SOMERSET —
The 17th annual Fire & Ice Festival will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday with a gala at Crazy's Alice's Cafe, 101 W. Main St., Somerset.
"We've done the gala for eight years, it kicks off the festival," said Stephanie Williams, executive director of Somerset Inc. "We don't want to hold the gala after the festival because everybody is too tired. We preview the silent auction items and have food and drinks."
While the gala will be held this weekend, the rest of the Fire & Ice activities will be held Jan. 13-15. There will be several more ice sculptures and some sculptures will be larger than in the past.
"We had about 43 last year and will have at least 45 this year," Williams said. "It's not much more, but some are still pending so those numbers may change."
The exact locations of the larger sculptures haven't been determined. Mastro Gourmet Quality Ice, Pittsburgh, will do the ice carvings. Demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend, weather permitting.
It is difficult to determine how many people attend Fire & Ice since there is only a charge for entertainment, but an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 people attend each year. The unknown factor is always the weather.
"The worst is rain because it melts the ice faster," she said. "Extreme cold is great for the ice and bad for people. Warmer weather is bad for the ice but great for people. Either way we win. People come for the activities no matter what the weather."
The Fire & Ice Festival has become a regional festival that draws people from the Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas.
"There aren't many winter festivals and the real draw for visitors is that they enjoy the small town ambiance we have," Williams said. "There has not been a festival that someone has not stopped by and said what a great town this is. It makes my day. I hear local people say that they see people that they don't see other times of the year."
Somerset Borough Manager Benedict G. Vinzani Jr. said the Fire & Ice Festival is one of the most anticipated events held in our area. A lot of people look forward to attending each year.
"It is quite a draw for our town," he said. "People have a good time looking at the ice sculptures, attending events, eating and shopping. It's a great event. We look forward to it each year. I'm very pleased that we have been part of it for 17 years."
Ron Aldom, executive director of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, said the festival is a great kickoff to the new year.
"It celebrates snow and the ski season and with two resorts, we have to celebrate it," he said. "It gives everybody something to do in the winter, it adds flavor to uptown Somerset and it highlights the borough. During the post-holiday slump, everybody needs a little kick. The big picture is a celebration of the economics of snow."
People who live in the county should attend every county festival because a lot of volunteers put time and effort into making festivals happen, Aldom said.
"Appreciate their work and be a part of it," he said. "Mix and meet and have a good time."
Fire & Ice Festival pins are available that entitle people to free admission to Full Kilt, an Irish band playing at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Somerset American Legion.
The pin and an admission fee are needed to attend a performance by the Michael O'Brian Band at 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at the American Legion. No pins will be available at the door. They may be obtained from Somerset Drug, the American Legion or the Fire & Ice headquarters at the former Boys and Girls Club, 122 N. Center Ave., beginning next week.
Other scheduled activities include a 5K run/walk, fireworks, chain saw wood carving, a chili cookoff, a children's center at First Christian Church and sleigh rides.
