Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel, joined by other local officials, announced the Ice & Fire Festival at a press conference on Thursday.
This weekend, Harrisburg will get a little cooler.
The city’s Ice & Fire Festival will bring entertainment, food and, of course, ice to Harrisburg on Saturday, March 2.
“What makes this festival so special is that it really is the only special event that we have during the course of the year that incorporates the entire city,” said Matt Maisel, communications director for the city, at a press conference on Thursday. “We call it the hottest festival on ice.”
There will be nearly 70 ice sculptures located throughout the city during the festival, including shapes like a car, a throne, the state Capitol dome and a sloth, among others. Additionally, the festival will incorporate live ice carving demonstrations, and sculptures will be illuminated in the evening.
A majority of the sculptures will be located downtown, on N. 2nd Street, where most of the festival happenings will take place. However, ice sculptures will be found near Italian Lake, Reservoir Park, City Island and throughout Midtown, as well.
Downtown, children and families can enjoy free activities like an ice slide, ice skating rink and build-you-own s’mores at fire pits. There will also be balloon animals, face painting and, for a fee, horse-drawn carriage rides around the city. The city is also providing a heated seating tent.
Visitors will be able to shop at an artist market located inside city hall and at the HBG Flea inside Strawberry Square.
Live music, entertainment and dance will take place on a stage on N. 2nd Street. Fire dancers will perform at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Food trucks will also be onsite, along Market Street, during the day, offering a wide range of menu options.
Attendees are also invited to participate in an ice sculpture scavenger hunt. Participants will have to scan the QR codes on at least 10 ice sculptures and fill out an online form. Two winners will be selected randomly to win gift cards to city businesses.
Free parking will be available downtown after 5 p.m. Visitors can also get four free hours of parking during the day by using the code LUVHBG in the Parkmobile app. A discounted $10 rate is available at the Market Square Garage courtesy of Park Harrisburg.
N. 2nd Street will be closed, between Market and Walnut streets, starting at 9 a.m. on Friday. The closure will then extend to Pine Street beginning at 7 a.m. on March 2. Market Street will also be closed between 2nd and Front streets at 7 a.m. on March 2. All roads will reopen as normal after 10 p.m.
The Ice & Fire Festival will take place on March 2, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit the city’s website.
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