Magical Ice Carving Festival
Downtown St. Joseph
February 12-14, 2010

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 6th annual Magical Ice Carving Festival, Friday February 12th through Sunday February 14th in beautiful Downtown St. Joseph. Come and watch the sculptures being carved while shopping (Shore Magazine Shopping Extravaganza) and dining in our many cafes and restaurants. Kids activities abound and of course, magic shows! This event is sanctioned by NICA (National Ice Carving Association) who will oversee and judge the professional competitions for originality, artistic quality, technique and design.

Be sure not to miss the new Silver Beach Carousel and Curious Kids' Discovery Zone...below the bluff near Silver Beach, all weekend long!

Weekend Line-Up:

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Noon          Professional Ice Carving - Watch Professional ice sculptors turn blocks of ice into beautiful creations along State St.

7 p.m.        Fire & Ice Opening Ceremony - Pleasant St and Lake Blvd. across from Schu's. Look for the Schu's & Miller Lite Hospitality tent on Pleasant st. The Fire & Ice tower will be located near the tent in the vacant WCA lot. Joey Edwin kicks off the weekend with a magical jazz set at 7:00 pm. Tix at the door or pre-sale at the Welcome Center.

Saturday, February 13th, 2010
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.          Professional Team Carving Competition -  Sanctioned by the National Ice Carving Association)           
 
10 a.m. - Noon          Miniature Golf Corporate Team Tournament (Sponsored by Harbor Shores and The Golf Club at Harbor Shores) - Teams must register at least 15 minutes before tee time at the Welcome Center.  Fee: $10 per team.

Noon - 6 p.m.            Shopping Extravaganza (Sponsored by Shore Magazine) - Discover great finds in our Victorian-Era downtown.  Watch for sales during this weekend.

1:30 - 3:30 p.m.        Miniature Golf "Sweetheart" Tournament (Sponsored by Harbor Shores and The Golf Club at Harbor Shores) - Couples must register at least 15 minutes before tee time at the Welcome Center.  Fee: $10 per couple.     

6 - 10 p.m.                Heart-Warming Entertainment & Team Carving Awards Ceremony at 6:45 p.m. - Last Mangoes take the stage at 7pm....tix available at the door or pre-sale at the Welcome Center.

6 - 10 p.m.                Ice Skating - Bring your sweetie to the John and Dede Howard Ice Arena for outdoor skating and indoor amenities.  Fee: $5 per person and $3 skate rental.

7:30 p.m.                  Cool Tunes with the Southwestern Michigan Symphony Orchestra - Visit www.smso.org for more information.

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 - For Kids
10 - 11:30 a.m.                    Krasl Art Center Magic Show - Magician John Dudley will begin at 10:00 a.m. sharp...make tie-dyed inspired snowflakes, cocoa and cookies available.

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.         Maud Preston Palenske Library Magic & Stories - Magician John Dudley will perform at 11:30 a.m. for thirty minutes only. Spoon snowmen, crown decorating, removable winter tattoos and story times.  Box lunches available for purchase.

2:30 - 4 p.m.                        Curious Kids' Museum & Discovery Zone Crafts & Magic - Soap carvings, snowflake crafts and Magician John Dudley at 2:30 p.m. More snowmen crafts at the new Discovery Zone at Silver Beach below the bluff.

6 - 9 p.m.                             ***NEW THIS YEAR *** Babysitting Services at Curious Kids' Museum - Includes time in museum, snacks and movie.  Fee: $18 per child.

Sunday, February 14th, 2010
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.          Professional Individual Carving Competition

Noon - 4 p.m.             Heart-Warming Entertainment & Individual Carving Awards Ceremony at 3:00 pm.

Saturday's team competition from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the main intersections of State St. downtown will feature four (4) blocks of ice with a team of two professional carvers for each sculpture!

The Sunday Individual Competition will feature up to 15 individual carvers creating masterpieces from two, 300lb. blocks of ice; 10:00am-2:00pm. Closing Ceremonies will be held at the Schu's & Miller Lite Hospitality tent at 3:00pm with awards given at that time for the Individual Competition only.

Don't forget to take a ride on the brand new Carousel for just $2 per ride below the bluff!!

Professional Ice Carvers register here

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR MANY SPONSORS!!!

MARQUEE SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

"Magical Ice Festival” Package

Available February 12 – 14 , 2010

This package for two includes:

• Overnight accommodations in a spacious suite
• $50 Dinner credit for the Bistro on the Boulevard
• Two Keepsake mugs filled with Kilwin's confections
• Bistro Breakfast Buffet for two
• Late check-out of 2:00pm

Carousel Winter Hours

(269)982-8500

(Starting Saturday, January 2 through February)

Thurs 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun Noon - 5p.m.
Mon through Wed: Closed

Carousel Tokens

One ride = $2
Three rides = $5
Seven rides = $10

The Silver Beach Carousel is also available for reservations for weddings, parties, and field trips (a great learning treat that also involves a visit to the Curious Kids' Discovery Zone). 

ST. JOSEPH, MICH. — The landscape below the bluff has dramatically changed in the past year since ground was broken. This amazing $20 million development adjacent to Silver Beach in St. Joseph has more than enough vertical construction to help envision what awaits.

Although slowed by a harsh 2009 winter, construction crews are working full time on the many components of this dynamic project. The Silver Beach Carousel is easily recognized by its exposed wooden beams which will provide the framework to house 26 unique horses and 22 menagerie figures. Rounding boards above the figures will display colorized photos capturing the history of the area. Shadowland Ballroom is currently accepting reservations for 2010 weddings, receptions and special events and features a catering kitchen and on-site liquor license. Please call (269) 983-4518 for availability.

The Whirlpool Compass Fountain, which will spray water 35 feet into the air (on the hour and half hour) is now open from 5pm -10pm through mid-October, 2009.

The Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra will hold a special event (open to the public) on New Year's Eve featuring the "Big Band" sounds of The Dave Bennett Sextet. On January 2nd, 2010 the Silver Beach Carousel, The Curious Kids' Discovery Zone and the largest walk-under kaleidoscope in Michigan will open to the public. The Curious Kids' Discovery Zone will include permanent hands-on water exhibits, a climbing wall and traveling exhibits.

For general questions on the Silver Beach Carousel please call (269)429-6222. 

Elements of the New Expansion:

1. Silver Beach Carousel is scheduled to open in January of 2010.  Young-of-heart will experience the magic or riding 48 unique, hand-carved menagerie figures, including six replicas of the original Silver Beach Carousel horses.  Circling above will be 18 rounding boards that will share the area's rich history with photographs from the past.  For more information or special event reservations, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.silverbeachcarousel.com.

2. Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum will house thousands of happy memories when it opens in January 2010.  See memorabilia from when Silver Beach Amusement Park opened in 1892 until it closed in 1971.  Please contact Daryl Schlender if you have artifacts to loan or donate by calling 269-422-2011, or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.silverbeachcarousel.com.

3. Curious Kids' Discovery Zone by Curious Kids' Museum will start entertaining toddlers to teens with its permanent and traveling hands-on science and cultural exhibits in early 2010.  This beachside setting will be the perfect place to explore seven water exhibits, a climbing wall and virtual reality educational exhibits.  For more information or special event reservations, call 269-983-2543, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.curiouskidsmuseum.org.

4. Michigan's tallest kaleidoscope will soon delight visitors as they walk under and look up to see constantly changing patterns of colors and camera images of the fountain and carousel.

5. Shadowland Ballroom.  This beautiful reception and meeting facility will offer a seating capacity of 300+ for your special event.  Reservations are now being accepted for weddings, special celebrations and business meetings planned for 2010 and beyond.  For more information or reservations, please call Anne at 269-983-4518 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

St. Joseph Weekly Calendar of Events
Downtown St. Joseph
Week of February 1st - 7th, 2010

Click here for your weekly Calendar of Events for "What's Going On" in downtown St. Joseph, MI. Everything from kids activities to concerts and restaurants and bars to downtown events. Plan your trip to St. Joseph, MI today!

St. Joseph Weekly Calendar of Events

Delta Airlines just announced their top six places to escape to around the world.  St. Joseph's Silver Beach was selected as number two while other destinations include Santa Monica, California; Nice, France; Railay Krabi, Tailand; Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  An excerpt from Delta Sky Magazine read, "One standout is Silver Beach, with 22 sandy acres on Lake Michigan bordered by a paved path and two piers.  It's an easy walk to cute downtown for souvenirs or lunch."  To read the article in its entirety, go to www.deltaskymag.com, click Magazine and then "read current issue."