27th Medina Ice Festival promises frozen fun for everyone

MEDINA — Organizers need not worry about ice sculptures melting as fast as they carve them like they did during the Medina Ice Festival in 2017. That year, temperatures hovered around 70 degrees as spectators strolled around the Historic District in shorts and sunglasses. They'll have to bundle up for this year's festival, which kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday, as the high temperature that day will be around 24 degrees. Sculptures will remain around the square until at least Monday. There is no charge for spectators. Matt Wiederhold, executive director of Main Street Medina, said the 100 pieces of carved ice are sponsored by local businesses and will be strategically placed around the square. "It's a 24/7 event," he said. "People can come out day and night to see the sculptures and soak up the ambiance of the city. It's not as interactive as in the past, but it's still cool to see the sculptures of ice." Not to mention the creativity of Aaron Costic and his team from Elegant Ice Creations, of Broadview Heights. Costic, a Medina High School graduate, is a former Olympic gold medal winning ice carver. Organizers promise the ice sculptures will transform the square and surrounding area into a frozen winter wonderland. Celebrating its 27th year, the Medina Ice Festival is the largest of its kind in Northeast Ohio. Due to COVID-19, the festival is being scaled back for 2021 and will not include in-person carving contests or demonstrations, nor will it include the much-loved Fire & Ice Tower. Instead, the Medina Square will be transformed into an ice sculpture garden with a self-guided tour of the carved creations. During the daytime, the ice sculptures will sparkle like cut glass. In the evening, they will be up lit by color-changing LED lights, creating a 24/7 experience. "It's basically a fun, cool thing to do in February, which gets you out and about," Wiederhold said. "It's still a visual thing to do." Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.