By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Winterfest in Downtown Bowling Green will now offer visitors a place to chill out on Saturday.
Wendy Chambers, executive director of the Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau, said a people have suggested the annual celebration needed more of a downtown presence. So this year, the Huntington Bank parking lot at the southeast corner of South Main and Clough streets will be turned into an ice garden and tented music venue.
Winterfest gets underway tonight (Friday, Feb 10 with events at the Community Center and the Slater Ice Arena on the Bowling Green State University campus. The university is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the arena.
From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday the Chillabration Tent will offer hot chocolate, coffee and doughnuts, and will be the site of ice carving demonstrations.
Three ice sculptures, each inspired by Disney animated movies, will be carved. Karaoke will be set up to allow people to sing along to their favorite tunes from the movies “Frozen,” “Aladdin” and “Little Mermaid.”
Other ice sculptures sponsored by local businesses and organizations will be on display in the parking lot.
Though the temperature is expected to reach to 50 degrees, Chambers said, she’s been assured that the ice sculptures can go on as scheduled.
“We kind of go with the flow,” she said. “Mother Nature’s going to do what Mother Nature’s going to do.”
Also during the day Saturday there will be carriage rides starting from the courtyard at the Four Corners Center and a high school art show inside the building.
Shops, she said, will be offering special “snowtastic” sales as well.
From 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday beer and wine will be available for purchase in the Chillabration tent. The beverage tent is modeled after the beer garden at the Black Swamp Arts Festival, Chambers said.
The country rock band Corduroy Road, featuring Josh Denning and Niki Carpenter, two veterans of the Bowling Green music scene, will be the headliner. The band will perform at 7:15 p.m.
Chambers reached out to Tim Concannon, who runs the Hump Day Revue at Stones Throw, to fill out the stage schedule. Concannon also books the acts for the farmers market, and is in his second year co-chairing with Cole Christensen the Performing Arts Committee for the Black Swamp Arts Festival.
Corduroy Road, with the tight vocal harmonies of Denning and Carpenter, is “a really fun band,” he said. “I use them as a cornerstone.”
For other acts he drew on his broad knowledge of town’s rock and folk scene. “I wanted to pick some a variety of acts, solo acts and in some cases bands that had an upbeat feel to them,” he said.
Another requirement, they had to be “people who were easy to work with.”
Playing an outside show in winter will require some flexibility. Concannon feels it will be a fun event that can grow in future years.
Scheduled to perform in order starting at 4 p.m. are:
- The Sunday Twirlers, 4 p.m..
- Barry Johnson, 4:30 p.m.
- Ginger and the Snaps, 5:15 p.m.
- Grande Royale Ukulelists of the Black Swamp, 6:15 p.m.
- Corduroy Road, 7:15 p.m.
- DJ Nabinger, 8:30 p.m.
- Tom Gorman, 9:15 p.m.
- Tim Tegge.and the Black Swamp Boys, 10 p.m.
The weekend is packed with activities from the west to the east side with Downtown Bowling Green, the Parks and Recreation Department, BGSU’s ice arena and the Wood County Public Library all hosting activities.
Here’s what’s on tap:
FRIDAY
- BGHS Art Show, Four Corners Gallery, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Youth Dodgeball, BG Community Center, 3:30 p.m. ($8 fee includes pizza)
- 2 vs 2 Co-ed Snow Globe Soccer Tournament, BG Community Center, 6 p.m. ($15 per team, 3 games guaranteed, final at 8 p.m.)
- BGHS Bobcat Hockey vs. Findlay, Slater Family Ice Arena, 7 p.m. (ticket required)
- Skate with the Bobcats, Slater Family Ice Arena, 8:30-10 p.m. (skate rental available)
SATURDAY
- Ice Carving Demo by Ice Creations, Slater Family Ice Arena, 10 a.m.
- I Heart Ohio Scavenger Hunt, WC Public Library Second Floor, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 1 mile Frostbite Fun Run presented by BIGGBY, City Park, 11 a.m. (pre-registration w/ fees)
- Ice Carving Demonstration by Ice Creations, Huntington Bank Parking Lot, noon to 4 p.m.
- Chili & Soup Cook Off, Vet Building at City Park, noon to 2 p.m. ($5 tasting)
- Cookie Creations for Kids, City Park, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- BGHS Art Show, Four Corners Gallery, 2-6 p.m.
- Break It Make It with Home Depot: Cold Slushy Fun, WC Public Library, for all ages from 2-3 p.m.
- 50thCelebration Pre-Game Party, Slater Family Ice Arena, 3:30-5 p.m. (game ticket holders)
- Carriage Rides, Four Corners Center, 4-6 p.m. (free)
- Chillabration Tent offering beer, wine, snacks and entertainment, 4-11 p.m. (tickets at door)
- BGSU Hockey vs. Mercyhurst, Slater Family Ice Arena, 5:05 p.m. (ticket required)
- 50th Celebration BGSU Ice Arena Party Slater Family Ice Arena, 7:30-10 p.m.
SUNDAY
- Celebration Figure Skating Show, Slater Family Ice Arena, 1:30-3:30 p.m. (ticket required)
- Hot Chocolate Family Storytime, WC Public Library, for all ages, from 2-3 p.m. (free)
- Public Skate, Slater Family Ice Arena, 3:30-5:20 p.m. (skate rental available)
EVENT INFO:
50th Celebration BGSU Ice Arena Events: http://www.bgsu.edu/events/ice-arena-50th-anniversary.html
BG Parks & Recreation Events: http://www.bgohio.org-parks, http://www.GoBGOhio.com or download the free app!
