BELFAST — The Belfast Ice Festival, presented by the Belfast Restaurant Group, returns to downtown Belfast on February 23 – 25, 2024. The State of Maine Ice Carving Championship, presented by Rollies Bar & Grill, returns to the corner of Main and Cross Streets, from 1 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 24.

Beginning Friday, February 23, you will find ice sculptures and ice bars popping up around town. Among them will be a mermaid, dragon, anchor, cat, owl, and many other designs. There will also be live carving demonstrations on Saturday, February 24. Several of the downtown restaurants are offering drink and food specials all weekend, many at outside bars with warming stations. Saturday will showcase the 3rd Annual State of Maine Ice Carving Competition sponsored by Rollie’s Bar & Grill and Rollie’s Remote Catering. Eight (8) teams ate participating at the corner of Main and Cross Street from 1 - 3 p.m. Judging will take place promptly at 3 p.m. by community judges. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place.

Family-friendly activities will take place around downtown at various times between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Park on Main will host Waldo County General Hospital and Waldo County YMCA offering children’s activities. Further down the hill at the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce (14 Main Street) there will be Horse and Carriage Rides. Beginning at 10 a.m. you can warm up at Belfast Fiberarts (171 High Street) with a hot cocoa bar generously donated by the Belfast Community Co-op and participate in the weaving demonstrations they are offering.

Highlights of other weekend activities include a poem story walk provided by the Belfast Free Library; poems will be placed in store windows. The Colonial Theatre (163 High Street) is offering a FREE family-friendly movie on Saturday. There will be personalized olive oil and vinegar tastings each day Vinolio (74 Main Street), an outdoor pizza kitchen Friday night at Harborwalk Restaurant (37 Front Street), FREE Main Maple Snow Cones upstairs at The Good Table (68 Main Street) on Saturday, and Marshall Wharf Brewing will have live music from Electric Bonfire from 7 - 10 p.m.

The Magical Luminary Walk, hosted by the Belfast Garden Club, is also returning along the rail trail on Saturday from 5 - 8 p.m. They are preparing 300 ice luminaries to be placed along the trail from the entrance by the Armistice Bridge to the upper bridge entrance.

The full schedule of weekend activities can be found at ourtownbelfast.org/ice-festival/.

OUR TOWN BELFAST is a community-driven, inclusive, and nationally accredited Main Street organization whose mission is to grow and sustain our historic downtown while celebrating our unique cultural heritage. We believe in supporting local businesses, honoring our heritage through historic preservation, and bringing together the community to make downtown Belfast an inclusive and better place to work, shop, play, and live. Our Town Belfast envisions a vibrant future in which our waterfront, commercial district, treasured historic buildings, and outdoor public spaces are alive with inclusive and interactive placemaking activity.

2024 Belfast Ice Festival and State of Maine Ice Carving Championship Schedule of Activities

Friday, February 23

Pub Crawl with Jefferson Whiskey, from 4 - 8 p.m., at these participating restaurants:

o Darby’s Restaurant - 155 High Street
o Delvino’s Grill & Pasta House - 52 Main Street
o Dos Gato’s Gastropub - 84 Main Street
o Front Street Pub - 37 Front Street

o Harborwalk Restaurant - 37 Front Street
o Nautilus Seafood & Grill - 3 Main Street
o Rollies Bar & Grill - 37 Main Steet
o Satori - 108 Main Street

• 4:00 p.m. till end: Olive Oil & Vinegar tasting event at Vinolio - 74 Main Street.
• 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Outside pizza kitchen at Harborwalk Restaurant - 37 Front Street.
• 6:00 p.m. till end: Whiskey & Cheese. Come try out Pineland Farms Cheese. See how it pairs with other flavors and Jefferson Whiskey! Sponsored by the Belfast Restaurant Group at Delvino’s Grill & Pasta House- 52 Main Street.

Saturday, February 24

• All day: explore ice sculptures all around town.
• All day: enjoy food, drink, and shopping all around town.
• All day: sled along Federal Street (weather dependent).
• 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Children’s activities and games at the United Farmers Market - 18 Spring St.
• 10:00 a.m.: Live Ice Carving Demonstration in the Park on Main.
• 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hot Cocoa bar donated by the Belfast community Co-op, fire, and cornhole in the courtyard hosted by Belfast Fiberarts - 171 High Street.
• 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Weaving demonstrations at Belfast Fiberarts - 171 High Street.
• 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: FREE Children’s activities in the Park on Main.
• 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: FREE Carriage Rides at the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce - 14 Main St.
• 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Cupcakes on Main Street! Decorate your cupcake for $1. Sponsored by Dennis Food Service and Delvino’s Grill & Pasta House - 52 Main Street.
• Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Tito’s “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Satori - 108 Main Street.
• 1:00 p.m.: Live Ice Carving Demonstration at Nautilus – 3 Main Street
• 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.: Tito’s “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Delvino’s - 52 Main Street.
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.: State of Maine Ice Carving Competition at the corner of Main and Cross Streets.
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.: FREE Movie (movie TBD) at the Colonial Theater - 163 High Street.
• 2:00 p.m.: Oysters on ICE. $2 oysters on the 1/2 shucked to order in front of your eyes at Front Street Pub - 37 Front Street.
• 2:00 p.m.: FREE Maine Maple Snow Cones at the Good Table - 68 Main Street.
• 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Tito’s “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Front Street Pub - 37 Front Street.
• 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Tito’s “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Rollie’s Bar & Grill - 37 Main Street.
• 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Olive Oil & Vinegar tasting event at Vinolio - 74 Main Street.
• 4:00 p.m.: FREE Cheese Tasting at Harborwalk Restaurant - 37 Front Street.
• 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Wine Tasting at Salvatore & Roscia at Eat More Cheese - 94 Main Street
• 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Tito’s “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Nautilus Seafood & Grill - 3 Main St.
• 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.: Tito’s “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Darby’s Restaurant - 155 High Street.
• 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Magical Luminary Walk along the Rail Trail hosted by the Belfast Garden Club.
• 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.: Electric Bonfire playing at Marshall Wharf Brewing - 36 Marshall Wharf.

Sunday, February 25

• All day: explore ice sculptures all around town.
• All day: enjoy food, drink, and shopping all around town.
• All day: sled along Federal Street (weather dependent).
• 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Weaving demonstrations at Belfast Fiberarts - 171 High Street.
• 11:00 a.m. - Noon: Bloody Mary Sunday. Join Absolute Vodka and mix your way to a delicious Bloody Mary and receive a free gift (while supplies last) at Front Street Pub - 37 Front Street.
• Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Kahlua “Keep the Cup” (while supplies last) at Delvino’s - 52 Main Street
• 1:00 p.m. till end: Olive Oil & Vinegar tasting event at Vinolio - 74 Main Street.
• 1:00 p.m.: Enjoy Jameson’s Whiskey at Nautilus Seafood & Grill - 3 Main Street.