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York's FestivICE a no-go this year; other local ice fests to check out
For the second year in a row, FestivICE, York’s annual ice festival held in January, will not take place.
Due to a lack of funding, the York ice sculpture festival will not be held, according to Sarah Dailey, Director of Partnerships & Promotions at the York Revolution. The ice sculpture festival that had previously been held for eight years, was also canceled last year, due to insufficient sponsorship.
And while it's still unclear which events may replace FestivICE in the future, there are plenty of other towns in Central Pa. hosting ice sculpture events.
Ice & Fire Festival: Harrisburg
The City of Harrisburg will host its 8th annual M&T Bank Ice & Fire Festival on Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This free event will feature over 60 large and small ice sculptures throughout the city. A downtown street festival with an ice slide, fire dancers, live ice carvings, fire pits and smores, activities for children, and performances by local school and community groups, will also take place.
Ice sculptures will be along the downtown street festival path on North 2nd Street and Market Street, as well as City Island, Midtown, Italian Lake, Shipoke, & Reservoir Park. The sculptures will be illuminated starting at 5 p.m., according to the event schedule online.
For more information, visit harrisburgpa.gov/special-events-2/ice-and-fire-2.
Fire & Ice Festival: Lititz
In Lititz, take advantage of ice sculptures, food trucks, art and more during its 10-day celebration.
This year the event will take off on Feb. 13, featuring Winter’s Coolest Night Out, a fire and ice preview party featuring live music and a live carving, in addition to a kid-friendly Winter FUNderland. This kid-focused day will offer activities, bouncy attractions and more.
More information including a full schedule of events, is available online at lititzpa.com/event/fire-ice-festival-2025.
Ice Art Fest: Carlisle
The Ice Art Fest in Downtown Carlisle will feature over 100 ice sculptures and kicks off Friday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m.
The free event features live ice sculpture carvings, horse and wagon carriage rides, live music and even an ice bar.
Downtown merchants will offer extended hours with special activities, including local jewelry shop Marjorie's Gems, which will host its annual Diamond Dig.
More information on Carlisle's Ice Art Fest is available at www.visitcumberlandvalley.com.
IceFest: Chambersburg
IceFest 2025 will be open Thursday, Jan. 30, through Sunday, Feb 2.
An event hosted for more than 20 years, Chambersburg's IceFest will feature over 100 ice sculptures, a double-wide ice slide, contests, food trucks, art exhibits and more events.
Pictured: A sculptor from DiMartino Ice carves a ballerina out of a block of ice during FestivIce in York city on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Jason Plotkin, York Daily Record
