The Third Annual Ice Festival is coming to Havre de Grace on March 13th and 14th, and we couldn’t be more excited. This year’s theme is Fairy Tale and Fantasy, so this is a family friendly event you do not want to miss.
Not only do you get to browse over forty themed ice sculptures lining the streets of Historic Downtown Havre de Grace, but there are plenty other activities for you and your family to participate in. From live carving demos, magic shows, character meet and greets, to a Princess Parade- your kids will have a blast. We can’t let kids have all the fun though, there is also a Craft Beer Garden, vendors, and Chili Cook Off for grown up guests too!
Even though it is relatively new to the Havre de Grace event scene, the Ice Festival has quickly become a town favorite. In the past, the Ice Festival was held over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend however, it was rescheduled twice this year due to COVID. We had a chance to sit down with Festival Organizer and Havre de Grace Alliance Director Bambi Johnson to find out what makes this event so special.
According to Johnson, the Havre de Grace Ice Festival is geared entirely towards Tourism and helping the local businesses get traffic in what is a historically slow time of year.
The ice sculptures themselves are very expensive and businesses and Non-Profits that sponsor them pay approximately half the cost, with the Havre de Grace Alliance contributing to the rest. These contributions are only made possible by sponsors such as Visit Harford, APGCFU, and Harford Community College. According to Johnson, her favorite part of the Ice Festival is the unity it invokes amongst the local business community:
“The entire town gets involved! Local Merchants decorate their windows and come up with ideas for specials, giveaways, contests, and activities; the restaurants have special drinks or desserts named for the event and activities like hot wing and chili cookoff contests; and many of our town’s non-profits jump on board to offer support and volunteers to staff the event. It gives people visiting for the first time a wonderful sense of everything our town has to offer and really shows off our pride and charm in our community.”
Bambi Johnson
If you have never visited downtown Havre de Grace, now is your chance. We have compiled a list of the best places to eat, stay, and activities you don’t want to miss at this year’s Ice Festival- we hope to see you there!
Things to do at the Ice Festival
The event is filled with activities, both free and ticketed, for children and adults. Here are a few that you don’t want to miss.
Faerie Hair Salon: La Banque will be offering a Faerie Hair Salon and visitors can get custom colored sparkle strands woven through their hair.
Interactive Mural: Unlimited Art will have an interactive mural for children outside of their art studio. Budding artists will have a chance to paint their own mural using spray and regular paints. Bonus- snap a picture of their portion of the mural and it can be cut out and picked up after the event!
Elsa and Anna Live: A live performance with Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff at the renovated Havre de Grace Opera House. Characters will be available after the show for a meet and greet outside the Opera House.
Visit Harford’s Graffiti Wall of Ice: Located on Franklin Street, this wall be available for anyone to try their own hand at ice carving.
Chili Cook Off: Feel like a Top Chef judge and sample the best chili that HdG’s chefs have to offer. Tickets are only $10.00 and include a souvenir mug.
The State Theatre: You can’t leave Havre de Grace without checking out the State Theatre. The old movie theatre was lovingly restored and now hosts a variety of events. They will be hosting a magic show during the Festival and Chosen 5 will be performing immediately after.
Best Places to Eat in Town
Havre de Grace has a variety of restaurants, but here are some of our family favorites.
MacGregor’s Restaurant: Looking for a delicious burger or some fish and chips? This is the spot. Their covered outdoor deck also offers a beautiful view of the water and is dog friendly. Local tip- try their house made honey mustard with your fries. You can thank us later.
Creole de Graw: We recommend you go here for the best Sunday Brunch in town! You can’t go wrong with a Bloody Mary and Oysters and Eggs with a creole twist.
Coakley’s Pub: An indoor dining room and outdoor beer garden. This restaurant is family friendly with a casual vibe. Make sure you check out their new fresh juice cocktails- you won’t regret it.
Water Street Seafood: Havre de Grace’s new seafood restaurant has a great water view and mouth watering food. Try local favorites like the Crab Hushpuppies or Seafood Cheese Steak.
Bocamexa Taqueria: Grab some delicious tacos and enjoy them at one of HdG’s waterfront parks. Don’t forget their fresh guac.
Where to Shop
Joseph’s Department Store: Joseph’s is a Havre de Grace institution and has been family owned since the 1930’s. They carry a wide range of product from fashion to decor. Don’t forget to check out their large toy section!
JoRetro: Are you a lover of all things vintage? Then this is the store for you. They are known for their quirky items and large selection of vintage Pyrex. Make sure you check out their new vintage inspired clothing line too.
Blue Heron Gifts and Boutique: This is one of our favorite stores in town and we never leave without a cute piece of home decor.
Les Petits Bisous: Parisian Macarons in unique flavors that almost too pretty to eat…almost. If you are craving a sweet treat, make sure to stop here.
Seneca Cannery: We could spend all afternoon getting lost in this antique store. Featuring booths from hundreds of vendors, you are sure to find a one of a kind treasure.
Festival Vendors
The Festival promises a variety of vendors, from crafts to artisan coffee, there is something for everyone. Here are a few to check out:
- Abundant Jewelry: Repurposed jewelry and barn-wood signs.
- All About Me: Body scrubs, soaps, and bombs.
- Betts and Coops Boutique: Clothing, masks, and accessories.
- My Stress Relief Art: Local resin artist specializing in home decor.
- Ellie Bellie Candle: Candles, liquid soap, lip, and body products.
- Magical Mystery: Faerie Hair
- Malgorzata Baker Photography: Local, framed, and unframed prints (local photography favorite).
- Soy Lit Candles: Homemade natural soy candles.
Where to Park
The festival is located in the heart of downtown and St John’s Street, Washington, Pennington, and Franklin Streets will be closed off for the Festival. Don’t worry though, there is plenty of free parking within walking distance.
Frank J. Hutchin’s Memorial Park
Union Avenue: Free street parking is available down Union Avenue which runs parallel to the Historic Havre de Grace shopping district.
Havre de Grace Public Library: Located on the corner of Pennington and Union, there are several street parking areas.
American Legion: There is public parking along the Susquehanna, the entrance of which can be found at the American Legion.