If you listen hard enough, you can hear a good laugh coming from the people of York Traditions Bank and Eventive, the event planning and production division of the York Revolution. It’s a warm-up, they’ll tell you, to the next great chapter of FestivICE, the annual downtown ice festival created to empower York area residents to laugh at the cold in a daylong downtown celebration.
FestivICE, presented by York Traditions Bank, will return on Saturday, January 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 3,500 people are expected to pour into Beaver Street and Cherry Lane Park to enjoy great food and entertainment throughout the free event.
"All of us at York Traditions look forward to this event each year," said Gene Draganosky, president and board director of York Traditions Bank. "We know how much our neighbors enjoy extending the spirit of the holidays and celebrating together. They won’t let the chill of winter keep them down, and we won’t let the cost of a family-friendly day of fun keep them down either. That’s why we are thrilled to again offer this free event to the people of the area we are so proud to serve."
At the heart of the ice festival will be – you guessed it – ice, and lots of it. Ice sculptors from DiMartino Ice Company will turn more than 18,000 pounds of ice into a wide range of winter-themed creations, including a 40-foot ice slide that will welcome kids of all ages.
CGA Law Firm, a sponsor since FestivICE began, will present live music on the FestivICE sound stage in front of White Rose Bar & Grill as rocking festival goers enjoy fire pits and s’mores kits, face painting, balloon art, inflatables, and guest appearances by the snow princesses themselves, Ana and Elsa, as well as York Revolution mascot DownTown. The FestivICE Yeti will host the show once again and bring back the York-famous Yeti stomp line dance with help from performers from Weary Arts Group.
For those feeling not just brave but hungry, Quaker Steak and Lube will host a hot wing eating contest pitting participants against the likes of the restaurant’s famous atomic sauce, while the sporting types can test their aim in a hockey skills game or "spare" some time for frozen turkey bowling, presented by LifePath Christian Ministries.
The chilly fun will be surrounded by area restaurants and businesses offering FestivICE specials of their own. The vendors of the Central Market will feature a diverse range of menus and products, and the local restaurants and bars will be at the ready for those who need a recharge before bellowing even more loudly at Old Man Winter.
"Cold? Ha!" exclaimed Eventive Director Adam Nugent. "Yorkers love celebrating and enjoying year-round entertainment, and nothing keeps you warm like a fun time with family and friends. We’ve had a blast helping York Traditions host this great event year after year and welcoming scores of people from all over Pennsylvania and Maryland. From the local businesses to the dancing attendees to the stomping Yeti, we are going to fill downtown York with another high-energy party on January 14."