The Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester is back January 17th–19th 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!
The Fire & Ice Festival will be the inaugural event to commemorate Oakland County’s bicentennial year.
“We can’t think of a better way to kick off celebrating Oakland County’s 200th year than with the Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester,” said County Executive David Coulter. “We welcome everyone to attend our free winter festival to take part in the winter fun.”
The Fire & Ice Festival runs from 5 – 9 p.m. Friday, January 17; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, January 18; and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, January 19. The fireworks are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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
The Big, Bright Light Show will return to Downtown Rochester just for Fire & Ice visitors. Up and down Main Street, downtown buildings will be covered by more than 1 million multicolored lights.
Fireworks
A spectacular firework display lights up the sky Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. The pre-show and fireworks display on Friday and Saturday will honor Oakland County’s 200 years.
Brooksie Way Chill at the Mills 5K Race
the seventh running of The Brooksie Way “Chill at the Mills” 5k race happens Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Registration is available at thebrooksieway.com.
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 Competition
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!
Rochester Fire Department Spaghetti Dinners and Pancake Breakfast
The Rochester Fire Department spaghetti dinners on Friday and Saturday night and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning to support Rochester Area Youth Assistance.
Festival Information
The festival site is at East Second and Mill streets in downtown Rochester. Parking is available at Buffalo Wild Wings at 1234 Walton in Rochester. There will be a free shuttle running between the restaurant and the festival.
This year’s presenting sponsor for the Fire and Ice Festival is Vibe Credit Union; fireworks sponsors Hour Media and Soave Enterprises; major sponsors Rochester Mills Beer Co., Russ Shelton Buick GMC, and Consumers Energy; and supporting sponsors Buffalo Wild Wings, Byers Wrecker Service, Heat Treating Services Corporation of America, Premier Pet Supply, Renewal by Andersen and Rock Solid Exteriors.
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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