Magical Ice Festival

Ice Fest celebrates winter at its best in St. Joe!


Always the first weekend of February, Ice Fest will take place February 3rd through 5th, 2023, promising a delightful weekend of frosty fun featuring professional ice carving artists, amazing ice sculptures, and exciting happenings along St. Joseph’s downtown streets.

The action begins on Friday evening with ten master carvers competing head-to-head in the Professional Individual Competition. Master ice carvers from all over the country will show their skills using chisels, chainsaws, clippers, and torches to create elaborate art made of ice. After the competition, visitors love to gather around the Fire & Ice Tower, a giant bonfire made with glistening blocks of ice. Stop by the St. Joseph Today Welcome Center, located nearby, to learn more about activities taking place all weekend.

Early Saturday morning, step out onto the snowy streets to watch five professional teams compete in the Team Ice Carving Competition. From 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. master carvers will design intriguing ice objects right before your eyes. Enjoy a magician performing fascinating tricks on the corner of State and Pleasant streets at 1 p.m., and then again at the Shadowland on Silver Beach at 4pm.

Visitors are encouraged to bundle up for the festivities to engage in their own challenges at the Ice Interactives area. Games like frozen Tic-Tac-Toe, the frozen Fish Toss and Ice Bowling will have visitors howling with laughter as volunteers guide them in these amateur competitions!

Don’t forget to pick up a Scavenger Hunt map at the St. Joseph Today Welcome Center to search for clues at many local locations for a chance to win an exciting St. Joe Today gift certificate. Throughout your stay, wander into shops and restaurants to experience wonderful food and beverages and unique gift buying.

Admission is free for Ice Fest 2023. See stjoetoday.com for general information and lodging. For specific questions contact info@stjoetoday.com or (269) 985-1111.

Photos by Joshua Nowicki.