Instead of spending another boring winter day cooped up inside the house, come to Mich-e-ke-wis Park and Downtown Alpena and enjoy the Annual 2026 Alpena Ice Festival on Saturday February 21st from 9am-8pm! Buy something from the Alpena Farmers Market, check out the unique ice sculptures, warm up by the big bonfire and so much more! For the full schedule of events keep reading!

9 am – 2 pm: Alpena Farmers Market at Mich-e-ke-wis Park
Visit the Alpena Farmers Market in the warming shelter at Mich-e-ke-wis Park- multiple vendors with baked goods, artisan gifts, hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn, and festival swag (hoodies, hats, and shirts) available throughout the day, including kids’ crafts and programming.

11 am – 2 pm: Activities at Mich-e-ke-wis Park 
The day starts at Mich-e-ke-wis Park on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron with ice sculptures on display and winter activities, including:

• HUGE bonfire courtesy of the City of Alpena Fire Department
• Snow sledding hill, horse and wagon rides, and sled dog meet-and-greets 
• Ice sculptures by Ice Creations from Napolean, Ohio, including student artwork from Alpena Public Schools transformed into ice sculptures 
• Live carving by ice artists 
• Food truck 

3 – 4:30 pm: Polar Plunge on Second Ave
Get ready to plunge and raise funds for the Special Olympics of Michigan! The annual Polar Plunge will be held downtown again this year as part of the Ice Festival on Second Ave. Registration takes place 2-3 pm at Bay Urban (106 River St), plus a Pre-Plunge Gathering at Rusty Petunias Marketplace! The plunge will take place in a large pool at the intersection of Second Ave. and River St. Grab a hot cocoa or Social District beverage, watch brave souls take the plunge, and help raise funds for Special Olympics. Register and learn more here.

4:30 pm: Water and Limestone Sculpture Dedication at Culligan Plaza
Join Thunder Bay Arts for a dedication ceremony of Alpena’s newest sculpture, “Water and Limestone” created by artist Autumn Bildson. The sculpture is located at Culligan Plaza, next to the parking lot entrance on Washington Ave.

​5- 8 pm: Fire & Ice Downtown 
Stroll the streets of downtown and enjoy dazzling ice sculptures on display sponsored by local businesses. Enjoy themed drinks from downtown bars and taprooms and other special winter menu items at downtown restaurants. At 6:30 pm, we will light a special “fire and ice” sculpture in front of Red Brick Tap & Barrel on River St., sponsored by Wolverine State Credit Union. Enjoy the winter ambiance while warming up with special Social District drinks, warm bonfires, and music from DJ Cliff LaMay!

If you would like to know where all of the ice sculptures are located, you can find a map of them here!

Big thank you to all of our sponsors that are making this year’s Ice Festival possible!

• Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union
• Alpena Downtown Development Authority
• Thunder Bay Arts
• Wolverine State Credit Union
• Walmart
• City of Alpena
• Schultz, Oswald, Miller & Edwards PC
• Alpena Farmers Market
• City of Alpena Fire Department
• Alpena Conventions & Visitors Bureau