If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, then check out the Fire and Ice Festival in Detroit. Check out plenty of medieval fun in the winter with oversized fires, turkey legs, archery, ax throwing and ice carving. The signature moment of the weekend is Fire and Ice Tower – a 7 foot ice structure that will become a giant bonfire once lit at 6pm on Friday. You don’t want to miss it!
Event features live music, an all-day techno dance party, ice carving competition, costumed renaissance characters, blacksmith demonstrations and more
Fire & Ice Festival
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s popular Winter at Valade activation, which features free family-friendly programming at Robert C. Valade Park every weekend this season, continues with a Fire & Ice Festival featuring a medieval theme and a techno dance party on January 6-8. The Fire & Ice Festival is presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.
The medieval theme includes live musical entertainment, fire dancers, renaissance faire-inspired roaming characters, blacksmith demonstrations and photo opportunities with ice sculptures, including a six-foot tall iron throne made of ice and dragons.
The event will also feature lots of ways to warm up such as an all-day techno dance party with neon giveaways. Additionally, the Fire & Ice Festival includes an ice carving competition, the lighting of a seven-foot-tall fire and ice sculpture, inflatable axe throwing and smoked turkey legs for purchase.
Presented by Huron-Clinton Metroparks, Winter at Valade started in December and offers visitors to Valade Park a plethora of winter fun every weekend through February 27, featuring oversized outdoor fires, marshmallow roasters, hot seasonal alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, delicious food, sledding, synthetic ice curling and great programming from fitness classes to dog walking for all ages every weekend.
Winter at Valade Weekends
The Fire & Ice Festival is the second of five special themed weekends during the Winter at Valade celebration in which the Michigan winter is re-imagined through ice sculptures, cultural events, live music and more. Upcoming enhanced themed weekends include:
January 20-22 Winter Around the World, presented by Visit Detroit
February 3-5 Motown Love
February 17-19 Mardi Gras at Valade
Robert C. Valade Park is located at 2670 East Atwater along the East Riverfront in downtown Detroit. The hours for Winter at Valade each weekend are 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Ice Sculpture at the Fire & Ice Festival
The Fire & Ice Festival will feature an ice carving competition showcasing the creations from local artists vying for a chance to be named best in show as voted by event attendees. Saturday’s programming is highlighted by the dramatic lighting of a seven-foot ice sculpture at 7:15 p.m. Additionally, a large six-foot iron throne carved from ice will provide visitors with photo opportunities all weekend.
Live Music on Friday and Sunday and an All-Day Techno Party on Saturday
An eclectic selection of medieval and Celtic music performed by live artists will provide a fun and whimsical renaissance faire-themed atmosphere to the festival on Friday and Sunday.
On Saturday, an all-day techno dance party from 1 to 9 p.m. with separate times for children and adults will provide attendees with the chance to vibe out to some pulsating tunes and dance those winter blues away. Free glow and neon jewelry will be available for guests.
Blacksmith Demonstrations
Guests to the Fire & Ice Festival on Saturday and Sunday will be able to enjoy watching an authentic blacksmith create a variety of metal objects using fire, steel, an anvil and a selection of hammers.
Strolling Costumed Characters in Renaissance Attire on Sunday
Members from Michigan Renaissance Festival will be decked out in their finest and most authentic medieval and renaissance faire attire and will stroll throughout Valade Park on Sunday afternoon. Also that afternoon, Elsa from Disney’s Frozen will be available for free photo opportunities with children.
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Author: Amber Louchart
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
