Join us February 2-4 for the 2024 Ice Fest sponsored by Silver Beach Pizza to celebrate the winter season! It’s a weekend that brings frosty fun to downtown St. Joe. Enjoy professional Ice Carving Competitions, a Scavenger Hunt, Ice Interactives + more exciting events happening throughout SWMI!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Ice carvers begin revving their chainsaws for the Professional Individual Carving Competition, presented by Caffe Tosi, on Friday from 5:00p-8:00p. Along Pleasant Street blocks of ice will be transformed into works of art!
At 8:00p, guests are in for a treat with a downtown Fire & Ice Tower sponsored by Tru by Hilton. To make this happen, a large tower of ice is packed with firewood. We light it, and it becomes a unique site for all - a breathtaking bonfire (a little bit of ice and fire magic).
All weekend long, Ice Fest attendees can explore downtown with a Scavenger Hunt. Start the search by picking up a map from the St. Joe Today Welcome Center, located at 301 State Street! The Scavenger Hunt is fun for all ages and has its rewards too - turn in the form at the end for a chance to win a St. Joe Today Gift Certificate good at participating St. Joe Today member locations.
While you’re downtown, stroll Light up the Bluff (now through February 15) in Lake Bluff Park! This local park is transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring 1 million holiday lights. Grab a hot chocolate and continue your stroll through downtown St. Joe to take in all of the winter lights!
Join Lemon Creek Winery on Fridays for an open house Game Night, featuring extended tasting room hours from 12:00p-8:00p. Attendees will enjoy happy hour specials and BYOG (Bring Your Own Game) or choose from their game selection.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Ice teams assemble! The Professional Team Carving Competition begins at 7:30a downtown St. Joe will come alive with icy fun. This carving and creating will go on until 4:00p and involves epic eight blocks of ice for each sculpture. It's awesome to watch the progress of the teams throughout the day.
Challenge your friends and family to the Frozen Fish Toss; Frosty Tic-Tac-Toe, sponsored by SWMI Brew Tours; Ice Bowling; Ice Skee Ball, sponsored by BOSS Services; Hole in One Putt Putt Ice Mini Golf, sponsored by KitchenAid Senior PGA! These interactives will be located along State Street between (Broad and Pleasant) and are open from 11:00a-4:00p!
Family fun can be found throughout Ice Fest weekend. John Dudley, a professional magician, will visit downtown and offer three free shows. This Magic Tour begins in downtown St. Joe on the corner of State and Pleasant Streets at 1:00p, followed by the Silver Beach Center at 2:30p and 4:00p.
Join The Culinary Cottage for Breakfast with Frozen’s Anna & Elsa on Saturday at 9:30a or 11:00a! Attendees will enjoy delicious snowflake pancakes, storytime, cookie decorating and a Frozen photo op! Registration required.
INSIDER TIP: Check out the Ice Fest Celebration at The Market all
weekend long!
Watermark Brewing hosts the 2024 SWMI Polar Plunge! Registration/Check-In opens at 10:00a and the first plunge is at 12:00p. Brave the cold to raise funds and support the Special Olympics Michigan athletes and programs!
INSIDER TIP: Join them for an After Splash Bash as Watermark’s
Solarium at 1:30p!
The Livery hosts An Evening with Brian Vander Ark (of The Verve Pipe). At 8:00p! Grab a tasty brew and some delicious food and get ready for a night of great music.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4
An oversized Ice Throne, sponsored by NOBO, is a great place to capture the moment – find it at the corner of Pleasant and State Streets all weekend long. Be sure to get a photo and share it with us on social media using #meetmeinstjoseph.
If cold conditions remain through the weekend, Sunday offers a great opportunity to enjoy downtown St. Joe and all the sculptures created throughout the weekend. Many stores and restaurants will be open offering the perfect place to warm up while enjoying the icy art.
INSIDER TIP: There's still time to complete the Scavenger
Hunt, so swing by the Welcome Center to pick up a form and
drop it off by 4:00p!
Sunday Brunch is back at Tabor Hill Winery and Restaurant! Enjoy a rotating brunch buffet from 10:00a-2:00p. Adults
Enjoy a weekly Bloody Mary Bar at Vineyard 2121, on Sundays from 11:00a-4:00p.
Test out your trivia skills during the weekly Sunday Team Trivia at Round Barn Brewery from 1:00p-4:00p. This week’s theme is Food & Drinks! Four rounds of trivia with five questions; max group size of six per team; first-come, first-serve no reservations needed.
Lazy Ballerina Winery hosts a Wine & Girl Scout Cookie Pairing from 12:00p-5:00p! Cost: $19.99/flight and includes 4 different Girl Scout cookies paired with 4 different Lazy Ballerina wines. Space is limited and reservations are suggested.
We hope you find all the frosty fun this weekend! ❄️
