Not too many events can claim to have been around for decades, but the Plymouth Ice Festival can. Last weekend’s event returned for its thirtieth anniversary. If you were there, hit “like” below!
This is an amazing event held in Kellogg Park every winter, boasting a variety of events and over 100 ice sculptures all for FREE! You just never know what the weather will have in store for this event. In fact, we were all wondering how an ice festival was going to work in the above-average temperatures we’ve been having this January.
Right up until the day before the Ice Festival kicked off, Plymouth was seeing above-freezing temperatures. But, Mother Nature kicked in at the last minute and dropped the temps into the teens for the Friday opening. It was bitterly cold that day, but that didn’t stop folks from coming out to enjoy downtown Plymouth before the official opening ceremonies that night.
By Saturday morning, though, four inches of fluffy white snow blanketed our community and gave the Ice Festival the ambience it was missing. A bright sun rounded out things out and it was an picture-perfect weekend in downtown Plymouth that drew an estimated 100,000 people over four days!
Among the highlights this year was the manufactured cross country ski course in Kellogg Park, care of Sun & Snow at Main and Ann Arbor Trail. There was no natural snow when they started, so they trucked in ice shavings from local arenas and used a snow-making machine to create a cross-country ski course. When the natural snow fell overnight, it was just what they needed to make the course perfect. (Wouldn’t want to be the guy manning the snowmaking machine!) Sun & Snow also hosted players from the Plymouth Whalers (our OHL hockey team) for a great photo op!
There were sculptures specifically for climbing on – a polar bear and a dinosaur – and there were sculptures to suit everyone’s tastes from cartoon characters to the Statue of Liberty. The college students carving in competition were terrific too. We really wanted to get a photo of the duelling-chainsaws competition, but that didn’t pan out. Oh, and of course the food, pony rides, and petting zoo rounded out the event. If you were there and got some great photos, post them on our Facebook page!
The Plymouth Ice Festival is just one more reason why we love the Plymouth, Canton, and Northville communities. Mark your 2013 calendar so you do not miss this incomparable event!
Something else that is incomparable is the phenomenal service you’ll get when you buy or sell a home with The Bittinger Team. Whether you are weeks, days, or months away from your next move, you will want to find out how our track record can get you closer to your dreams! Just click here to contact us anytime!
Wow – what a great event! Might have to plan a trip for the 2013 event.
What a great day we had on Saturday!