Hamilton carves out a new niche with IceFest

Publication date: January 20, 2002

By Linda Ebbing
lebbing@coxohio.com

Reprinted with Permission of the JournalNews

A touch of magic will take place in downtown Hamilton next weekend.

Crystalline pieces of ice in the shape of dolphins, eagles, flowers and butterflies will be on display around the courthouse and Journal Square.

“IceFest is going to be great, and something really different,” said Neil Cohen, a member of the Hamilton, Ohio City of Sculpture Inc. board of trustees. “I think it’s going to be exciting.”

IceFest is an ice carving competition that will feature a number of activities for the whole family as well as Jeff Stahl and Matt Williams, 2002 Salt Lake City winter ice carving Olympic qualifiers.

The event is presented by Hamilton, Ohio City of Sculpture, Inc., and sponsored by Downtown Hamilton Special Improvement District and Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum.

Cohen said more than 40 businesses and corporations have signed up as sponsors. Each sponsor will be represented by an ice sculpture created by Stahl and Williams, who are also co-owners of Arctic Diamond, an ice sculpting company.

“Imagination created better things for more people. It is the priceless ingredient for a better day,” Cohen said. “And it takes imagination to create things to make a better community.”

Cohen said he believes Hamilton, Ohio City of Sculpture, Inc., and the IceFest celebration is another example of how leaders in Hamilton are working to create a better community “for all of us.”

“This has really captured people’s imagination. It’s something really different. It’s a winter festival which we typically don’t have around here and the sculptures will be around for a while if the weather is cold,” he said.

The festival offers ice carving competitions, demonstrations, hands-on activities, music and food vendors.

Jim Noonan, Hamilton vice mayor, said that this type of event attracts families and individuals to Hamilton and our downtown.

“The designation of Hamilton as the City of Sculpture because of Pyramid Hill and the sculptures that are being placed throughout the community is an honor, and the more we can showcase what we have the stronger our presence will be locally, regionally and in the state,” Noonan said.