Reprinted with permission of
the Journal-News
From the JournalNews
The
third annual IceFest proved a big hit as people from all over the area crowded
into downtown Hamilton last weekend in record numbers.
Organized
by the City of Sculpture, the theme of the two-day event was “Around the World
in Ice.” Highlights included an ice-carving competition that featured more than
a dozen professional ice sculptors from around the U.S. and Canada,
speed-carving demonstrations, ice skating and children’s activities at Journal
Square, as well as a human dog-sled race.
About
100 sculptures were on display and the event attracted a record 20,000 people
between Friday night and Saturday. The goal of IceFest is to raise money for
new sculptures to be displayed in Hamilton and to continue Hamilton’s legacy as
the “City of Sculpture,” said Patti Froelke, IceFest sponsorship chair. “We’ve
done really well this year,” Froelke said Saturday. “People are coming from
everywhere — Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati.” She said this year there were 40
more ice sculptures displayed than the previous year and “there are about 20
people who want to participate next year.” All those people did more than watch
the events and look at ice sculptures. They also patronized local businesses
such as restaurants. As we walked the streets admiring the sculptures, it was
great to see eateries packed to overflowing. A vibrant downtown is a positive
jolt to our self-image.
“It
has been fantastic,” Trudy Marcum, chairman of IceFest and president of City of
Sculpture, said Saturday. “The streets are packed. All the restaurants downtown
love us because they’re so busy.”
Brian
Ruby of Oxford, who brought his wife and two children to the festival, said,
“It’s just nice that Hamilton is bringing nice things for families to do
together. We’re already looking forward to coming next year.”
IceFest
is becoming a major winter attraction for Hamilton. We hope the event has a long and prosperous future and believe it
will.