The city’s annual winter events are back-to-back in January 2025 starting with the Festival of Ice presented by Allied Solutions and the Carmel Winter Games.
Festival of Ice
Jan. 17 to 19
Top ice carvers from around the country will be in Carmel Jan. 17 to 19 for demonstrations, the People’s Choice sculpture competition and, of course, the fan favorite: speed carving.
The 2025 Festival of Ice weekend will begin Friday, Jan. 17 in the Carmel Arts & Design District, with carvers creating incredible ice masterpieces from 4 to 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Jan. 18 the ice carving begins at Carter Green from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch sculpting professionals create unique ice masterpieces then participate in the People’s Choice sculpture voting from noon to 5 p.m.
The Carmel Fire Department won the Chili Cook-Off in January 2024. (Photo provided by City of Carmel)
Are you a fan of chili? Taste-test and vote for your favorite chili from one of the participating Carmel Fire Department crews during the cook-off from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
On Sunday, Jan. 19 the competition kicks into high gear with the ice carvers returning for the grand finale speed carving competition from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The People’s Choice sculpture competition winners will be announced at the end of the event.
The city is ready to welcome both veterans and newcomers to the list of carvers:
- Titus Arensburg – Newark, Ohio
- Joe Autry – Clarkesville, Ind.
- Aaron Costin – Nebo, N.C.
- Zachary Crossman – Tampa, Fla.
- Shannon Gerasismchik – New Bremen, Ohio
- Ben Goebel – Whitmore Lake, Mich.
- Jim Houser – Huntington, Ind.
- Stephan Koch – Daleville, Ind.
- Jon Price – Atlanta, Ga.
- Dan Rebholz – Addison, Ill.
- Duane Shemlhaus – Antioch, Ohio
- Matthew Stoddart – Nicholasville, Ky.
- Aaron Whitten – Commerce Township, Mich.
Want to volunteer at the Festival of Ice? Click here for more information.
Carmel Winter Games
Jan. 24 & 25
It is time once again to bundle up and head to Carter Green for ice-cold competition and fun at the Carmel Winter Games on the city’s ice rink, brought to you by Allied Solutions. Whether you are signed up to compete or are a spectator, you won’t want to miss two days of non-skating competition Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 at The Ice at Carter Green.
What kind of competition? “Human curling” on inner tubes, an ice trike relay and “human hungry hippo” using laundry baskets to fetch hundreds of bouncing balls.
The annual event kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. with the Hometown Hero-Olympics featuring good-spirited competition among a number of city departments including team members with the Fire Department, Police Department, Information and Communication Services, and more.
On Saturday, the skate-less competition on ice begins at noon and will feature corporate teams and teams consisting of family and friends. In addition to Saturday’s action on the ice, The Ice at Carter Green will feature a ‘Meet the Mascots’ session on the ice from 1 to 3 p.m.
The rules and requirements are as follows:
- Teams must have from four to eight members
- Each individual event during the Games must include at least four representatives from each team
- Teams must commit to participate in all three events for the full duration
- The fee to register is a one-time $300 fee per team
- The winners of the 2025 Carmel Winter Games will choose from one of the following Carmel-based organizations to receive the winning proceeds: Carmel Clay Historical Society, Carmel Food Pantries, Carmel Youth Assistance Program, Heroes Club, Prime Life Enrichment Center, or The Children’s TherAplay Foundation.
Click here to register your team. Want to volunteer at the Winter Games? Click here for information.
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