The Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester is back January 18th–20th for another year of family fun and winter festivities that you can enjoy for FREE. The three-day community celebration will be packed with events like tube sledding, ice skating, dog sled rides, cross-country skiing, ice sculptures along Main Street, fireworks on Friday and Saturday night, The Big, Bright Light Show, live music, TasteFest, and so much more!
Take a look at our video for a preview of the fun:
Event Highlights
Check out some highlights of the Fire & Ice Festival below!
Big, Bright Light Show
See the beauty of over one million lights draped upon the buildings of Downtown Rochester. The Big, Bright Light Show will light the town again, especially for Fire & Ice attendees.
Brooksie Way Chill at the Mills 5k Race
Have a winter blast at the Brooksie Way Chill at the Mills 5K on January 20th. All race participants will receive a long-sleeve T-shirt and a $10 off discount to the 2019 Brooksie Way in September.
Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Skating, and Snowshoeing
Cross-country ski, ice skate, and snowshoe for FREE. Oakland County Parks and Recreation will have snowshoes and cross-country skis available at no charge, but please bring your own ice skates for open skating.
Dog Sled Rides
There’s no need to travel to the Iditarod Trail to experience the thrill of a dog sled ride! A team of sled dogs will work together to take you for an exhilarating ride around a snowy track.
Ice Carving
The Fire & Ice Festival is home to an annual Collegiate Ice Carving Competition where college students from across southeast Michigan compete to outdo each other with detailed ice carvings.
Pet Adoptions
The Oakland County Pet Adoption Center will have open pet adoptions during the festival. If you’d like to adopt a pet, come visit the Pet Adoption Center at the festival to find your new best friend.
TasteFest
Restaurants and food trucks in and around Oakland County are coming together for TasteFest to provide tasty treats. From local classics to regional favorites, there’s something for everyone!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking for volunteer opportunities for yourself or a group of five to 10 people? Help make the 12th Annual Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester a success by volunteering!
Volunteers work in 3.5 hour shifts to assist guests at stations such as the tubing hill, dog sledding, cross country skiing/snowshoes, ice skating, and parking. Volunteers should dress for the outdoors, and plan for the weather: boots, coats, snowpants, hats, gloves, rain gear, etc.
20 volunteers needed per shift:
Friday, January 18th: 5 p.m. – 8:30 pm
Saturday, January 19th: 3 shifts: 12:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.; 3:00 p.m. – 6:15p.m. or 5:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 20th: 2 shifts: 10:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. or 1:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Learn more about the Fire & Ice Volunteer Opportunities here. Sign up in advance by completing the volunteer application on Oakland County Park’s website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/getinvolved/Pages/Volunteer.aspx.
Check out the Fire & Ice Festival Event Schedule online and find the latest updates on their website and Facebook page. Please note that all events are weather permitting and subject to change.
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