Alpena Ice Festival

All events are free & open to the public. Join us for a day of winter fun at Mich-e-kewis Park (9 am- 3 pm) & in Downtown Alpena (5 pm- 9pm).

9:00 am-3:00 pm Mich-e-ke-wis Park (Alpena Ice Fest – Family Fun Day)

9:00 am-3:00 pm: Farmers Market (expanded hours and additional vendors)– warming shelter and bathrooms
9:00 am-12:00 pm:  Amateur Snowman Building/ Snow Angel Contest (for kids, families, friends). Awards for largest, most creative, most spirited.
10:00-11:00 am: Dueling ice sculptors – Ice Creations of Napoleon, Ohio
Several other sculptures will be on display throughout the day, including featured sculptures by local sculptor Autumn Bildson and local restaurateur, Jimmy Chen.
11:00 am-3:00 pm: Amateur snowshoe and cross-country ski races (grab your shoes or skis and make a run for it!) Contests organized on the half hour. Bring your own shoes and skis. Thunder Bay Trails Association will have some skis and boots available for use.
12:00-3:00 pm: Huge bonfire – huddle around the fire courtesy of our very own City of Alpena Fire Department!
1,000 free Smores (prepackaged and ready to eat), courtesy of Thunder Bay Arts 50th Anniversary
12:00-2:00 pm: Horse and wagon rides courtesy of Dan Kirchner
1:00-2:00 pm: Amateur fat tire bike races – BYOB and show us how it’s done!
1:00-2:00 pm: Siberian Husky sled dogs – “Gone to the Snow Dogs” courtesy of Jessica Hatch

Plus…all day long from 9:00 am-3:00 pm:

• Fat Freddies Food Truck—featuring TONY BURGERS and much more
• Snow sledding – bring your sled and go for it!
• Ice Bowling – Knock ‘em down
• Ice Frame for Selfies @ the ALPENA Letters Sculpture—courtesy of the Alpena Convention & Visitors Bureau
• 4-H activity and other activities at various intervals throughout the day…

5:00 – 9:00 pm- Fire & Ice Downtown Alpena

• Ice Throne in Culligan Plaza—courtesy of the Alpena Convention & Visitors Bureau and Alpena Downtown Development Authority
• 27 Ice Sculptures throughout downtown sponsored by local businesses
• Fire bowls to warm up by in Culligan Plaza & Pocket Park
• Scavenger hunt of downtown sculptures with a $100 Downtown Dollars drawing courtesy of DDA. Details available here.
• Expanded store hours until 7:00 pm with specials
• Themed Fire & Ice cocktails at downtown restaurants and bars
• Live music from the Alpena Street Performers from 6-8 pm at HopSide Brewery, Mango’s Tequila Bar, Thunder Bay Winery, and Thunder Bay Arts

Grab a hot chocolate or a “hot toddy” from a local restaurant and stroll the Social District downtown looking at ice sculptures while visiting the stores with extended specials. Check out the preview of Restaurant Week!