Hunter Ice Festival

The Hunter Ice Festival is held each year in downtown Niles during the month of January. The festival pays tribute to the great history of our area's Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company, which not only created the best ice cream at the turn of the century, but also cut ice blocks out of Barron Lake and shipped it throughout the land.

The festival showcases more than 150 ice sculptures situated all over the downtown area and created on site by well-known ice carvers from near and far. Please take time to view the Hunter Ice Festival Photo album.

This weekend festivities kick off Friday night with Fire and Ice-a live carving show that gets set on fire!  Saturday, live carving will take place throughout town, and Saturday night don’t miss Ice Fights- three 15-minute carving rounds always ending with spectacular sculptures. Other activities include Hunter Ice Cream, Ice Sledding hill, Family fun Ice Park featuring Ice Ping Pong, Corn Hole and more!

Downtown merchants offer free hot refreshments in their "warming stations" along with special festival sales and promotions. Please join us each year for the beauty and wonderment of the Hunter Ice Festival. The Hunter Ice Festival is sponsored by Niles DDA Main Street. For more information contact Lisa Croteau at 269-687-4332.