Crowds and ice sculptures filled up downtown for the 21st Ice and Snow Festival.
The festival returned to Keene on Saturday, Feb. 4
The Ice and Snow Festival had a lot to do besides watching the ice sculptors. In the center of the roundabout, there was a DJ playing music, opportunities to take pictures with Santa Claus and characters from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and maple syrup mixed with snow to eat.
Across downtown there were booths to promote local businesses, face painting, free cartoons to watch and a “find the yeti” scavenger hunt. People who found the hidden yeti at all the different locations would be able to win a small prize.
“I like the yeti hunt that they’re doing. [It] gets you into all the stores, you get to see a lot of different things and smell some good food,” said Wendy Nolan, a first-time attendant of the Ice and Snow Festival
At Railroad Square, there were several activities set up for everyone. There was a hot cocoa booth, a firepit to make s’mores, stencils to make mandalas in the snow, and a mini train for the children.
“I think the cartoons are the best,” Peter Martin said. “But for my three-and-a-half-year-old, it would be the train ride.”
“The [ice sculptures] we’ve seen in years past, they’re gorgeous. They put a lot of hard work into making them really nice,” continued Martin.
One of the members of the Ice and Snow Festival’s founding committee, Wayne Miller, was in attendance as an ice sculptor, carving a penguin riding a surfboard.
“Actually, there was an old guy wanted to do a bobsled run like how they do in Camden, Maine, but we talked him into ice carving instead,” Miller said. “And there’s sort of a community of ice carvers in New England. We got 11 here today, down in Northampton three weeks ago there were 15. So, you know … it’s not something everybody does.”
Mike Rondo took inspiration for his sculpture from his local sponsor, the Toadstool Bookshop. “Every year they put us in front of a different business and they’re our sponsor so I figured I’d do the Toadstool,” Rondo said. “Figured I’d do the books and … stuff like that. Just something fun, whimsical.” His sculpture was of a stack of books with a gramophone and small frog on top.
People in attendance largely agreed that the festival was a fun community gathering.
“I think it’s just so nice seeing everyone out and about, especially during the winter when it’s so absolutely frigid, and to have everybody come out for an event for Keene,” said Marissa Mannion-King. She said she attended the festival a few times before with her family.
“It’s just like the community involvement and just seeing businesses participate and just seeing everyone offer something too,” Dana Mannion-King said.
“I love the people, I love the vibe,” said sculptor Billy Poe who carved a dragon. “Just such a positive vibe. The people are so warm, you know?”
“Keene is such a great little city,” said Julie, a member of the Granite State Ambassadors who was running information booths throughout the festival, “And the people are amazing, so friendly. Seems like a lot of families, they love all the family and kid activities … And the ice sculptures last year [2023] were amazing, I can’t wait to see what they do this year.”
Orion Corbin can be contacted at
ocorbin@kscequinox.com
