Embrace the cold this winter in Port Jefferson at the fourth annual Ice Festival on January 28th and 29th (rainy season: February 4th and 5th) from 12pm to 5pm. A variety of free outdoor activities take place in different locations throughout the village.
“We want to bring business to Port Jefferson off-season. Winter is typically the slowest time of year,” says James Luciano, secretary of the Port Jefferson Business Improvement District, which oversees the festival. “This event attracts a lot of people and there is a lot of free parking. Everyone is asked to come out!”
VIEW ICE SHOES
Rich Daly of Suffolk County, Guinness World Records World Records fastest ice carver and 2015/2016 US Ice Carving Champion, carves a life size seahorse at the third annual Ice Festival in Port Jefferson. Credit: Megan Miller
Around Port Jefferson are over 25 ice sculptures created by the Guinness World Records fastest ice carver, Richard Daly of Mastic Beach, who will be making live carvings three times a day at noon on Mill Creek Road in front of Port Jeff Brewing Company, 2:00 p.m. in Pocket Park in front of Portside Bar & Grill and 4:00 p.m. in the parking lot of Roger’s Frigate on Main Street on January 28th and 29th.
“You can see a giant block of ice transform into a work of art right before your eyes,” says Daly, who uses chainsaws, blowtorches, chisels and large straight grinders to create his sculptures. “You never know exactly what you’re going to see because the themes of the sculptures are always different. At the festival, no two sculptures are alike.”
MAKE ICE SHOT
Ice Princesses will be performing at the 4th Annual Ice Festival on January 28th and 29th in Port Jefferson. Photo credit: Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce/Barbara Ransome
Those looking for selfies can head to an authentic ice castle built by Daly, where photo ops with ice princesses and Cinderella will be available from 12pm to 3pm both days.
“The castle is made out of 22 blocks of ice that weigh about 7,000 pounds and are 13 feet wide and 9 feet tall,” says Daly, 42. “Each block of ice weighs 300 pounds, so it takes a while for them to melt. But the colder it is outside, the better.”
Additional photos can be taken on a Valentine’s Day ice frame on Arden Place across from Starbucks on January 28 from noon to 5 p.m. or take a football-themed picture with a Super Bowl ice sculpture on January 29 at the same location and time.
ACTIVITIES TO TRY
Everyone can take turns carving their name on an 8ft ice graffiti wall at the side of Kilwin’s old fashioned patisserie on Main Street from 12pm to 5pm both days.
Play a round of cornhole from 12pm to 5pm both days at Rocketship Park, near Stacy’s Finds/Pattern Finders on East Main Street and in front of Port Jeff Brewing Co. on Mill Creek Road. Go virtual skiing at The Space at Port Jefferson on Traders Cove both days from 12pm to 4pm (reservation required by texting 516-939-8960).
GET SOME SNACKS
The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce will showcase their Mac N’ Cheese Crawl at the 4th Annual Ice Festival, where guests will be able to taste samples at 12 local restaurants. Credit: Barbara Ransome
Warm up with complimentary hot chocolate on the deck of the PJ Lobster House on Main Street from 12pm-3pm both days, or grill some marshmallows in the parking lot at Roger’s Frigate from 12pm-5pm: 12:00 a.m.
Carb lovers can join the Mac N’ Cheese Crawl hosted by the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce on Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. Participants can taste 4 ounces. Sample different recipes at 12 local restaurants ($25 per person via eventbrite.com).
“Every restaurant provides their own version of mac n’ cheese,” says Barbara Ransome, the chamber’s operations manager. “It’s good home cooking in winter.”
But this isn’t just your typical generic Mac n’ Cheese. The Curry Club at Saghar offers tikka masala mac n’ cheese with a tomato base, cream and an Indian spice mix. Meanwhile, the Whiskey Barrel is geared up to prepare sharp white cheddar mac n’ cheese with clams. Over at Torte Jeff Pie Co., a pie-inspired cider mac n’ cheese is made with hard cider, cheddar cheese, Gouda, and chopped apples with a butter and sage crumb sprinkle on top, and Pasta Pasta has a cheddar and asiago mac n’ Cheese with prosciutto planned.
Other attractions include horse-drawn carriage rides ($12 per person), which depart from Harborview Christian Church on East Main Street from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days and then travel through a few side streets and loops onto Main Street. There will also be live outdoor music at the Port Jeff Brewing Co., with acts including Erik McCormick on January 28th and the Castaways on January 29th from 1pm to 3pm both days. The East Setauket Girls Dance Team’s Shine Dance Company will perform in the car park of Roger’s Frigate on January 28th at 3pm.
FOURTH ANNUAL ICE FESTIVAL
WHEN | WHERE January 28th and 29th from 12pm to 5pm (rainy season: February 4th and 5th) throughout the village of Port Jefferson
ENTRY Free (unless otherwise noted)
THE INFORMATION facebook.com/portjeffersonbid
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday’s exploreLI, covering entertainment events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
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