Ice Breaker Festival 2014

Now in its 21st year, Ice Breaker Festival promises winter fun for the whole family. West Michigan’s predominant and growing winter festival is showcasing dazzling ice sculptures, Chili Cook-off, Pub Slide, outdoor ice skating, horse drawn wagon rides, kids’ crafts and many more exciting activities throughout downtown South Haven.
The not-to-be-missed highlight of this annual event is the sculpting of more than 50 blocks of ice, weighing 300-600 pounds each, into incredible works of frozen art. Take a stroll around downtown to see all of the “cool” designs! While admiring all the amazing ice displays, be sure to enjoy the Pub Slide, with food, drink, and entertainment specials offered at participating bars and restaurants all weekend long.
The streets of South Haven will be blazing on Saturday, February 1^st as the Boy Scouts “Heat the Streets”, offering three fire pits open for s’more roasting! Also on Saturday, the Professional Chili Cook-Off provides downtown South Haven restaurants & bars the opportunity to vie for the coveted “Con Carne Trophy”. Visitors will be tempted with delicious chili creations from over 20 participants, and votes will decide whose chili will win the trophy! Trophies for the Chili Cook-off and Ice Carving competition will be awarded during the Champions of Ice Awards Reception at 5pm Saturday on the lower level of Black River Tavern.
Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides throughout town, or take the family ice skating at the rink in downtown South Haven.  There will also be a great variety of family-fun activities throughout the weekend including make-it and take-it arts and crafts, Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University Synchronized Skating Performances, and dance performances by the Shoreline Dance Academy “Tide Breakers”. Proceeds from Ice Breaker Fest help many local non-profit organizations to generate needed revenue to support local programming. Organizations that hold annual fundraising efforts during Ice Breaker Festival include Harborfest, National Blueberry Festival, Boy Scouts and many more.