Fire and Ice comes to Putnam for Valentine's Day

Ice carvings by local artists are a feature at the Fire & Ice Valentine's Festival. Courtesy photo. - Contributed Photo

Downtown Putnam will host the second annual Fire and Ice Festival on Saturday, Feb. 16. Professional ice carving demonstrations by Ice Matters will take place from 12 to 1 p.m. on the Victoria Station Cafe patio, and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the 85 Main restaurant patio.

According to Christina Anderson, one of the organizers, the carvers will create a cupid at Victoria Station and a mermaid at 85 Main.
In addition, 10 300-pound ice blocks will be scattered throughout the city for local artists to create their own sculptures. The 40-inch by 20-inch by 10-inch blocks will be one of the focal points for an event meant to get people outside, said Anderson. “People want to get out and do something, especially around Valentine's Day,” she said. “They want to do something special. This gives them something to do. They don't even have to spend money. They can just come downtown and see the ice sculptures.”

For the more romantically inclined, the Artique Studio Bar and Sawmill Pottery are offering unique opportunities. Couples can enjoy an art class and dinner from 85 Main at Artique. Or for those who might want to recreate the Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore scene from “Ghost,” there is a date night special at Sawmill Pottery. A two-hour wheel throwing workshop for couples will be followed by dessert.

Main Street and environs will be lit with luminaries for the occasion. And making the event warmer and more festive will be a number of fire pits strategically placed throughout downtown. The Congregational Church of Putnam will have several pits for handwarming and complimentary hot chocolate. Performers are scheduled at the Montgomery Ward Atrium and Silver Circle Gallery. 

A limited number of tickets are available for horse-drawn carriage rides between 3 and 7 p.m. For carriage ride tickets, call 860-928-2600. For more information on other events scheduled for the day, go to www.discoverputnam.net.