Ice & Fire Festival Opens Saturday 11/30/19

Downtown Columbia will host a new tradition starting Saturday November 30th as the Ice & Fire Festival opens. Visitors young, old, and everything in between will make magical memories as they are transported into a magical realm. Guests will meet the Ice Fairy as they enter into a tunnel of light, wander around a light forest, venture into a life-size gingerbread house (guarded by dragons), make s'mores by the fire pit, and witness performances ranging from carolers to light dancers to sound and light shows. Meet fairy tale characters and visit Santa on the Chrysalis stage. Hot beverages (including adult hot beverages) and other drinks and snacks are available for purchase onsite.

The Frosty Fun Run kicks off the Ice & Fire Festival on November 30th at 3:30 p.m. (running begins at 4:00 p.m., with a 3/4 mile and 1.5 mile option). Ice & Fire continues on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. November 30th to December 22. December 8 and 9 is a dog-friendly weekend, and donations of dog food and supplies, or monetary donations towards those items, will be accepted on-site.

The Ice & Fire Festival is a collaboration between Howard County nonprofits, and 100% of all dollars earned go to these nonprofits. The event is operated by the Inner Arbor Trust, which is the nonprofit developing Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods an arts and culture park, and which also programs the Chrysalis pavilion. The Trust runs a full season of arts programming, including its incredibly popular and free Chrysalis Kids series and all-ages free community concerts featuring Columbia Orchestra, Cultura Plenera, and others.

"When our team put together this event, we knew we wanted to bring all people in our community together," says Nina Basu, President & CEO of the Trust. "Partnering with Community Action Council allows us to spend this holiday season fundraising for 2020, while also making sure we can support our neighbors while having a joyful season."

Community Action Council of Howard County is the Trust's primary partner for Ice & Fire. Each night, 10% of all Ice& Fire Festival ticket sales go to the Community Action Council of Howard County, which includes the food bank. Donations of food and additional monetary donations will be accepted at the door. Additional partners also receive 10% of ticket sales from their events - Girls on the Run for the Frosty Fun Run on November 30th, Howard County PFLAG on December 14, Community Ecology Institute on December 15, Columbia Orchestra on December 21, and Howard County Veterans Foundation on December 22. All income earned from the event will go to support the Trust as it continues to bring high quality, accessible arts programs to all.

INFORMATION

Website/tickets www.iceandfirefestival.org

Date/time: Frosty Fun Run 11/30/19 at 3:30 p.m. Ice & Fire Festival 11/30/19, 12/1/19, 12/7/19, 12/8/19, 12/14/19, 12/15/19, 12/21/19, 12/22/19 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Pricing: Frosty Fun Run - On-site registration: Runners / walkers - $14/children, $17/adults (children in strollers or carriers free); Spectator - $10/children, $12/adults (children 3 and under free). Includes Ice & Fire for 11/30. Ice & Fire Festival - Advance purchase: $7/children 4-17; $9/adults; children 3 and under free; On-site: $10/children 4-17; $12/adults; children 3 and under free.

Location: All events take place at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, 10431 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044. Entrance to all events is off the walking path on Little Patuxent Parkway.

Parking: Lot 4, 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia MD 21044, directly across from the entrance.