Fire and Ice and Everything Nice

An ice carver at work during last year’s Fire and Ice Festival. File photo by Rachel Lukas.

Some like it hot, some like it cold – and at Sturgeon Bay’s Fire and Ice Festival, Feb. 16-17, there’s a little bit of both. 

The fun begins on Feb. 16, 5:30-7 pm, with a luminary-lit hike at Crossroads at Big Creek. After trekking through a wintry wonderland, enjoy hot chocolate by the bonfire.

Crossroads is located at 2041 Michigan St.

If you’ve hiked up an appetite, Drömhus offers date-night specials on both Feb. 16 and 17. For $50, couples can get a bottle of wine and a pizza. Guests that sing the chorus of Pat Benatar’s “Fire and Ice” will receive a free piece of chocolate cake. 

Drömhus is located at 611 Jefferson St.

The following day, starting at 9 am, watch novice and professional carvers in downtown Sturgeon Bay turn blocks of ice into works of art. Get there in style in a Door County Trolley, which will run11 am – 3 pm and make stops at Third Avenue PlayWorks, 239 N. 3rd Ave.; Popelka Trenchard Glass Studio, 64 S. 2nd Ave.; Bay Shore Outfitters, 59 N. Madison Ave.; and Kitty O’Reillys Irish Pub, 59 E. Oak St.

After seeing the snowy sights, warm up at Third Avenue PlayWorks’ indoor winter market, which offers art, handmade knit pieces, freeze-dried goodies, hot chocolate and more, 10 am – 2 pm.

Then hit the trails 11 am – 1 pm with a hike, snowshoe or ski at Potawatomi State Park in Nasewaupee, thawing out again with refreshments and a bonfire at the warming shelter at the picnic area on the park’s south shoreline.

Also at 11 am – 1 pm is a bake sale and performances by local teen dance group Hype Dance Team. Performances take place 11:30 am and 12:30 pm at Martin Park, 207 S. 3rd Ave. 

In the same timeframe (11 am – 1 pm), a soup and bread sampler will be held at Master’s Cup Coffee House. The funds generated from tickets – $7 for adults and $3 for children under 10 – will support mental health programs. 

Master’s Cup is located at 1756 Michigan Street, attached to Prince of Peace Church.

The festivities continue at Popelka Trenchard Glass Studio, where guests can watch blown-glass art being made, 1-3 pm. 

A different kind of demonstration will be held at Crossroads 2-4 pm, when attendees can watch a historical reenactment of a Sturgeon Bay ice harvest. Reenactors will set up camp in front of the learning center and use authentic period tools to show how ice was cut and transported.

Warm up with a special Fire and Ice Fish Boil at Waterfront Mary’s Bar and Grill at 5:30 pm. Call 920.743.3690 to make reservations.

Waterfront Mary’s is located at 3662 N. Duluth Ave.

The festival will end with a bang (well, several bangs) during the 9 pm fireworks show over the water. The best viewing locations include Otumba Park, Stone Harbor Resort, Bayview Park, Graham Park, Sawyer Park and Sonny’s Pizzeria.

Fire and Ice Gala Sold Out

Destination Sturgeon Bay’s sold-out 2024 Fire and Ice Gala, held at the Stone Harbor Resort Feb. 17, begins with appetizers, cocktails, a champagne wall and a raffle at 5 pm.

After that, a 6 pm seated dinner will be followed by live music by The LoveMonkeys at 8 pm (don’t worry – the band will break at 9 pm so you can catch the fireworks show, then return and play until midnight.) 

This year’s gala theme is Casino Night, so from 8-10:30 pm, guests can play poker, craps and roulette.

Stone Harbor Resort is located at 107 N. 1st Ave.