With a lot of snow and cold temperatures in Borderland, the timing is right to begin gearing up for the 31st annual Icebox Days festival planned for Jan. 12-16.
Along with the popular Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 5K and 10K runs, smoosh races and turkey bowling, some new events will be added to the Icebox Days lineup this year, including an ice sculpting contest, a snowshoe softball tournament, a bonfire by Rainy Lake and fireworks.
The ice sculpting contest is being introduced to the Icebox Days festivities by Anton Oveson. Oveson, who will be “putting up” the ice himself, said he hopes the ice sculpting contest draws more attention to the area and the festival.
“The months of January and February are slow months economically for this community,” Oveson explained. “This town has ice, cold, and snow to sell, so that is what I am selling through this contest and other events I have in the works for next year.”
Putting up ice is the old-fashioned term for harvesting blocks of ice from a lake. Oveson will cut from the lake numerous 22 inch by 44 inch ice cakes, which will be hauled from City Beach to the quadrangle between City Hall and the Public Library Jan. 7-8.
The cakes will be placed a numbered stakes, one for each sculptor.
“Nobody will know who is assigned to what number for judging purposes,” Oveson explained.
Sculptors will begin their works of art on the morning of Jan. 10 and chisel, saw and pick away at the ice until Jan. 14 — judging day. Five local judges have been selected to award a first through fifth place prize. Winners will be announced Jan. 15 at Rainy River Community College.
“We also will have a people’s choice award,” Oveson added.
Community members will be able to view the sculptures and vote for their favorite from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the day of the FYGBR, Jan. 15. The winner of the people’s choice award, which will be announced during the runner’s reception at the AmericInn at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15, will also be awarded a prize.
Oveson encourages people to get involved in the contest now. He said he has about 19 people committed to sculpting and there is room for more.
“The more the merrier,” he said.
Sculptors do not need to be professional artists — all are welcome, and there is no registration fee. Oveson requests interested participants to contact him at 240-4327 as soon as possible.
Other events
A new event — a softball game played on snowshoes at Smokey Bear Park — is still in the planning stages, according to Faye Whitbeck, president of the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. The game, planned for the afternoon of Jan. 15, is expected to involve Minnesota foresters, Whitbeck said.
Also new to the event’s schedule is a bonfire on the shore of Rainy Lake at Thunderbird Lodge. The event is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 13 and will feature music by John Streiff and hot drink specials and giveaways.
The city of International Falls will also play host to a fireworks display to celebrate the week’s events. The fireworks will be set off on main street around 6 p.m. Jan. 15, according to Oveson.
“Fireworks in the winter is a whole different experience,” Whitbeck said.
A complete list of Icebox Days events is currently being compiled and will be published as the event draws near. For more information on how to register for the FYGBR or how to become involved in other events, contact the Chamber at 283-9400 or see its website at www.internationalfallsmn.us/iceboxdays.shtml.
Watch for Pennies for Play, launching January 14th, www.ifallsnet.com/pennies/pennies.htm
