Delight in the Ice

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Delight in the ice

The art of ice sculpting is alive and well in The 570

 

Even the most anti-winter sentiments can be quelled when you take a minute to think about the beauty of the season: your dog’s paw prints in the snow; the powdered-sugar effect of a fresh snowfall on tree branches; the sparkling beauty of those mammoth icicles hanging from your rooftop; and the art of a well-crafted ice sculpture we’ll find at events that only happen once a year.
Spring will be here before you know it (insert cheers here). In the meantime, we have plenty of icy events to keep us entertained in The 570. So get out and enjoy them before that first crocus makes an appearance in your garden and it’s all gone until next year.

Clarks Summit Festival of Ice, Feb. 14-18
An annual winter tradition in the Abingtons, the Clarks Summit Festival of Ice kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 14. Presented by the Abington Business & Professional Association, the festival will feature more than 50 ice sculptures in keeping with a Subzero Super Heroes theme. There will be ice carving demonstrations by a team of artists from Sculpted Ice Works, a parade through downtown Clarks Summit, and plenty of live entertainment throughout the weekend. Among the highlights of the festival will be “Frozen Waterman’s Good Time Festivities – Lights, Puppets and Superheroes” featuring Conor McGuigan and Ranto 50 (Scranton’s own superhero);  juggling with Rob Smith, laughter yoga with Jeannine Luby, a trolley tour of the festival, horse and carriage rides, and an art show, just to name a few. Music will also play an important role in this year’s event as a full schedule of musical entertainment will be offered in venues throughout the downtown.
A special addition to this year’s event is Comic-Con, which will be held on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clarks Summit Elementary School, at 401 W. Grove St. (See Comic-Con story on page 25). Restaurants and boutiques will be open to shop and dine while you enjoy ice festival activities. For a complete schedule of events, including the carving schedule, musical entertainment and interactive entertainment, visit www.theabingtons.org/CSFestivalOfIce.

Damenti’s Ice Bar in Mountain Top, through March 17
Bellying up to the ice bar at Damenti’s Restaurant, 870 North Hunter Highway, in Mountain Top is something everyone in northeastern Pennsylvania should add to their list of winter traditions. The ice bar and the inspired sculptures it features will be open through March 17. This frozen tradition is the brainchild of chef and owner Kevin McDonald, who has been carving ice for more than three decades.
Each year, he and a team of talented carvers from across the country, put chisel and chainsaw to blocks of ice to carve the bar and its accompanying sculptures for a good cause. Half of all nightly bar sales are donated to non-profit charities. For more information, be sure to read the Up Close & Personal interview with McDonald on page 8, and visit www.damentis.com/ice-bar.

Crystal Cabin Fever in Lakeville, through Feb. 24
Enjoy frozen prehistoric fun as Crystal Cabin Fever presents Dinosaurs in Ice through Feb. 24. The team of carvers at Sculpted Ice Works used 100 tons of ice to craft Crystal Cabin Fever, an indoor, interactive display, which features more than 20 ice dinosaurs in all sizes. You’ll see familiar favorites from the animated movie, Ice Age, a giant prehistoric ice throne, a classic ice log cabin and more on your tour. The display also features a 50-foot dual run dinosaur ice slide, live ice carving demonstrations and competitions, tours of the factory, and more. Guests will also enjoy strolling through the historical Natural Ice Harvest Museum to learn how ice was harvested naturally in our region before the use of refrigeration.

Watch live ice carving competitions from 12 to 4 p.m on Saturday, Feb. 23, and from 12 to 3 p.m. on  Sunday, Feb. 24. Ongoing ice shows on Presidents’ Day Weekend will include demonstrations by professional and master carvers. Don’t forget to bring your camera as there will be plenty of great photo opps. As  you enjoy your day in the Poconos, there will be plenty of food and beverages available, including hot dogs and hamburgers and hot pretzels, as well as wine (over 21 only) and hot chocolate.
Crystal Cabin Fever is located at Sculpted Ice Works in Lakeville, PA on Rt. 590 between Hawley and Hamlin.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.sculptediceworks.com or call 226-6246.

— julie imel