Shipshewana Ice Festival in December
November 2, 2010 By Rebecca DentonShipshewana, Indiana, is a magical place to visit in December, when the town gears up for its annual ice festival that takes place Dec. 27-31, 2010.
Stores throughout town will host ice carvers from the Michiana Ice Carving Association. The ice artists will be shaving, drilling and sawing blocks of ice to form intricate shapes such as gingerbread houses, snowmen and full nativity scenes beginning Dec. 28. Most stores will stay open until 8 p.m. that night.
Master carvers will test their skills with elaborate competition pieces during the sculpture competition in the Davis Mercantile parking lot on Dec. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The ice-carving displays will be followed by snowmobile drag races on grass and a chili cook-off on Dec. 30. Visitors can enjoy the ice sculptures throughout Shipshewana on Dec. 31, but most stores will close early.
