PERRYSBURG – Downtown Perrysburg will be warming up to the annual Winterfest featuring a national ice
carving competition this weekend.
The event is sponsored by Downtown Perrysburg Inc. and will include family activities, ice carvings, two
nights of music, and a variety of food and drink.
“It’s a great community event to enjoy the weather and get out of the house in this time of year,” said
DPI Executive Director Rick Thielen.
On Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., 24 ice carvers will compete in a single-block competition for the national
ice carving title. Additionally, the streets will be lined with more than 60 community ice carvings
commissioned by businesses.
From 7 to 10 p.m., a microbrew tasting will be held in a heated, enclosed tent at West Second Street and
Louisiana Avenue. The event will include 24 microbrews, music, food and ice carving demonstrations.
Tickets are required, and only those 21 and older will be admitted.
Family Fun Fest will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m., including a variety of
family-friendly activities, live music, a clown, arts and crafts.
“For all those ‘Frozen’ movie fans, we will have the Ice Queen herself, Queen Else, to entertain,” said
Thielen, referring to a character from the popular recent Disney film.
From 12 to 4 p.m., a four-hour, two-block ice carving competition will also be held.
From 7 to 10 p.m., a wine tasting will take place in the heated tent, including 30 national wines, a
Taste of Perrysburg event featuring eight area restaurants, ice carving demonstrations, a carving awards
ceremony, and music. Tickets are required, and only those 21 and older will be admitted.
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the “Peoples Choice” voting will be held on ice sculptures produced
during the weekend and on display.
New this year will be a Community Ice Wall, made up of previously-purchased ice blocks with inscriptions
and other designs. The wall will be built by the Commodore Perry Monument at Louisiana Avenue and Front
Street.