The City of Harrisburg presents the M&T Bank Ice & Fire Festival on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 11am-8pm. This free event will feature 50+ large and small ice sculptures, an ice slide, fire dancers, live ice carving, fire pits and smores, an artist market, performances by local school and community groups, kids activities, food trucks, vendors, a cocktail/coffee/cocoa crawl and more. Ice sculptures will be along the Downtown street festival path on North 2nd Street as well as City Island, Midtown, Italian Lake, Shipoke, & Reservoir Park. The sculptures will be illuminated from 7-9pm. Follow the Facebook event and view the event guide below for all festival information.
The 1st annual chili cook-off sponsored by Capital Blue Cross will launch the festival activities on Friday, March 3 from 5:30-8pm at the Broad Street Market. All chili entries will be submitted by Market vendors and other City of Harrisburg restaurants. Proceeds from the cook-off will benefit the Broad Street Market. See below for ticket information.
View the event schedule, parking options, road closures, and more below.
SPONSORS: Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG, M&T Bank, UPMC, Capital Blue Cross, Aetna, Pennsy Supply, Staybridge Suites Harrisburg Hershey, Krapf School Bus, PHFA, Karns Foods, Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District and Park Harrisburg.
Event Schedule
Friday, March 3, 2023
- 5:30-8pm: Chili Cook-Off at the Broad Street Market.
The inaugural Chili Cook-Off sponsored by Capital Blue Cross will be held at the Broad Street Market on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 5:30-8pm. Come sample chilis from nearly 15 Market vendors and other City restaurants and vote for your favorite! Beer will also be available for purchase from Zeroday Brewing & Lovedrafts Brewing. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 13*. Each ticket includes a wristband for entry, chili sample from each business (while supplies last) & 2 raffle tickets to vote. Awards for Judges Choice & Peoples Choice will be awarded at the end of the event. In addition to the cook-off, there will be ice sculptures outside the Market, fire & ice themed drink specials at participating businesses, and other entertainment. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Broad Street Market.
Saturday, March 4, 2023
- 11am-9pm: View 65 ice sculptures throughout the City. Sculptures will be illuminated from 7-9pm.
- 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
- 11am-8pm: Downtown street festival on 2nd Street between Market & Pine Street featuring an ice slide, fire dancers, live ice carving, fire pits and smores, performances by local school and community groups, free kids activities, food trucks, artisan market, vendors, and more.
- 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 crafts, horse drawn carriage rides, live ice carvings and more. View all details in the program guide.
FIRE DANCERS
Watch performers from Skylark Circus as they entertain with a series of fire dancing performances at 4:30pm & 7:30pm on March 4.
GIANT ICE SLIDE
Attendees of all ages can take a free ride on the 30-ft ice slide sponsored by Aetna throughout the festival on March 4 from 11am-8pm.
LIVE ICE CARVINGS
Watch as one of the talented ice carvers from the Ice Concepts team brings an ice sculpture to life. They will be carving on 2nd Street starting at 2:30pm.
Local ice carver & muralist Katie Trainer will also be doing a live ice carving at the Harrisburg Beach Club on City Island from 1-4pm.
50+ ICE SCULPTURES
More than 50 ice sculptures will be on display throughout the City on March 4 starting at 11am! They will be illuminated from 7-9pm. 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
200 free smores kits sponsored by Karns will be distributed at the start of each hour of the festival from 11am-8pm on March 4. Roasting sticks will be provided courtesy of Boulder & Branch.
ARTIST MARKET
Shop a variety of handcrafted items from local makers such as pottery, wire sculptures, clothing, jewelry, illustrations, candles and more! Artisans will be inside and outside of the City Government Center from 11am-8pm on March 4. Follow the Facebook Event for a sneak peek at the participating artisans. The HBG Flea will also be taking place at Strawberry Square from 10am-4pm to shop even more handcrafted wares.
ICE & FIRE THEMED DRINK SPECIALS
Stop by participating businesses throughout the City for ice and fire themed drink specials that are $7 or less. A list of participating businesses will be included in the event guide and map.
DIY GLASS ICICLE WORKSHOPS
Create your own glass icicle under the instruction of local glass artist Michael Peluso. Classes will be held at 12pm, 2pm & 4pm on March 4. Click here to register in advance. Walk-ups will be accepted as space permits. $40 per person.
HEATED SEATING TENT
Warm up at the heated seating tent sponsored by Pennsy Supply throughout the festival on March 4 from 11am-8pm!
HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES
Benchfield Farms will be offering horse carriage rides on March 4 from 1-8pm. Advance registration can be made by calling or texting Traci at 717-448-8464. Walk-ups will also be accepted. Cash and credit card accepted (there is a $3 processing fee if paying by card).
- 15 minute route on City Island. $50 advance registration (ends March 3) or $55 walk-up.
- 30 minute route from City Island and through Riverfront Park. $100 advance registration (ends March 3) or $105 walk-up.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
There will be free face painting and balloon animals to keep the kids entertained on March 4 from 11am-8pm.
ENTERTAINMENT STAGE
Enjoy dance, instrumental, and vocal perfromances by youth and community groups from across the region at the UPMC Stage from 11am-8pm on March 4. The fire dancers will also perform at the stage. A complete schedule of performances will be included in the event guide.
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.
- Scan the QR code on the ice sculpture sign using your mobile device’s camera. You will be directed to an online form.
- 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!
- Two winners will be randomly selected to win gift cards to City of Harrisburg businesses. All entrants will be notified by email on Tuesday, March 7.
*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
Thank you to the following businesses for donating gift cards and items for inclusion in the prize baskets (more will be added as they are confirmed):
- 717 Sweets
- City Island Water Golf
- JB Lovedrafts
- Open Stage
- Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat
Plan Your Visit
PARKING:
Downtown – Street parking is free after 5pm on Saturday in the designated Downtown area (see map here) and free all day on Sunday. Get 4 hours of free Downtown street parking using the code LUVHBG on the Parkmobile app. A discounted $10 daily rate is available at the Market Square Garage courtesy of Park Harrisburg on March 4. The Walnut Street and Chestnut Street garages will also be available (standard rates apply).
City Island – Free parking is available.
Midtown – Free parking at the Greenworks Development parking lots #2 and #4 at Reily and Logan St. Free 2 hour parking in the parking lots at Fulton and Verbeke St. Metered street parking is available.
Italian Lake – Street parking is available
Reservoir Park – Free parking in the parking lot off of Reservoir Dr.
Shipoke – Metered street parking available.
ROAD CLOSURES:
Friday, March 3
- 2nd Street will be closed from Market to Walnut Street starting at 9am.
Saturday, March 4
- 2nd Street will be closed from Market to Pine Street from 7am-midnight. Note that you will not be able to enter the River Street Garage at this time.
- Market Street will be closed from Front to 2nd Street from 7am-midnight.
TRANSIT:
Free Shuttles
Krapf School Buses will offer a free ADA accessible shuttle bus between City Island, Downtown, & Midtown on March 4. See the shuttle stop locations on the event map. The schedule is as follows:
- City Island (in the parking lot near the Walnut Street Bridge)
-
- bus departs every 30 minutes starting at 11am and ending at 8pm.
- The last drop off to City Island will be after the 8:15pm Midtown pick-up.
-
- Downtown (bus stop at 2nd & Market)
-
- bus departs every 30 minutes starting at 11:05am and ending at 8:05pm
-
- Midtown (on Verbeke Street near the Broad Street Market)
-
- bus departs every 30 minutes starting at 11:15am and ending at 8:15pm
-
Public Transit
- The train station is located Downtown with easy access to ice sculptures, the street festival, restaurants and more.
- Bus stops are located throughout all neighborhoods. View the bus schedule.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Stay in the City for the weekend to explore everything it has to offer in addition ot the festival. There are several hotels, bed & breakfasts, and other accommodations available. Learn more at www.explorehbg.com/stay
EXPLORE THE CITY:
Find all the best restaurants, shopping, family fun activities, entertainment and more at www.explorehbg.com.
THEATRE
Catch a show at one of our local theatres while you’re in town.
Thistle & Salt: The Ireland of J.M. Synge – Gamut Theatre Group
Harrisburg Improv Theater Kid Friendly Mixer
CONCERTS
The City has several music venues that attract nationally touring acts, local musicians, and more. These include Club XL, HMAC,
TRAILS & EXPERIENCES
Visit Hershey & Harrisburg offers unique trail experiences to encourage visitors and residents to explore the City and surrounding region. Earn prizes as you check in to different locations!
Event Sponsors
The City of Harrisburg relies on community partners to produce the Ice & Fire Festival. Sponsors receive extensive media coverage, on-site promotion, promotional listings on billboards and marketing materials, guest speaker opportunities and much more. Please contact Cortney Ranck-Cameron at 717-255-3033 or [email protected] for more information about sponsorship opportunities.
Ice Sculpture Sponsors
LIFE-SIZE SCULPTURE SPONSORS
1-BLOCK SCULPTURE SPONSORS
Ace Distributing
Aroogas
Brownstone Lounge
Burn 30 Personal Training & Fitness
Central Penn College
City Island Water Golf
Doggie Delights
First National Bank
Harrisburg Young Professionals
Hilton Harrisburg
Humane Society of Harrisburg
JB Lovedrafts
Kiwanis Club of Harrisburg
Little Amps Coffee
McCormick Riverfront Library
PA Skill Charitable Giving
Premier Eye Care Group
Rotary Club of Harrisburg
Sip@SOMA
Strawberry Square
Taco Amigos
The Broad Street Market
The Millworks
The Studio
The Whitaker Center
Zeroday Brewing
Vendors
An art vendor sells items they have personally handcrafted such as pottery, jewelry, glass, fibers, bath & body, leather, wood and more. Applications are due Friday, January 6.
A food vendor has a food truck, concessions trailer or tent set-up and/or prepares food on-site that is meant to be consumed at the festival. Applications are due Friday, December 23.
A specialty food vendor has a tent set-up and/or sells pre-made, pre-packaged food that is not meant to be consumed at the festival. Applications are due Friday, January 6.
A product vendor is a business that wishes to sell items and/or disburse information about their products or services. Applications are due Friday, January 6.
A non-profit vendor is a registered non-profit organization that wishes to sell items and/or disburse information about their services. Applications are due Friday, January 6.
Event Images
