January 27th 2015 – Putnam, CT – As Northeastern Connecticut sits covered in a thick blanket of snow, Putnam is busy preparing for the hottest winter event in our region – the 2015 Fire & Ice Festival. On Saturday, February 14th 2015, downtown Putnam will see over two dozen ice carvings, fire torches and pits, family and romantic carriage rides, fire dancing performances, and a chocolate sculpting and molding contest.
For newcomers to the Fire & Ice Festival, as well as for those returning, 2015 will see some creative additions to the event. New for 2015, visitors are invited to the first ever Fire & Ice Chocolate Contest. With sculpting and molding categories, the contest will allow chefs, students, and novices to show off their talents. The contest will feature celebrity judge, Chef Roberto Tschudin Lucheme. Owner of Middletown’s Tschudin Chocolates & Confections, Tschudin Lucheme is a recent $10,000 winner of the Food Network’s “Rewrapped.” Submissions and the winning pieces can be viewed at The Empty Spaces Project Gallery at 114 Main Street throughout the festival.
With chocolate sculptures making a debut at the 2015 Fire & Ice Festival, the event will also continue the tradition of professional and amateur ice sculptures decorating downtown Putnam. Beginning at 10 am, there will be pre-carved ice blocks as well as professional ice carving demonstrations by Ice Matters of Cheshire, CT. As well, local celebrity artists Nick Swearer and Michael Saari will create works of art out of individual 300 lb ice blocks. The creative spirit of Northeast CT will be on display as amateur artists carve ice blocks, sponsored by local businesses. From 11am to 3pm, family carriage rides will give the perfect view of the many ice sculptures dotting the downtown streets of Putnam.
As the sun goes down, luminaria will fill downtown Putnam with an ambient glow. Fire torches will help light the way and visitors will be wowed by Fire Dancer Elektra as she performs from 5pm to 9pm. There will be plenty of ways to keep warm, with dinner and drink specials available at local restaurants. Keepsake Fire & Ice wine and pint glassware will also be featured at select eateries. For those who want to make the evening extra special, romantic carriage rides will be available for reservation from 5pm to 9pm. Carriage tickets are currently on sale at WINY 1350 AM in Putnam – advance reservations are required.
Last year, the Fire & Ice committee held a contest to find a couple with the most heartfelt story of love and perseverance. This year, the committee is lightening the mood and is in search of a couple with the funniest proposal story. Thus far, dozens of entries have poured in – the couple with the best story will win a romantic night complete with dinner at Bella’s Bistro, champagne with Fire & Ice glassware, and a carriage ride.
It is sure to be another impressive spectacle of ice carvings, fire performances, chocolate sculptures, and so much more! To learn more about Fire & Ice, or to see how you can participate, either as a volunteer, an ice block sponsor, or as a contestant in the funniest proposal contest, visit www.discoverputnam.com.
Contacts:
Ann Monteiro, fcs.annm@gmail.com
Sheila Frost, sheila@courthousebarandgrille.com