Fire & Ice Celebrations Returns for 13th Year to Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel is once again turning winter into a winter wonderland spectacle as the Fire and Ice Celebration has returned. With more than 40,000 pounds of carved ice sculpture, fireworks to end each night, live music, and more; the event is expected to remain packed for the next two nights, Friday, January 31st, and Saturday, February 1st.
The prep work for the ice carvings started around a week ago, they are thoroughly worked on, and kept at freezing temperatures, all before being transferred to Watkins Glen from Jordan, New York.
"Every pallet is done so that we know exactly what's on it and it goes in place and that's what it is," says Stan Kolonko, President and Sculptor at the Ice Farm. "So we we are a lot of thought and preparation ahead of time to make sure everything's a big jigsaw puzzle, but we get it in its own pieces."
The festival features ice bars, martini luges, and fire pits to keep guests both chilled and warm at the same time. Attendees 21 and older can grab an alcoholic beverage; with some poured down a chilled luge into your glass. Additionally, food and other beverages will be available to guests.
"We have nearly 50 local businesses that are joining us for this year's three day indoor-outdoor event, offering everything from complimentary wine, beer, and distillery tastings, food samples, music, and nightly fireworks display over the lake," shared Marissa Brace, Sales Manager at the Harbor Hotel.
Beyond the festivities, the Fire & Ice Celebrations serve a greater purpose. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Schuyler Health Foundation, supporting local healthcare initiatives.
"Fire and Ice is so significant for the Schuyler Health Foundation because the money that is raised, the proceeds, go back to the foundation and we've been doing a really a lot of great things at the hospital in the skilled nursing facility, and this money just really helps us be able to complete all those projects and it's just that extra push that we need for those projects," said Kimberly Sprague, Director of Schuyler Health Foundation.
Each evening, the celebration will wrap up at 9 p.m. with fireworks over Seneca Lake. Brace says tickets are completely sold out for Thursday and Saturday's event, but tickets remain available for Friday, February 1st.
Tickets for the Watkins Glen event are $45 per person, with doors opening at 5 p.m.
For those who cannot attend the celebration in Watkins Glen, the event will return to 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton on February 6-8, followed by the finale event at Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron from February 13-15.
Details about the remaining two nights of the Watkins Glen event can be found here.
The Harbor Hotel is located at 16 N. Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891.
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