Community Spotlight: FestivICE Connects York County Trail Towns

This weekend, residents and visitors in York, PA, enjoyed a unique winter wonderland experience. For the eighth year, downtown York was filled with beautiful, detailed ice sculptures. FestivICE also featured an ice slide, a live reindeer, fire pits with smores, a DJ, and other fun attractions. Eleven tons of ice were required to bring the spectacle to life, artfully carved into 20 sculptures along Cherry Lane in York. Another 20 sculptures were featured along the York Heritage Rail Trail, part of the York County Trail Towns Program. FestivICE was hosted by York Revolution, Traditions Bank, and the York County Economic Alliance. Each ice sculpture was sponsored, and $100 of each sponsorship was added to the York County Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund.

Downtown Inc, York’s Main Street organization, collaborated with the organizers to promote the event. Downtown Inc posted multiple times across their social media channels and outreach to the merchants of Downtown York through their newsletter and Facebook group. Jonathan Desmarais, Director of Downtown Inc, noted that collaboration is a key component of their work. “We are more than willing to assist in the promotion of such an event that brings visitors to our downtown,” said Desmarais. Downtown Inc’s website brands Downtown York as ‘Historically Edgy,’ a theme that fits well with FestivICE’s brilliant ice displays. Events like this play an important role in emphasizing York as a cultural destination in the region.

The inclusion of the York Heritage Rail Trail this year significantly expanded the event and brought new benefits, including improving connections between York and its neighboring towns. “FestivICE is just one of the many new efforts going on in our Trail Town communities, and this event will give a glimpse to visitors on what is going on throughout the county,” Pennsylvania State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill said to Traditions Bank. David Gonzalez of the York County Economic Alliance sees the partnership as a win for all communities, saying that the “asset based economic development approach considers each town’s existing resources, character, and local businesses to develop a memorable and inviting trail experience for residents and out of town visitors alike.”

Johnathan Desmarais predicts good returns on the event, saying “with the additional foot traffic that the event brought, the businesses of Downtown York saw increased customers as well as additional exposure in hopes that customers who visited for the first time will return.” David Gonzalez also touted the economic benefits, saying “Downtown York had a winning program with FestivICE, and our ability to find an opportunity to expand the success to boroughs that typically don’t receive the same economic development attention has spurred a more cohesive York County and cross promotion that we believe will pay dividends in years to come.”

FestivICE is a great example of a program that emphasizes the power Main Streets have in promoting local and regional cultural and economic development, as well as the role that community partnerships can play in elevating an event. The event provided safe, outdoor recreation in a beautiful community setting while showcasing local businesses and supporting arts and culture. “In the age of COVID and the typical first quarter slow down, FestivICE provides an opportunity for increased foot traffic and an incentive for residents to get out of their homes and into the community,” said David Gonzalez.