By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
The good news about the City of Burlington’s Ice Festival Saturday?
Whatever pieces of art that are created aren’t likely to melt anytime soon.
The other news – good or bad, depending on your point of view – is there will be plenty of snow to accompany those ice sculptures.
With temperatures expected to be well below freezing for the majority of the week and a forecast of between 8 and 12 inches of fresh snow Friday and Saturday, the first-ever ice festival is certainly getting a winter’s greeting.
“I think we’re going to have a great crowd,” said Mayor Jeannie Hefty.
Seventeen ice carvers from Illinois and Wisconsin will be on hand to create works of art in Wehmhoff Square Park starting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.
With Hefty saying this will be an annual event, she’s already anticipating a larger group of sculptors for next year.
“Now the City of Burlington will be programmed for the third week of December,” Hefty said. “Many more of them (sculptors) we expect … to be available next year.”
Hefty said the ice sculpting is expected to take about four hours. She is also hoping to have Santa’s reindeer and a horse and carriage available as well, but it will be weather dependent.
“I think we’re just going to have to play it by ear,” she said.
Hefty said she is also trying to coordinator with local downtown restaurants to provide specials for those looking to eat. Gooseberries will have coffee, hot cocoa and cookies available in the gazebo of the park.
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