Icebreakers - South Haven, Michigan
Ice Breaker Festival in Downtown South Haven! - 17th year
Feb. 5, 6 and 7, 2011
It all started with the idea of getting out for some fun in the middle of another spectacular winter on the shores of Lake Michigan. Locals organized a Euchre tournament and cooked up some delicious hot food, and Icebreakers was born nearly 20 years ago..
In
2011, Euchre is still being played but, the festival has
grown. There are snowmobile events, a chili cook
off and ice sculpting to name a few. There were
more than 50 ice sculptures of every description.
More than 8 tons of ice were carved Saturday in front of
establishments throughout South Haven’s downtown.
Icebreakers has grown into one of the most popular winter festivals in southeast Michigan. People come from all over the mid-west and beyond. The local businesses support the festival. Many close for the winter months but the open for the Icebreakers Festival.
17 eating establishments offered chili samples in the Professional Chili Cookoff. Recipes ranged from blueberry chili at the Blueberry Store to coffee and beer-flavored chili at Cafe Julia to an ice cream chili served by Captain Nemo’s.
Snakes, turtles, mermaids and even a wine rack, were among the carvings that won awards in the annual ice carving contest of the Ice Breaker festival.
The festival is a production of the Chamber of Commerce.
