The January skies will soon be awash with a brilliant blaze of color and light as the "Fire & Ice Fest" comes to the downtown Rochester.
The two-day festival, set for Jan. 23-24, features ice skating, cross-country skiing, ice sculptures, dog sled rides and a host of other family activities. New to "Fire & Ice" this year is a 350-foot toboggan run down Third Street. Rides are free.
A highlight of the festival will be a splendid fireworks display, which begins each night at 8 p.m.
"Fire & Ice was a rousing success last year as families from all over the county came out and enjoyed a variety of winter activities," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "With the new toboggan run and a bigger skating rink, we look for this year's celebration to be even better. And if you've never seen fireworks in the winter, you're in for a real treat."
There will also be live entertainment in a heated tent, a restaurant crawl and a Geo-cache scavenger hunt and a host of other activities for people of all ages. Skaters are reminded to bring their own skates as there will be no skate rental available. There is no charge to skate.
The event runs from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Jan. 23 and noon to 9 p.m. on Jan. 24. A list of activities and their times can be found at
www.oakgov.com and
www.DowntownRochesterMi.com. Most of the events will be held in Third and Water Street area near the Rochester Mills Brewery.
Fire & Ice Entertainment Schedule
Friday, January 236:00 – 9:00 pm
- "Under the Sea" Ice Sculpture Show
- Shopping Spectacular
- Musical Entertainment: Kevin T & the Firebirds
- Ice Skating – Bring your own skates!
- TasteFest
- Toboggan Run
- Ice-Carving Demo
- Free Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides
7:50 – 8:00 pm
8:00 pm
Saturday, January 24Noon – 6:00 pm
- Dogsled Demos and Rides
- Geo-Caching Scavenger Hunt
Noon – 8:00 pm
- Shopping Spectacular
- Toboggan Run
Noon – 9:00 pm
- "Under the Sea" Ice Sculpture Show
Noon - Magician Tom Plunkard
1:00 pm - South Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc.
2:00 pm - JC's Drummin' Music Center
3:00 pm - Oakland University Gospel Choir
4:00 pm - Paul Green School of Rock Music
5:00 pm - Juggler Ric Roc Zoo
6:00 pm - Good Gravy Band
- TasteFest
- Ice Skating – Bring your own skates!
1:00 – 4:00 pm
- Free Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides
2:00 – 6:00 pm
- Cross County Skiing Instructions
- Snow Shoeing
- Snowmen & Snow Angels
7:50 – 8:00 pm
8:00 pm
"Fire & Ice" is sponsored by Oakland County, Oakland County Parks, the City of Rochester and the Rochester Downtown Development Authority.
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