CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — The snow might be gone due to warm weather but the ice is still kicking around in Chambersburg at its annual IceFest takes place this weekend.
"It has definitely been the warmest," said Penny Shaul, co-chair for IceFest 2024. "We’ve dealt with warm before but not this warm. The rain combo is really a bad combination. We work with what we have because that’s the one thing we can’t control."
Ice sculptures were put on display Friday as temperatures hit above the 60's in contrast to well-below-freezing temperatures last week. However, organizers of the event say it brings so much more to the community and helps support local businesses with everything there is to do.
"It’s great to see so many people on the street because one of the main things for IceFest is not only to see all the beautiful ice but to get people to enjoy our downtown and get into the businesses," said Shaul.
The marquee attraction of IceFest is the beautiful ice sculptures. Sculptures- with decades of experience- are doing everything they can to keep their sculptures alive for as long as possible.
"We’ve been carving ice for over 35 years as a company," said Jared McAlister, operations manager and lead ice carver of DiMartino Ice. "We have plenty of experience building and carving in all kinds of different elements especially being from Pennsylvania. So, we experience all the seasons."
It’s a dedication to the craft, admirers of the work don’t take for granted.
"The guys are so talented," said Tracy Wertz, a Chambersburg resident. "I mean, I don’t even know how they’re able to do the things that they do but it's just wonderful. It’s absolutely wonderful."
An appreciation that makes all the hard work worth it.
"This is what we do it for, coming out and being able to perform live, being able to see the reaction on people’s faces," said McAlister. "Normally, I’m at the shop by myself staring at a wall carving ice. You don’t really get a lot from that so coming out and getting to see people react to it is really what we do it for."
For more information on events and activities happening this weekend, visit the IceFest 2024 website.