LOUDONVILLE – Visitors to downtown Loudonville this weekend will be met with dozens of dazzling ice sculptures and plenty of cold-weather fun.
Now in its 13th year, Mohican Winterfest regularly draws thousands of people from Ashland County and surrounding areas, and even some out-of-state visitors. The event runs Jan. 11-13.
Winterfest includes three days of activities throughout Loudonville and the Mohican area, but the main draws are the ice carving demonstrations in Central Park and sponsored sculptures that line Main Street downtown.
“It’s very interesting to see the carvers do the presentations, and I think when you see all the sculptures out for the first time, it’s pretty amazing,” said, Valerie Spreng, executive director of the Loudonville Chamber of Commerce.
Aaron Costic and his team from Elegant Ice Creations will offer six carving demonstrations Saturday at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The demonstrations are free and open to the public.
Weather permitting, the sponsored sculptures will be placed along Main Street around 5 p.m. Friday evening and will remain in place throughout the weekend. If the weather is too warm or rainy, the scultures may go up Saturday morning instead.
The annual model train expo will run 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Hans Event Center on N. Water Street.
Also returning this year is a vintage and newer snowmobile display noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Central Park.
The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum and the Workman Cabin will be open for tours noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Loudonville Public Library will offer a stuffed polar bear workshop for kids at noon Saturday.
The Snowball Dance with DJ Rockin Al will be 7-11 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Banquet Hall. Admission is free, but guests must be 21 years or older.
The Ohio Theatre will offer three showings of Mary Poppins Returns throughout the weekend, and Ugly Bunny Winery will offer live music and wine and cheese events.
On Sunday, The Mohican Trails Club will offer three guided hikes– a 5K, a 10K and an interpretive hike led by a park naturalist.
All hikes start and end at the camp store located at the Mohican State Park’s Class A campground, just south of Loudonville on State Route 3. Soup, cookies and drinks will be provided afterward.
The hikes are free, but the Mohican Trails Club welcomes donations to be used for trail maintenance and repair.
