Event is scheduled from Dec. 10-11
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
For the fifth consecutive year, the City of Burlington will host the Wisconsin State Ice Carving Championship, which coincides with the annual Ice Festival set for Dec. 10-11 at Wehmhoff Square Park and the Chestnut Street loop.
The city began the Ice Festival in 2016 before being awarded the State Ice Carving Championship two years later.
Burlington Mayor Jeannie Hefty, who expressed excitement for the annual event’s return, said the city decided to host the State Ice Carving Championship in December as a stipulation.
“We were told that it had to be held in December each year as competition starts in January of the following year for artists to be considered for the December championship,” she said. “We have no control of the weather but it is what it is.”
According to city officials, more than a dozen 300-pound ice blocks will be placed throughout Wehmhoff Square Park, where artists will handcraft a sculpture.
The blocks are 10 inches thick, 20 inches wide and stand 40 inches tall on a wooden stand, the city states on its website.
“The live sculpture carving, a favorite viewing attraction, showcases ice carvers using hand tools as they transform the massive blocks of ice into an array of giant masterpieces,” the city stated. “When the competition is concluded, the sculptures are illuminated from underneath, which is a spectacular sight to see for days.”
The ice carving competition runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Wehmhoff Square Park, with a 4 p.m. awards ceremony at Bubba’s Brickyard, 217 N. Pine Street.
However, the ice carving competition isn’t the only event happening at Wehmhoff Square Park, with the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce offering visits with Santa in the chalet from 2 until 4 p.m.
Festival expanded
Unlike previous years, when the city hosted the Ice Festival solely in Wehmhoff Square Park, officials have decided to expand the event to include the Chestnut Street loop.
“Our ice festival will expand this year as the City of Burlington Kris Kringle Market will now be held in the loop on Saturday,” Hefty said.
Hefty said the location change allows vendors better protection since windy conditions caused some instability at booths last year.
Hefty, meanwhile, noted the Runaway Micropub and Nanobrewery as well as 2 Fancie Gals will be coordinating the vendor booths in 2022.
“We will have live entertainment in the loop, with food and refreshments by the Runaway,” Hefty said.
Activities in the loop consist of the Kris Kringle Market from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. bonfire and s’mores from noon until 2 p.m., a musical presentation from the Burlington High School with a time to be determined, as well as a presentation from the Midwest Dance Academy set for 11 a.m.
Family day
On Sunday, Dec. 11, meanwhile, activities will return to Wehmhoff Square Park.
Hefty called Sunday “Family Day” at Wehmhoff Square with activities tailored to children ranging from live reindeer, visits with Santa and horse drawn wagon rides.
The horse drawn wagon rides as well as live reindeer, according to city officials, will both run from noon until 3 p.m.
Additional activities include visits with Santa in the chalet, running from 2 until 4 p.m.
English Settlement Church will be giving out free cookies and hot chocolate,” said Hefty, noting the offering will be from noon until 3 p.m.
Additionally, the city plans to have roasted marshmallows for a group looking to run the activity as a fundraiser, Hefty said.
The annual event is free to the public and made possible through community sponsors, according to city officials.
Sponsors include The Runaway, MPC Property Management, Molitor Pet and Bird Clinic, Miller Motors, Mangold Insurance, Lois Tire Shop, Kokodynski Orthodontics, H.J. Faust, Inc., Educators Credit Union, Dr. Timothy H. Smith/Dr. Allison DeLorme Family Dentistry, Daniels Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Complete Tree Service, Cannella Media, Burlington Menswear, Burlington Lumber Company, Burlington Lions Club, Thrivent Financial, Burlington Fireplace and Solar, Peter Scherrer Group, Burlington Family Chiropractic, Flight for Life, Faust Investments LLC, Bear Realty Group, Antioch Pizza Shop – Burlington, Veteran’s Truck Line, Inc., Kapur Associates and the Jewelry Center.
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