I LOVE attending the Plymouth Ice Fest, and I DO mean that I love it. There have been winters when the ice melts almost as fast as it's been carved, and there have been bitterly cold winters, but nothing beats bundling up and heading to Plymouth Michigan to see the many sparkly creations created before my eyes scattered throughout the downtown area! the past couple of years, we have even introduced the kids to the experience - My son thinks it is especially awesome to see the ice carvers cutting away "with chainsaws" at the giant ice blocks!!! And the best thing is, all of this family entertainment is FREE...

"I loved it!" says Zach Mayrend of the Plymouth Ice Festival, "I like when they are carving the ice, and REALLY liked the COOL carved snowmobile!"

The 28th annual Plymouth Ice Festival storms into Plymouth January 22-24, 2010. Formerly known as the Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular, the official 2010 Plymouth Ice Festival will bring a new name, a new look and several new outdoor exhibits into the heart of downtown Plymouth, throughout Kellogg Park, the Gathering, Central Parking Deck and throughout the downtown area.

Created specifically for the love of winter, the revamped Plymouth Ice Festival will feature over 100 ice sculptures, live music and entertainment, interactive family shows, winter-themed tasty treats and a variety of additional events to interest all ages. Several new event highlights include the Dueling Chainsaws Speed Carving Show, Forest

Avenue Scavenger Hunt, and Petting Farm & Pony Rides. Many of the Downtown Plymouth merchants will also be holding individualized in-store events offering discounts and giveaways. An estimated 100,000 people are slated to attend the three-day event.

The Plymouth Ice Festival has ranked among the top ice festivals in the United States by promoting ice sculpture as an art form through competitions, demonstrations and seminars with standardized judging and exhibitions. To see the complete schedule of events during the 2010 Plymouth Ice Festival, be sure to check out the festival's website!

Festival Hours: Friday, January 22: 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Saturday, January 23: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, January 24: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Events take place during ALL festival hours and include: - Live ice carving and 24 hour displays in the Sculpture Garden - Food vendors serving tasty winter treats - Hot Spot warming tent with local vendors - Forest Avenue scavenger hunt and petting farm

So bundle up your troops and take a 20 minute drive from Ann Arbor to downtown Plymouth. The quaint downtown area will be alive with amateur and professional ice carvers and families who enjoy the experience - And don't forget to bring some extra money for a hot cup of cocoa!

Tammy Mayrend is a Search Marketing professional who blogs on local activities for families at annarbormom.com.