A look at what's new for SocialICE 2019
The 11th annual SocialICE festival is coming up later this week — and for the first time ever, the event is carving out time specifically for families.
“FAM JAM” will be held this Saturday, the third and final day of SocialICE. From 1 to 4 p.m. all ages are invited to stop down Peace Plaza for an afternoon of family programming. There will games and s’mores, along with a special appearance from Nordy of the Minnesota Wild.
Meghann Southwick, director of events and strategic partnerships for the Rochester Downtown Alliance, said FAM JAM is part of broader push to make downtown events appealing for children and families.
Also new to this year’s festival:
Local artists will be participating in a live paint jam on First Avenue each night from 7 to 9 p.m.
An igloo will be set up on the east side of the plaza. It will allow up to 150 people at a time to escape the winter cold.
Somerby Golf Club will have a food tent adjacent to the igloo where will they be serving up a variety of soups in portable containers.
“The new programming stemmed from a community desire to see more and do more at the event,” Southwick told Med City Beat on Monday. “Not only can attendees enjoy the hand-crafted signature drinks and live DJs like before, they have the ability to experience local artists at work in this unique setting, connect with more local businesses, and stay warm inside the giant igloo or with a cup of soup in hand.”
Over the past decade, SocialICE has become known statewide for its custom-built ice bars, crafts cocktails and cabin-fever-seducing outdoor experience. Last year, the event brought more than 50,000 people downtown over three nights (and used about 19 tons of ice!).
This year’s event, which begins Thursday night and extends into late Saturday, will feature DJ entertainment each evening. The entertainment, according to the RDA, “will energize the crowd with a mix of hits and classics spun in sync with an outdoor light show.”
The event is free to get into. More info on SocialICE can be found here.
Photos courtesy the RDA
