Keene’s annual Ice and Snow Festival brought ice carvers and activities back to the downtown area last weekend on a day that matched the event’s theme in terms of weather conditions.
Attendees were forced to brave through the snow, wind and cold temperatures to make it to the 23rd edition of the event, held on Saturday, Feb. 7.
As per usual, the event celebrated the winter season by featuring a competition of professional ice sculptors. The sculptors were spread out around the downtown area and each had their own space in front of a local business to create their ice sculptures. Those who attended the event were able to vote on which ice sculpture they thought was the best.
Additional attractions that the festival had to offer included a children’s train ride, an area to play curling and a yeti scavenger hunt, as well as many tables that were set up around the downtown area for local businesses and organizations.
One of these organizations was The Community Kitchen, a food pantry and soup kitchen in Keene. The organization gave out free cookies and hot cocoa to attendees at their table.
Samantha Belle, purchasing & logistics manager at The Community Kitchen, said the Ice and Snow Festival was a good opportunity for the organization to thank the Keene community for all of their support.
“This is my first year doing the Ice and Snow Festival, and this is very cool watching the ice carvers here and just getting to see people in the community,” said Belle. “It’s a little bit of a way for us to thank the community. Our community is very generous and good to The Community Kitchen, so it’s a nice thing to participate in today.”
Another community member who attended the festival for a local business was Emma Pederson, who was tabling for KT’s At Home Pet Care. Pederson said the company offers services like mobile nail clippings, vet rides and overnight stays with pets. The organization’s table featured a wheel that eventgoers were able to spin to possibly win a stuffed animal prize.
Pederson said this was her first time attending the Ice and Snow Festival, and that she had enjoyed the event so far.
“It seems pretty open. A lot of people have come by, so that’s really cool, and there’s a lot of different things to see,” said Pederson.
Pederson added that downtown events like the Ice and Snow Festival “definitely help all of the local businesses on Main Street come together.”
Carol Perry attended the event with a table for her own business, Fudge Fantasia, where she was selling a variety of flavors of homemade fudge to people attending the event.
Perry said the Ice and Snow Festival felt like a perfect event for New England, especially with the winter weather that had impacted the area earlier that morning.
“It’s definitely a New England event, so it’s perfect, and the snow that we had this morning just tipped it off where we got a fun treat,” said Perry. “It’s great to have something in downtown Keene during the wintertime to get all the families, and the students over at [Keene State College], and everybody else together to have some fun.”
Cher Krupnick and Dawn Martin attended the Ice and Snow Festival as volunteers, handing out handwarmers and forms for attendees to vote for their favorite ice sculptures. Krupnick and Martin both explained why they love the annual festival.
“I love all the sculptures, and I love watching the kids come in and out looking for the yetis, and then coming back and getting excited when they get their little prizes,” said Krupnick.
Martin said this was her first time attending the Ice and Snow Festival, and that she particularly enjoyed seeing all of the community members who came out to the event.
“I love watching the kids. I love watching the people that dress up and come to this, and just how excited people are,” she said. “They’re coming out in the freezing cold and walking around supporting their local community.”
Krupnick added that it was important for the community to have this opportunity to support Keene’s local businesses.
“We are bringing the Keene community together, and on a day like today, it’s the Ice and Snow Festival and it is icy and it’s snowing, and people are still coming out even though they’re a little cold,” said Krupnick. “It’s nice to support all the local businesses because we’re in not the greatest economy, so this is really good that people are coming out and supporting them.”
“And I’m a local psychologist, so of course I love seeing all the smiles on everyone’s faces,” she added.
Justin Dearborn can be contacted at
jdearborn@kscequinox.com
