The City of Harrisburg presents the M and T Bank Ice and 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, and Reservoir Park. The sculptures will be illuminated from 7-9pm. Follow the Facebook event and check back to this webpage in February for all event activities.

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.

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 and 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) and 2 raffle tickets to vote. Awards for Judges Choice and 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 and ice themed drink specials at participating businesses, and other entertainment. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Broad Street Market.

Buy Tickets

Saturday, March 4, 2023

- 11am-9pm: View 60+ 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, and 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 and Tuscarora Streets

- 11am-8pm: Downtown street festival on 2nd Street between Market and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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.

Date: March 4, 2023

Time: 11am-8pm

Location: Various Venues in Harrisburg, PA 17101.

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