Plymouth Ice Festival Returns with Icy Attractions

Annual event features ice sculptures, bar, and new zip-line in downtown Plymouth

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:47am

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The Plymouth Ice Festival is back this weekend, bringing with it a variety of icy attractions and activities for visitors. The festival features over 150 ice sculptures throughout downtown, an ice bar and party tent, ice golf, and a new zip-line attraction. Organizers expect 60,000-80,000 visitors to attend the popular annual event.

Why it matters

The Plymouth Ice Festival is a long-standing tradition that draws large crowds to the city's downtown area, providing a significant economic boost to local businesses. The festival showcases the creativity of ice carvers and offers unique winter activities for residents and visitors alike.

The details

The ice sculptures are created from 350-pound blocks of ice by skilled carvers, who transform the frozen medium into intricate works of art. In addition to the sculptures, the festival includes an ice bar and party tent, ice golf, and a new zip-line attraction. Visitors can also warm up at various warming stations and enjoy hot cocoa. The Plymouth Downtown Development Authority is also hosting a bingo game, where participants can win prizes from 24 participating local businesses.

  • The Plymouth Ice Festival takes place this weekend (January 30-31, 2026).
  • The festival has been an annual event for over 20 years.

The players

Benjamin Goebel

Owner and operator of Top Shelf Ice, a company that has been involved with the Plymouth Ice Festival for 20 years.

Jason Gietzen

Organizer of the Plymouth Ice Festival.

Sam Plymale

Director of the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority, which is involved in hosting the festival.

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What they’re saying

“It's one of the original ice festivals in the United States especially in this weekend.”

— Benjamin Goebel, Owner and Operator, Top Shelf Ice

“The carvers take those ideas back and they design something and they come up with things that we wouldn't even is possible in a median like ice.”

— Jason Gietzen, Organizer, Plymouth Ice Festival

“Every year we get about 60,000-80,000 visitors that come from outside Plymouth to downtown Plymouth . It really has a huge economic impact to our businesses down here.”

— Sam Plymale, Director, Plymouth Downtown Development Authority

What’s next

The Plymouth Ice Festival will continue through the weekend, offering visitors a chance to experience the icy attractions and support local businesses.

The takeaway

The Plymouth Ice Festival has become a beloved winter tradition that showcases the creativity of ice carvers, provides unique activities for visitors, and delivers a significant economic boost to the city's downtown area. The festival's longevity and growing popularity demonstrate the community's commitment to celebrating the season and supporting local businesses.