The City of Harrisburg presents the 8th annual M&T Bank Ice & Fire Festival. This free event will feature 60+ large and small ice sculptures throughout the City and a Downtown street festival with an ice slide, fire dancers, iceless ice skating, live ice carvings, fire pits and smores, performances by local school and community groups, kids activities, vendors, and more. Ice sculptures will be along the Downtown street festival path on North 2nd Street and Market Street, as well as City Island, Midtown, Italian Lake, Shipoke, & Reservoir Park. The sculptures will be illuminated starting at 5pm.
Schedule of Events
11am-7pm: Downtown street festival on 2nd Street between Market & Pine Street featuring an ice slide, fire dancers, live ice carvings, fire pits and smores, performances by local school and community groups, free kids activities, food trucks, artisan market, vendors, and more.
Starting at 11am: View 60+ ice sculptures throughout the City. The sculptures will be illuminated starting at 5pm. The sculptures will remain in place throughout the day and the days that follow as weather permits.
DOWNTOWN – 2nd Street from Market to State Streets, Market Street from 2nd to 4th Streets, & SoMa (3rd Street from Market to Chestnut)
CITY ISLAND
ITALIAN LAKE
MIDTOWN – 3rd Street from Forster to Reily
RESERVOIR PARK– near the bandshell on Reservoir Dr
SHIPOKE– along Riverfront Park near Conoy & Tuscarora Streets
All Day: Drink specials from participating locations throughout the City. View all specials and hours of participating businesses in the program guide when available.
Various time throughout the day: Local businesses across the City will offer a variety of activities, such as horse drawn carriage rides, live ice carvings and more. View all details in the program guide.
FIRE DANCERS
Watch performers as they entertain with a series of 15 minute fire dancing performances at 5pm & 7pm
GIANT ICE SLIDE
Attendees of all ages can take a free ride on the 30-ft ice slide throughout the festival from 11am-7pm.
ICELESS ICE SKATING RINK
60+ ICE SCULPTURES
More than 60 ice sculptures will be on display throughout the City on March 1 starting at 11am. They will be illuminated starting at 5pm. Be sure to participate in the scavenger hunt for the chance to win a prize basket filled with gift cards and other goodies from local businesses.
FIRE PITS & SMORES
250 free smores kits will be distributed at the start of each hour of the festival from 11am-7pm on March 2. Roasting sticks will be provided courtesy of Boulder & Branch.
LIVE ICE CARVINGS
Watch as one of our talented ice carvers from Ice Concepts brings an ice sculpture to life along the festival route on 2nd Street. Check the event guide when available for the time and location.
Local ice carver Katie Trainer will also do live carvings of two ice sculptures at the Harrisburg Beach Club on City Island.
ICE & FIRE THEMED DRINK SPECIALS
Stop by participating businesses throughout the City for ice and fire themed drink specials. A list of participating businesses will be included in the event guide and map.
ARTIST MARKET
Shop a variety of handcrafted items from local makers such as pottery, clothing, jewelry, candles and more! More than 25 artisans will be inside and outside of the City Government Center from 11am-7pm. The HBG Flea will also be taking place at nearby Strawberry Square from 10am-4pm to shop even more handcrafted wares.
HEATED SEATING TENT
Warm up at the heated seating tent throughout the festival from 11am-7pm!
HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES
Benchfield Farms will be offering horse carriage rides for up to 4 adults from 12-7pm on March 1. Rides will depart from 2nd & Locust Street and offer great views of the City, including the Capitol building. Advance registration is recommended and can be made by calling or texting Traci at 717-448-8464 or messaging Benchfield Farms on Facebook. Walk-ups will be accepted as space permits for a slightly increased rate. Cash and credit card accepted (there is a $3 processing fee if paying by card).
Cost: $55 – 15 minute ride (w/ advance sign-up), $105 – 30 minute ride (w/ advance sign-up)
KIDS ACTIVITIES
There will be free face painting and balloon animals to keep the kids entertained from 11am-7pm.
ENTERTAINMENT STAGE
Enjoy dance, instrumental, and vocal performances by youth and community groups from across the region at the stage from 11am-7pm on March 1. The popular fire dancers will also perform at the stage at 5pm & 7pm.
