Sixth Annual Knickerbocker Ice Festival comes to Rockland Lake State Park
With cold weather on its way, the 2012 Ice Festival will be the biggest and best ever
Knickerbocker Ice Festival Inc. announced today that the sixth annual Knickerbocker Ice Festival returns to Rockland Lake State Park this January 2012. One of the area’s most talked-about events, the Knickerbocker Ice Festival is being held Saturday, January 28th (11:00am – dark) and Sunday, January 29th (11:00am to 4:00pm). Admission is free; parking is $8.00.
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The Knickerbocker Ice Festival is pleased to welcome back several Ice Festival veterans, including Earl Covington of Ice Art (Mamaroneck, NY), who was the "Fan Favorite" at the 2010 and 2011 Knickerbocker Ice Festivals; Gary Costa of The Art of Ice Serving (Burlington, CT) has worked with ice since 1979. He has been in many area competitions, and he specializes in custom work, logos and symbols; and John Hedbavny of Woodstock Ice in New Paltz. He is a 1999 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and has been ice-carving full-time for over a decade. Rob Patalano of the Rockland Lake Ice Company (Congers, NY), one of the founders of the Knickerbocker Ice Festival, will carve a life-size Horse and Wagon, a frozen replica of the "Cab" used by the original Knickerbocker Ice Company. Guests can have their photo taken while sitting in the driver's seat of the 14 foot-long, 10-14 foot-high cab.
The Knickerbocker Ice Festival celebrates Rockland Lake’s history as the epicenter of the ice industry during the 19th century. In addition to the professional Ice Carving competitions and demonstrations, portions of the three-mile paved path around Rockland Lake will showcase multiple attractions, intended to emphasize the festival’s themes of community, and sustainability. The festival features many activities for everyone to enjoy, including:
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- Knick’s Canteen: Food and Drink to warm the spirit
- Glacier Golf (courtesy Paramount Country Club)
- KIDZ Ice Park: Igloo building, and more
- Historic Ice Gallery: images from the archives frozen into blocks of ice
- Dancing and entertainment
- History walking tour
- Artists in the Parks: local artists capture the beauty of the park on Saturday; art available for sale Sunday
- Bonfire, campfires and warming stations.
The Knickerbocker Ice Festival has grown each year and has become a top attraction for Rockland County each winter,” said Maria Rodd, Knickerbocker Ice Festival CEO. “We’re excited for a classic Rockland County winter that, I predict, will make for a perfect Ice Festival weekend.”
The Knickerbocker Ice Festival and MI-BOX Moving & Mobile Storage of West Haverstraw are encouraging festival attendees to donate clean coats and clothing for a Coat Drive to benefit People to People, Rockland’s largest food pantry charity committed to assisting the county’s neediest families. MI-BOX will have their familiar collection units out at the festival, being held at Rockland Lake State Park, so all anyone needs to do is bring an extra coat or two with them when they come to enjoy the Ice Festival.
The 2012 Knickerbocker Ice Festival is made possible thanks to its volunteers and generous sponsors. For more information on about sponsorship opportunities or how to become a volunteer, contact Maria Rodd (mrodd@knickerbockericefestival.com or 845-290-1644) or Rosemarie Monaco (rmonaco@knickerbockericefestival.com or 845-535-3453 x207).
About The Knickerbocker Ice Festival
The Knickerbocker Ice Festival (www.knickerbockericefestival.com), now in its sixth year, celebrates Rockland Lake’s history as the epicenter of the ice trade in the 19th century—long before the invention of the household refrigerator. Known for its sparkling, clear water, Rockland Lake was the preferred source of ice for New York City as well as international destinations.
