By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
After an atypical winter of almost balmy temperatures, cold weather will cooperate by returning for this weekend’s annual Winterfest in Bowling Green.
But while the chilly temperatures will accommodate winter activities, it appears the downtown is just too hot for the ice sculptures that normally decorate Main Street during the annual event.
The decision was made this year for the bulk of the ice carvings to be exhibited in City Park. The change was made due to the cost of protecting the sculptures from vandals who have knocked over the ice art during the night previous years.
“Anytime we’ve had them up downtown, we’ve lost one or two,” said Wendy Chambers, head of the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Because of the frequency of the vandalism in the past, the city police have provided extra protection for the carvings. In 2014, the cost for two patrolmen during the nights of the Winterfest was $666, according to Police Chief Tony Hetrick.
To avoid that cost, last year the police division put two cruisers in the downtown area, and trained volunteers to secure the sculptures, at no charge.
But asking people to watch the carvings during the icy hours of the night proved too much for the volunteers, Chambers said.
“It’s tough to get volunteers to stay out in those temperatures all night,” Chambers said.
And since the ice sculptures are used as a fundraiser for the BG Skating Club, paying for protection was seen as counterproductive. So instead, this year the carvings will be displayed in City Park.
But organizers don’t see the move as having a chilling effect on the Winterfest. There will still be a few ice carvings at the courtyard downtown and BGSU Ice Arena.
“Spreading them out around town is not a bad thing,” Chambers said.
Other events will be spread across the city from the ice arena and the community center, to the library and City Park.
There will be horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating, a chili and soup cook-off, Frostbite Fun Run, youth snow games, Snow Globe Adult Bubble Soccer, family nature hike, Red Cross Fire & Ice Event, and Snow Science with Imagination Station.
The downtown will remain a focus of the weekend event. “There’s still a lot of activity going on in the downtown,” Assistant Municipal Administrator Joe Fawcett said.
“I think there’s a lot going on all around town,” said Kristin Otley, head of the city parks and recreation department.
Included in that will be a youth hockey event that selected BG because the Winterfest would give family members options for activities.
“They picked BG because of the Winterfest,” Chambers said. “It’s fun to try new things and see how it flies.”
And the weather promises to cater to winter activities – including the ice sculptures.
“Two weeks ago, they might have melted,” Otley said.
“I think the cold is good. We’ll just all have to bundle up,” Chambers said.
Following is a list of all the events scheduled:
FRIDAY
- Outdoor Ice Skating, City Park, dawn to dusk, weather permitting
- BGHS Art Show, Four Corners Gallery, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Youth Dodgeball Tournament, Community Center, 3:45 to 6 p.m.
- BGSU Hockey Game vs. Miami, Ice Arena, 7 p.m.
- Family Friday Night Hike, Wintergarden Park, 7 to 8:30 p.m., pre-register
- Public Skate, BGSU Ice Arena, 7 to 8:50 p.m.
- Red Cross Fire & Ice Fundraiser, Clazel Theater, 7 to 11 p.m., contact Red Cross for tickets
SATURDAY
- Outdoor Ice Skating, City Park, dawn to dusk, weather permitting
- Ice Carving Demo, Ice Creations, BGSU Ice Arena, 8 a.m.
- Walk with a Doc Program, Community Center, 9 to 10 a.m.
- I Heart Ohio Scavenger Hunt, Wood County Public Library, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- BGHS Art Show, Four Corners Gallery, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 1 mile Frostbite Fun Run presented by Biggby Coffee, City Park, 11 a.m.
- Ice Carving Demo, Ice Creations, City Park, noon
- Chili & Soup Cook Off, Vet Building at City Park, 12 to 2 p.m.
- Kid’s Snow Games, City Park, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Snow Science with Imagination Station, Wood County Public Library, 2 p.m.
- BG Skating Club Demo, City Park, 3 to 5 p.m. weather permitting
- Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, City Park, 3 to 5 p.m.
- Right Direction BMX & Skate Board Exhibition, City Park Skate Park, 3 p.m.
- BGSU Men’s & Women’s Basketball Double Header, Stroh Center, 2 & 4 p.m.
- Public Skate, BGSU Ice Arena, 7 to 8:50 p.m.
- Stone’s Throw Live Music, downtown, 8 to 11 p.m.
SUNDAY
- Outdoor Ice Skating, City Park, dawn to dusk, weather permitting
- Snow Globe Adult Bubble Soccer, Community Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- BGHS Art Show, Four Corners Gallery, 12 to 4 p.m.
- Snow People Photos, Four Corners Courtyard, 12 to 4 p.m.
- Snowtastic Savings, participating downtown merchants
- Meet Author Duke Pieper, former BGSU Student Hockey Coach, Wood County Public Library, 3 p.m.
