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Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester
This Oakland County family favorite returns Jan. 25-27, 2013 with ice sculptures, fireworks marshmallow roasts, bright lights, ice skating and more
Family fun fills the frosty air Jan. 25-27, 2013 as an Oakland County winter classic returns to Oakland County. Arctic-temp art, toasty marshmallows and snowy activities are all at your kids' glove-covered fingertips during the Fire & Ice Festival in downtown Rochester!
Now it its fifth year, the fest also lights up the night sky with back-to-back fireworks displays, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. And if you've ever wanted to try dog sledding or snow shoeing, this is a choice chance. There's ice skating, too (bring your own blades) – and, of course, the ever-popular three-shoot tubing hill, which takes over a steep, closed-down stretch of Third Street, says Stephen Huber with the county's marketing department.
"It is iced," as Huber puts it, "and it is sweet." More low-key? Marvel at the Around the World Ice Sculpture Show, on display all weekend long. The "Big Bright & Ice Trolley Tours" chug through town Friday and Saturday. And stroll around to take in 1.5 million twinkling lights: The Big Bright Light Show, which ends Jan. 6, fires back up for a bonus three nights. Play spectator, too, during demos of broomball, the Canadian ice sport.
When you've worked up an appetite, try a spaghetti dinner on Friday (5-8 p.m.) and Sunday pancake breakfast (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). A TasteFest, marshmallow roasting and beer tent are open the duration of the fest. After a warm spell saw last year's fest scaled back, planners are gearing up for frigid fun. "We are all extremely confident – with fingers crossed! – that we're going to have snow and it's going to be a glorious event," Huber says.
The festival runs 6-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free!
Check out the Metro Parent listing to learn more about the 2013 Fire & Ice Festival in downtown Rochester.
