By Jim Bloch
With Friday and Saturday bottoming out in the single digits, St. Clair’s Icy Bazaar, the chamber of commerce’s winter festival and fireworks show, has had to adjust to mid-January’s bizarre deep freeze.
The only thing suitable for temperatures of eight degrees on Friday night and five on Saturday night is ice carving and the Icy Bazaar is scheduled to have 41 ice carvings scattered around the courtyard of Riverview Plaza.
The event runs Jan. 18-20.
“Guests, please be advised,” said the chamber on its Facebook page. “Although the freezing cold temperatures coming this weekend are good for the ice sculptures, it is not wise to be spending long periods of time outdoors, which has forced us to make some adjustments. Please see the updated schedule below and inform others. We truly appreciate the much anticipated support the event has received so far this year and hope to still see you all in St. Clair this weekend. Bundle up!”
Instead of playing in a tent in the courtyard, the live music has been moved inside War Water Brewery. Listen up for Foster & Lewis, 2-6 p.m. and the 80s rockers Sunset Blvd. 7-11:30 p.m. in the brewery.
Watch the ice carvers of Pfrost at work Jan. 18-19 after 4 p.m.
On Saturday, ice carving kicks off at 11 a.m. and continues until the 30,000 pounds of ice blocks are transformed into sculptures and piles of ice chips.
Circus performers will be visiting plaza businesses 1-4 p.m.
Air brush face painting by Kreatures of the Night Airbrush Special Effect Makeup takes place in War Water Brewery 2-5 p.m.
The speed ice carving competition is set for 6 p.m.
2024 is the fifth annual edition of the winter festival.
New this year: Take selfies on a giant ice chair. Relax on ice couches. Drink from ice mugs at the ice bar. Enjoy a couple of raffles.
The fireworks go off at 8 p.m. Because they’re launched from Palmer Park instead of a barge in the St. Clair River, like the July 4 fireworks, the light show in the night sky is immediately overhead and stunning.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
