Winter has finally arrived — and that means it’s time for Frosty Fest, held annually in Gurnee to celebrate cold, snowy outdoor activities. The fest, which features Frosty himself as well as ice sculpting, snowman-building contests and dog sled demonstrations, was canceled last year due to inclement weather.
This year, it will be held Jan. 23, instead of the traditional Friday night, giving more folks who work during the week a chance to come, and also a chance for a little warmer daytime weather, said Viking Park community center manager Beckie Korzyniewski. The free festival is sponsored by the Village of Gurnee, the Gurnee Park District and local businesses, she said.
Returning will be Art Below Zero, an ice sculpting group that will have some demonstration pieces done in advance and include interactive games such as a bean bag toss with a sculpted snowman. “They’ll also carve on site, and we’ll have a graffiti wall,” Korzyniewski said. “Kids are given a special kind of paint they can use on the ice. Some paint little pictures, snowflakes. Other kids write their names. Other kids make rainbows. It becomes a large, color piece. It’s a unique experience. It’s one of those things that you really won’t find at most outdoor winter fests.”
Visitors can also take a horse-drawn sleigh ride. “We have three sleighs this year and they generally seat around 15-20 people,” she said. Visitors can meet a dog sled team, learn about how the dogs are trained and interact with the animals.
Kids might also enjoy meeting Frosty and getting their pictures taken with the iconic snowman, who will be at the event most of the day.
If there’s enough snow, free snowshoes will be available for toddlers through adults to try. “And as long as we have some good snow that will pack well, we will have a snowman building contest,” Korzyniewski said. “I’m hoping it will be a perfect year for it. People get creative. We’ll have some supplies on-site, but there will be people bringing things from home for their snowman. They’ve already got a plan all mapped out in their minds. They’ve been working on the design for a few weeks.”
Korzyniewski said typically up to 1,000 people come to the event. “The holidays are over and in a season when it’s cold and daylight hours are shorter, parents are looking for creative ways to get children to enjoy the outdoors. Frosty Fest really warms your heart.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Frosty Fest
When: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 23
Where: Bittersweet Golf Course, 675 Almond Road, Gurnee
Tickets: Free
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Information: 847-623-7788; www.gurneeparkdistrict.com