PORT HURON, MI — Chilly Fest returns to downtown Port Huron on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6–7, bringing back ice sculptures, live music, family activities and the popular chili crawl and cook-off.
The annual winter festival is centered around downtown streets, McMorran Place and the Wrigley Center, with activities scheduled throughout both days. Organizers say the event continues to grow as a cold-weather anchor for the downtown district.
“I’m extremely excited about Chilly Fest this year and all of the community partners that we’ve brought on for our different activities,” said Lisa DeLong, director of the Port Huron Downtown Development Authority. “I’m excited to see this event grow each year — this is something that the public loves, and it’s our big wintertime festival.”
Most Chilly Fest activities are free, with the exception of the Chili Crawl and Cook-Off, which costs $10, and Hungry, Hungry Penguins, a $5 activity benefiting the Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center.
The event kicks off Friday, Feb. 6, with ice sculptures placed downtown beginning at 5 p.m., followed by live music at the Wrigley Center.
Saturday, Feb. 7, features one of the weekend’s highlights, the Chili Crawl and Cook-Off. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event, with wristbands picked up at the event information desk.
Downtown restaurants will serve chili samples, while five celebrity judges select a Judges Choice winner. Festivalgoers can also vote for their favorite chili using a QR code, with the top entries earning People’s Choice awards.
Chili competition winners will be announced at the Wrigley Center at 6 p.m.
New this year, the chili competition has been opened to restaurants outside the downtown area. Texas Roadhouse and Freighters will join the event, with their chili stations set up inside the Wrigley Center.
Beyond the chili competition, Chilly Fest features a wide range of activities across downtown. Attractions include 25 ice sculptures displayed throughout the district, live ice carving, free ice skating at the McMorran outdoor ice rink and social district drinks available at participating downtown bars and restaurants.
Family-friendly offerings include an indoor kids zone, face painting and glitter tattoos, laser tag and interactive winter games. Additional activities include a puck putt course, classic and gluten-free s’more stations and free carriage rides through downtown.
Entertainment runs throughout the festival with walk-around magic and stage shows by Josh Sawdon, live music by Blue Blaze, BlueSkye and Atomic Radio, and a DJ set by Rich Toles at the Wrigley Center.
If you go:
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Chilly Fest returns with expanded events across downtown
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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