The Clarks Summit Festival of Ice returns Friday through Sunday with a patriotic theme, first responders competing to carve ice and some quirky offerings.
The Abington Business & Professional Association took its cue from this year’s U.S. semiquincentennial.
“It’s such a great opportunity to honor all the achievements of Americans through the last 250 years,” said Anne Armezzani, a member of the ABPA board of directors.
The first ice-carving demonstration is Friday at 9 a.m. at the clock tower on South State Street. But the festival goes beyond the South State Street center of town. There are 48 main locations, including a sculpture outside the Waverly Community House in Waverly Twp.
Firefighters with the Newton-Ransom Volunteer Fire Company test their skills as ice carvers at a previous Clarks Summit Ice Festival. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
“It’s just such a great opportunity. It’s a wide-open theme this year,” Armezzani said. One ice sculpture will look like a jukebox. “We’re going to have Elvis impersonators because they were all part of the American dream. And we’re trying to turn 250 years of history into ice, which is really kind of exciting.”
Elvis in ice will be outside Parabello, the South State Street cultural gifts boutique. Elvis stickers will be given out inside.
Carvers will create an ice sculpture on a moving flatbed truck during Friday’s South State Street parade, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Carving demonstrations will be held at several spots on solid ground through the weekend.
The Americana touches include Uncle Sam and Benjamin Franklin strolling the festival and a teddy bear theme at Pure Suds. President Theodore Roosevelt is considered the inspiration for the teddy bear name. Everything Natural is celebrating national parks and the Crystal Collection’s theme is the moon landing. City skyscapes are painted on the windows of La Chic Boutique by Kim.
On Saturday, the first carving begins at 11 a.m. at Electric City Studios and the last starts at 6 p.m. at the State Street Grill, which is offering food and drink specials.
The first responders’ ice-carving competition is a traditional high point. Clarks Summit, South Abington Twp., Newton-Ransom and Dalton departments will compete Sunday between noon and 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Citizens Saving Bank on South State Street. An outdoor “Restaurant Alley” will also be set up there.
Our Lady of the Snows Roman Catholic Church on South State Street is sponsoring several events, including a live ice carving Friday and free kiddie train rides Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.
The Gathering Place, the community center on South State Street, will be dedicated to New York City. Kids can make Statue of Liberty crafts. A video about the statue will be inside and an ice version will be outside. There will be a New York City skyline photo-op backdrop.
The Gathering Place and No. 27 Cafe are among the places offering free snacks or drinks. Many restaurants and vendors will have food for sale, with a focus on old-fashioned American flavors, such as bagels, hot dogs and pickles on sticks. Restaurants are offering specials, and stores are holding sales and giveaways.
Cheryl Mozdian will lead a drum circle in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit on Saturday at 1 p.m. It follows the chili cafe at the School Street church, one of several events there.
Clarks Summit Borough Council President Gerrie Carey will make chicken soup and donate the proceeds toward Clarks Summit’s Christmas lights.
The scheduled horse-drawn carriage rides are dependent on the weather.
It is the 22nd festival. “It is good for business all through town, the restaurants, the retail people, and it’s good advertisement for the professionals,” Armezzani said.
Not all promotions fit the Americana theme. Jennings-Calvey Funeral Home and Crematorium’s live carving party Friday on Colburn Avenue also marks the launch of its Aspen Meadows Pet Aquamation & Memorial Services. Tours will be offered.
The festival brochure, which will be available at several locations, includes a scavenger hunt.
If you go
What: The Clarks Summit Festival of Ice.
When: Friday through Sunday. The parade is Friday at 6:30 p.m. The first responders’ ice-carving contest is Sunday from noon to 3 pm.
Where: It’s not just along the South State Street center of town. There are sites on the Morgan Highway and even an ice carving outside the Waverly Community House.