Ice & Fire Festival

The City of Harrisburg presents the 9th annual M&T Bank Ice & Fire Festival on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 11am-7pm. 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, 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 2^nd Street and Market Street, as well as City Island, Midtown, Italian Lake, Shipoke, & Reservoir Park. The sculptures will be illuminated starting at 5pm.

View the event schedule, parking options, road closures, and more below.

SPONSORS: M&T Bank, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG, Aspen Home Improvements, Staybridge Suites Harrisburg Hershey, Renewal by Andersen, Leaf Filter, Topp Home, New York Life Insurance, and Park Harrisburg.

VIEW THE 2026 EVENT GUIDE

VIEW THE INTERACTIVE MAP OF ICE SCULPTURES & DRINK/FOOD SPECIAL LOCATIONS

2026 FACEBOOK EVENT

Event Schedule

Saturday, March 7, 2026

• 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 from Skylark Circus Arts as they entertain with a series of 15 minute fire dancing performances at 5pm & 7pm on March 7.

GIANT ICE SLIDE

Attendees of all ages can take a free ride on the 30-ft ice slide throughout the festival on March 7 from 11am-7pm.

60+ ICE SCULPTURES

More than 60 ice sculptures will be on display throughout the City on March 7 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 7.

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 at 2pm on March 7.

FOOD TRUCKS

Choose from 15+ food trucks that will serve up a variety of delicious bites for everyone to enjoy. Indulge in funnel cakes, gourmet burgers, pierogies, loaded fries, milkshakes, cheesesteaks, pizza, Asian cuisine, and much more.

ICE & FIRE THEMED FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS

Stop by participating businesses throughout the City for ice and fire themed food and drink specials on March 7.  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 on March 7. 

HEATED SEATING TENT

Warm up at the heated seating tent sponsored by Aspen Home Improvements throughout the festival on March 7 from 11am-7pm!

CITY ISLAND ROLLER SKATING

Join us at City Island for a roller rink rally in the Carousel Pavilion! Starting at 6 pm, enjoy roller skating with family and friends up until 9 pm. Entry fee will be $5 and $2 for skating rentals.

KIDS ACTIVITIES

There will be free face painting and balloon animals to keep the kids entertained on March 7 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 7. The popular fire dancers will also perform at the stage at 5pm & 7pm.

Ice Sculpture Scavenger Hunt

Participate in the Ice & Fire Festival Scavenger Hunt Contest during the event for the chance to win gift cards from City of Harrisburg businesses. Follow these steps to participate and read the full contest rules here. 

1. Scan the QR code on the ice sculpture sign using your mobile device’s camera. You will be directed to an online form.
2. Enter your email on the form. Each ice sculpture = one entry, but you must visit AT LEAST 10 ice sculptures to be eligible to win. The more you visit, the better your chances of winning! 
3. Two winners will be randomly selected to win gift cards & prizes from the City of Harrisburg businesses listed below. All entrants will be notified by email by Friday, March 13.

*If you do not have a mobile device capable of scanning a QR code, you may submit a photo of each ice sculpture you visit via Facebook Messenger to @CityofHBG

Plan Your Visit

PARKING:

Downtown

Downtown – Street parking is free after 5pm on Saturday in the designated Downtown area (see map here) and free all day on Sunday.  A discounted $10 rate from 10am-10pm is available at the Market Square Garage courtesy of Park Harrisburg on March 7. The Walnut Street and Chestnut Street garages will also be available (standard rates apply).

City Island

City Island – Free parking is available.

Midtown

Midtown – Free parking at the Greenworks Development parking lots #2 and #4 at Reily and Logan St on March 1. Free 2 hour parking in the parking lots at Fulton and Verbeke St. Metered street parking is available.

Italian Lake

Italian Lake – Street parking is available.

Reservoir Park

Reservoir Park – Free parking in the parking lot off of Reservoir Dr. and at the Civil War Museum.

Shipoke

Shipoke – Metered street parking available.

ROAD CLOSURES: 

Friday, March 6

• The left hand lane of 2nd Street between Market & Walnut will be closed starting at 9am.
• 2nd Street will be closed between Market & Walnut Street starting at 12pm.

Saturday, March 7

• 2nd Street will be closed between Market and Pine Street from 6:30am-11pm. Note that you will not be able to enter the River Street Garage at this time.
• Market, Strawberry, Walnut, and Locust Streets will be closed between Front and 2nd Street from 6:30am-11pm.
• Strawberry, Walnut, Locust, and Cranberry Streets will be closed between 2nd & Court Streets from 6:30am-11pm on March 7.  Access to the Walnut Street Garage will still be available.
• Vehicles will not be able to enter the River Street Garage between 6:30am-11pm on March 7 but can exit the garage via River Street.

Plan Your Visit

HARRISBURG ARTS DISTRICT

The Harrisburg Arts District is a walkable area within the downtown, midtown, and riverfront areas. It is comprised of theatres, museums, galleries, public art, and performance venues.

Learn More

SWEET TREAT TRAIL

Satisfy your sweet tooth by making stops at local bakeries, creameries, candy stores, and more throughout the City. Sign up for Visit Hershey & Harrisburg’s free mobile passport and check in to the locations you visit by entering a PIN code you’ll receive at checkout. Each check in is worth 50 points which are redeemable for prizes.

Learn More

BREW BARONS BEER TRAIL

Visit 30+ Pennsylvania craft breweries in the Hershey & Harrisburg region, including 5 in the City! Download Visit Hershey & Harrisburg’s Brew Barons Beer Trail app on your phone and check into the locations you visit to earn prizes.

Learn More

MURALS & MORE

The City of Harrisburg is home to more than 40 colorful murals, inspiring architecture, and monuments. Explore the murals and other public art located Downtown and in Midtown while viewing the ice sculptures during the festival.

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ADVENTURE TRAIL

The Visit Hershey & Harrisburg Adventure Trail highlights outdoor experiences for hiking, biking, kayaking and family fun. Go for a stroll on the scenic 21 miles of the Capital Area Greenbelt, explore 8 trails at Wildwood Park, paddle along the Susquehanna River or head just outside the City for more adventures.

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RESTAURANTS

The City of Harrisburg is home to many fantastic restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisine to choose from. Whether you want a 5-course feast, farm-to-table meal, a classic sports bar, or something to-go, our locally-owned restaurants have you covered.

Learn More

Event Sponsors

Life Size Ice Sculpture Sponsors

• Affordable Pennsylvania
• Cordia Energy
• ExploreHBG
• Visit Hershey & Harrisburg