By: Caylen Wickens 12/14/23
Who wouldn’t want to see frozen sculptures of shark heads, ducks, and giraffe? The ice sculptures at Freezefest last year definitely stole the show! Freezefest is on January 19, 2024 and is the only winter festival in Bloomington. This is the 4th annual year that Freezefest has been going on. During Freezefest, interactive ice games and activities are 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday in the Trades District at Madison Street, while more kids' activities can be found at the Monroe County Library at noon-4pm Saturday.
At the Monroe Country Public Library, the kids' activities are snowflake crafts, ice sculptures, food trucks, an ice carving competition, and much more! From 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday at Upland Brewing Co, carvers will create their frozen masterpieces, while onlookers guess which carver will finish first and what the ice blocks will become. Saturday activities include ice carving demonstrations from noon to 3 p.m. at The Mill, Trades District, B-Line Trail at Fourth Street, Monroe County Public Library Plaza and Switchyard Park
As you can see here, this man is sculpting a shark that's supposed to be “eating a leg.”
There is also a raffle and you can enter it by clicking the link www.visitbloomington.com/giveaway. There are 4 winners and if by any chance you become one, you will receive a Freezefest stocking hat, a B-Town diner mug, and a bag of Hopscotch Coffee beans.
At Freezefest, they have something that's called, Chili Cook Off. This year, they had more than 250 volunteers for the Chili cook-off. During the Chili Cook-off, they have people volunteer to try around 20 samples of spicy chili that have been made by Professional-chefs, or even home-chefs. Then, after that, they vote for their favorite chili. They have 6 judges that would pick their favorite and the person who made the chili that was most favorite would win.
Mrs. Oresko, 7th grade Resource teacher here at EJHS, attended last year and really enjoyed it. She plans to go back this year as well! “We didn't get any food there, but I took my daughter and she loved all the ice sculptures. We are definitely going to go back next year,” said Mrs Oresko.
Thanks to https://www.unitedwaysci.org/cookoff and things-to-do-in-bloomington-indiana-freezefest for all of my details.