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Holiday Ice & Winterfest Market in Ferndale
Downtown Ferndale transforms into a winter wonderland complete with ice sculptures, visits with Santa and more Dec. 9-11, 2011
Showing hometown pride is cool – literally – at the Holiday Ice & Winterfest Market in Ferndale. This year's ice sculptures are all about Michigan. From the Mackinac Bridge to our state tree, the Great White Pine, to that article of winter apparel that our fair state resembles (hint: a mitten) – it's all going to be represented in ice.
And it's not some hack that's going to be, well, hacking up the ice. Seven-time world champion ice carver and Plymouth resident Tajana Raukar will be slicing, chiseling and torching the blocks of ice to transform them into Michigan ice icons.
It's the 11th year for the Ice Festival,which, thanks to Motor City Casino Hotel, has been expanded from one to three days and now includes a Winterfest Market, along with live music, shopping and more.
The Winterfest Market is an outdoor shopping area located on Nine Mile Road, just east of Woodward Avenue, featuring holiday gifts, hand-blown ornaments, food and arts and crafts from local artists.
A five-story Ferris wheel and Choo Choo Train, located at Woodward Avenue and Nine Mile Road, provide entertainment for the little ones. Plus, local musicians will be performing live, with a special concert at the Rust Belt Market on Friday starting at 6 p.m.
Saturday is all about ice, with more than 50 ice sculptures. Santa arrives to the North Pole, located at Planavon and West Nine Mile roads, in a fire truck at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Kids can take a free photo with the Jolly Old Elf from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 2 to 6 p.m. From noon to 1:30 p.m., kids can grab lunch with Santa at Buffalo Wild Wings. Let's hope he keeps his clean white beard free of wing sauce.
Meet Dancer and Prancer from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the North Pole and enjoy a holiday hayride through downtown Ferndale, too.
Also on Saturday, Sing Out Detroit, an LGBT choir, will be performing holiday songs, along with the Ferndale High School Eagles Marching Band.
Local bars and restaurants will be serving up holiday specials. And, if you're looking for another way to give back to the community, many Ferndale businesses are collecting money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
See the Metro Parent listing for more on the Holiday Ice & Winterfest Market in Ferndale.
