Ligonier Ice Fest plans new designs, old favorites for 31st year

The organizers of the Ligonier Ice Festival are keeping an eye on the weather, so to speak, for the forecast for January 22-23.

So far, conditions look favourable for the 31st annual event, with altitudes hovering around 30 degrees, some clouds and possibly snow showers, according to weather.com.

“I say the same, whether it’s 7 or 70 degrees, the event attracts people,” said Cindy Purnell, who is in her 22nd year as event leader. “We just don’t want too much sun.”

The show will begin at 10 a.m. on both days, with the sculptures lit after dark.

“They’ll be there as long as the weather cooperates,” Purnell said. “We had two-day festivals, and we had two-week festivals. I just don’t like the sun, because the sculptures start to melt, and when they freeze again, they start to take shape and it’s not pretty.”

As usual, the organizers and sculpture sponsors have been working hard with sculptors from DiMartino Ice Co. to come up with new and exciting ideas for ice sculptures.

There will be 60 sculptures, including 12 multi-block creations from two to five blocks. One of the pieces of art will depict two chickens made from five blocks of ice.

“They are big chickens,” said Ernie DiMartino, owner of the Janet Company that has provided the sculptures for the event every year since the beginning. We did them for the first time this year for an event in the middle of the state. They were very popular.”

Another design that visitors are expected to click on is the three-block guitar.

“It’s an interactive thing,” he said. “You can stand behind it and take a picture that looks like you’re playing it.”

Carts and corn boiler

Regular festival features will return, including rides on horse-drawn sleighs, Misty Haven Carriage and the Hanson Original Kettle Korn booth in front of the Ligonier Valley Library.

Purnell noted that the availability of sleigh rides depends on the appropriate weather conditions. Rounds will start on the diamond and will be $5 per person.

The Legionnaire Borough Fire Department will host a pasta dinner on January 22 at the Town Hall Community Hall. Serving will be from 11am until supplies last.

It’s going to be sold, there’s no doubt about that,” Purnell said.

Town Hall will be the site of two free concerts, with Big Fat Jazz playing at 2pm on January 22 and Candle in the Wind at 12:3pm on January 23.

“Both groups played the Ice Festival and Summer Evening Parties on Sundays and were very popular with the crowd,” said Amy Beetle, executive director of the Legionnaire Valley Chamber of Commerce, the festival’s sponsor.

Local merchants will offer discounts and restaurants will open.

Continuing the practice that started last year due to the pandemic, there will be no live sculpting or express sculpting competition this year. All sculptures will be brought already.

This move is designed to prevent large crowds from gathering, as a precaution against the spread of the Corona virus.

“I did really well last year. In fact, last year was probably one of our best ice festivals ever,” Purnell said.

DiMartino added that it relieves pressure on sculptors because they deal with weather conditions. For example, if the sun is out, the ice is melting as it is patterned.

Conversely, “In one year, we showed up to 30 inches of snow that we had to shovel before we started,” he said.

Either way, people look forward to the event and come back year after year.

“People in my shop around Christmas were saying, ‘Oh, I can’t wait for the Ice Fest,'” said Purnell, owner of Post & Rail Men’s Shop on the Diamond.

Late January is a good time for a special event, Beetle said.

“People feel itchy to go out,” she said. “There is something here for everyone, for people of all ages. People who want to simply stay outside and enjoy the sculptures can do so. People who want to shop, eat at our great establishments and listen to music, can do so.

“With the work that goes into making (the sculptures), it’s definitely worth a trip to come and look at them,” she said.

For more information, call the room office at 724-238-4200 or visit ligonier.com.