IceFest is scheduled to take place in downtown Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with activities commencing early Saturday morning, January 30, at 6 AM. The event will feature small ice sculptures, which will be installed ahead of the festivities. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony, supported by M&T Bank, will occur at 5 PM on the same day at Courthouse Plaza, where complimentary cupcakes will be available until supplies last. Attendees can engage in live sculpture carving, participate in a scavenger hunt, and enjoy a double-wide slide located on South Main Street. Horse and wagon rides will also be available, departing from Grant Street. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, which will showcase the Penn’s Woods Printmaker’s All Media Art Exhibit, a raffle organized by the Chambersburg Quilt Guild, and student art from the Chambersburg Area Middle School. Additionally, there will be a voting opportunity for the America250PA Franklin County T-Shirt Contest.
On Friday, January 31, ice carving will continue from 5 PM to 8 PM, and the double-wide slide will be operational once again. The Snowfall Ball at Central Presbyterian will feature a performance by Frank Hancock. Horse and wagon rides will persist, and local shops and restaurants are expected to offer various specials. The Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center will provide winter coloring sheets and a chance to meet the ice fairy princess.
Saturday, February 1, will begin with an All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast at Trinity Episcopal Church from 8 AM to 11 AM. The ice slide will open at 10 AM and remain available until 8 PM. A cake-decorating contest, themed Medieval Times, will take place at First Evangelical Lutheran Church from 10 AM to 5 PM, featuring judges from the Food Network and local bakers.
Food Truck Fest will commence at 10 AM on Memorial Square, featuring seventeen vendors. The Chili Q competition will start at 11 AM on North Main, with both amateur and professional participants competing for the best chili, alongside a wing-off and pepper eating contest. A Beer Garden will be open from noon to 3 PM.
The Chambersburg Ballet will offer insights into their classes and practices at the Capitol Theatre from 10 AM to 2 PM. Sample classes will be provided by the Cumberland Valley School of Music at Central Presbyterian from 11 AM to 1 PM. The evening will feature an open mic event at the Visitors Center at 5 PM, followed by a performance by the Spice Up the Ice Pyrophoric Fire Dance Troupe at Chambers Fort Park at 7 PM.
Throughout the event, Main Street shops will extend their hours and offer winter sales. The Foundry, located at 54 Lincoln Way West, will have special hours during IceFest, including Thursday from 4 PM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM, where visitors can meet local artists and purchase their work.
The final day of IceFest will be Sunday, with the ice slide operating from noon to 4 PM and horse and wagon rides continuing. At 11 AM, a “Run Your Ice Off” 5K will take place. An artist’s reception for the Imagine exhibit will be held at the Franklin County Old Jail from 2 PM to 4 PM. Sunday will also mark the last opportunity to submit answers for the Scavenger Hunt at Coyle Free Library.
IceFest serves as a community event, uniting various organizations and civic groups to provide a diverse experience for attendees.