Thanks to a construction project, the bulk of the action for the Fire and Ice Festival the weekend of January 19-21 will move to an open field at Second and Mill streets in downtown Rochester. According to organizers, the new location is where the dogsled rides and snowshoeing have always been. Tube sledding will remain at Third and Water.
The Brooksie Way Chill at the Mills 5k race will also relocate its start/finish line this year due to the construction project. Runners will begin the race on Mill Street south of the Rochester Fire Department headquarters and finish the race on Water Street just south of Rochester Mills.
Race registration remains open through race day which takes place at the festival Sunday, Jan. 21 at 9:30 a.m. To date, 450 runners have registered which puts the Chill at the Mills on pace to host about 1,500 participants.
A college ice carving contest returns for a third year on Saturday, January 20. Students from a number of culinary arts programs in Southeast Michigan will carve sculptures out of blocks of ice in front of festival crowds with the hopes of grabbing top honors.
Additionally, there will be fun activities like tube sledding, ice skating (they ask you to please bring your own skates), snowshoeing, dogsled rides, cross country skiing, carriage rides, food trucks, face painting, ice carving demonstrations, fireworks shows, and more. The food trucks will be located on Mill Street south of Second Street this year. Also, some restaurants will have live entertainment this year.
Admission is free to the family-friendly Fire & Ice Festival. The festival takes place Friday, Jan. 19 – Sunday, Jan. 21.
Hours run The Fire & Ice Festival runs from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20; 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21; and 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22. Fireworks are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
