year.”

The Hunter Ice Festival is funded by sponsorships and community donations. This year’s festival runs Jan. 14-16.

To make donations to the Hunter Ice Festival, visit www.nilesmainstreet.org. Veni’s Sweet Shop in downtown Niles is selling Hunter Ice Festival chocolate coins with $3 from every purchase going to the festival.