Holiday market to follow ice sculpting contest

BY TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood — The December First Friday event will feature an ice-sculpting contest followed by a holiday market on Saturday in Ironwood.

Planning for the Dec. 4 First Friday event in downtown Ironwood was adjusted to avoid the possible congestion of people at any given time at the downtown city square where artists will carve ice sculptures over a 24-hour period from Friday to Saturday in a competition for the best work with the “Winter Wonderland” theme. Similar efforts were made for the third annual NoEl Holiday Market at the Historic Depot Park from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5. 

The events, organized by the Northern Elves Festival in collaboration with Travel Ironwood, may have sculptors working at various locations around downtown, according to discussion at the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA) meeting on Dec. 19. The holiday market will also be designed to avoid congestion and adapt to Michigan’s updated COVID-19 guidelines.

DIDA approved $200 in matching funds for the purchase of ice to offset costs for up to eight artists to compete in an ice sculpting activity to occur around the time of the Dec. 4 First Friday. Another $200 will be provided by the office of Ironwood Community Development.

“Maybe some of the artists in this time may not be able to afford that entrance fee,” said Nancy Korpela, DIDA vice chair.

Tim Erickson, community development specialist for the city of Ironwood, updated DIDA on the First Friday and holiday market events at the virtual meeting. He sought input on concerns and to hear recommendations on how to move forward safely. 

The Michigan Department of Health revised COVID-19 guidelines are in effect through Dec. 8 and do not allow for more than 25 people to gather in one area, said Scott Erickson, city manager, who also attended the virtual meeting. This is not the full lockdown that occurred in March but the city needs to be compliant.

“To hold a competition at the city square alone might be a challenge but it could work by placing the artists with their ice at various parks and locations around downtown,” he said. “You can do it with those type of restrictions if you wanted to.”

It’s important that these activities are safe but just as important that they are held, Erickson said. These activities bring people downtown but more importantly get people out of the house which helps with mental health and other situations that are occurring due to prolonged isolation from the pandemic, he said.

“I think that is also important,” he said. “We can talk through it and figure out logistically how this could happen and I am happy to be a part of that.”

Tim Erickson and DIDA members Korpela and Mayor Annette Burchell were to follow through on the planning process with Emily Burchell, the curator of the Northern Elves Festival. The two activities will follow state requirements and to go ahead in a way that does not draw several people to one place at one time, he said.

The Downtown Art Place has also expressed interest in taking part, Tim Erickson said. In the past the DAP has had a large role in organizing indoor markets and activities for December First Friday. These types of activities are not possible this year, he said.

Amy Nosal, DIDA chair, commended DIDA members and city staff in going ahead with the tedious planning required to hold events that require the “adaptability and the amount of overthinking this year.”

Mayor Burchell, also a DIDA member, encouraged the ice sculpting and market to go forward as a walk-through activity. She felt it was important to make the activity work as it is consistent with winter community initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. 

“Especially in this COVID environment,” Burchell said, adding that getting people outside and bringing people to town helps to strengthen the community during a “challenging time.”

Tim Erickson concluded his First Friday report to note that the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs awarded the monthly series a $3,000 mini-grant for 2021. The funds have traditionally been used to bring in regional performers, most often from Michigan, to provide live entertainment.

For more information on both events visit northernelves.org or travelironwood.com.