“Toys: A City of Ice, A World of Play” is the theme for Downtown on Ice on Jan. 16-18, which will culminate with the first big Scranton celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Scranton Tomorrow is hosting the festival. Centering the ice sculptures and activities around toys meets all of its criteria for a theme, said Liz Baldi, the business development director.
“We wanted to make sure when we were looking at a theme that it’s something for everybody,” she said. “So it’s family-friendly, it’s all ages, it’s all demographics.”
Baldi imagines a boutique reinterpreting Barbie fashion, bars and restaurants hosting games old and new, and an embrace of nostalgia with vintage items such as Rock ‘Em Sock’ Em Robots. Plans are underway and organizers try to retain an element of surprise.
Some of last year’s ice sculptures were designed as selfie spots. (Courtesy of Scranton Tomorrow)
Dani Long Legs performs on opening night of Downtown on Ice in 2025. (Courtesy of Scranton Tomorrow)
Dani Long Legs and musicians entertain at the 2025 Downtown on Ice festival in Scranton. (Courtesy of Scranton Tomorrow)
A person walks past an ice sculpture outside Penn House Boutique on Penn Avenue in downtown Scranton during the Scranton Ice Festival on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
(CHRISTOPHER DOLAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Penn House Boutique co-owner Lynn Farrell of Archbald, left, and Tracey Kranick of Jessup hand a bag to a customer at the store on Penn Avenue during the Scranton Ice Festival on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
(CHRISTOPHER DOLAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Some of last year’s ice sculptures were designed as selfie spots. (Courtesy of Scranton Tomorrow)
The festival begins Jan. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m., continues Saturday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and wraps up Sunday, Jan. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Over 40 ice sculptures spread over 30 blocks of downtown are the centerpiece of the festival. Some are carved on the spot. Many are outside sponsoring businesses, which see a surge in sales from thousands of visitors during a cold and otherwise quiet time.
The music and performances aren’t limited to the main stage on Courthouse Square. Entertainers will stroll the business district and venues will host artists.
In a first for the festival, Brookvalley Farm will offer horse-drawn carriage rides Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.
The digital scavenger hunt competition is returning, with prizes.
The final day will feature Lackawanna County’s America250PA Kick Off ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. under a tent on Courthouse Square. America250PA, the state government commission in charge of the year of commemorations, is holding ceremonies in each county featuring local heritage. Scranton Tomorrow is one of the commission’s nonprofit partners.
Scranton Tomorrow is sponsoring the annual Downtown on Ice for the third year since taking over from a small group of volunteers who started it to fight the pandemic slump.
The festival’s website is scrantonice.com.