Want to go?
• WHAT: Ice-A-Fair To Remember
• WHEN: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb. 5
• WHERE: Victory Park, Main and Ohio Sts., Vermilion
• COST: Free
• INFO: 440-963-0772
Finding family events everyone can enjoy outside in February is hard to do, which is why Main Street Vermilion, a historic preservation and economic development group, created its own annual soiree “Ice-A-Fair To Remember,” which takes place Feb. 5 in the downtown area of Vermilion.
“This is the third year we’ve hosted the ice-sculpture event,” said Main Street Vermilion Program Director Linda Tallitsch. “I think now they have more than 30 ice sculptures lined up to be displayed in the downtown area. We hire professional ice carver Aaron Costic. Each carving is sponsored by a separate business. In some cases the sculptures go in front of the business, but we do want to space them out. They’ll be found on Liberty Avenue and Main Street, with the farthest west sculpture being at the Ritter Library. They’ll have a book sculpture this year.”
This year’s event also includes a handful of ice carving demonstrations in Victory Park and carriage rides around the Harbour Town’s unique shops, boutiques and galleries. The hub of “Ice-A-Fair To Remember” is the Main Street Vermilion building, where complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
“We’ll have raffles going with some gift baskets too,” Tallitsch said. “They can just come in and warm up. Also, the Arts Guild represents local artists and they will have their winter show on display in the Main Street office. And all of the works in the arts guild shows are for sale.”
Tallitsch believes in just a few years “Ice-A-Fair To Remember” has grown into quite the area tradition with a few thousand people expected to come out and enjoy the wintertime atmosphere.
“The intention is to bring people to Vermilion,” Tallitsch said. “It’s a marketing event for the people and the businesses, and it works. It’s grown every year. Last year we had 26 sculptures and now we’re into the 30s. So it keeps growing and the businesses love it. The businesses see the value of it with the traffic in town and just to have a fun event in the wintertime when there’s not a whole lot going on.
Tallitsch reminds readers how to maximize their comfort quotient at “Ice-A-Fair To Remember.”
“Make sure you dress for the weather and make sure you have your mittens and your hats and ear muffs,” Tallitsch said. “Remember, there are places to warm up. Come in, have a hot chocolate and look at the art. Bring your camera. A lot of people do like to do photograph the sculptures and just come and have a fun day. It’s not a carnival atmosphere. It’s just something you can do outside and have fun in the wintertime.”
“Ice-A-Fair To Remember” takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 5 around the downtown area of Vermilion. For more information, call Main Street Vermilion at 440-963-0772.
