Village at Leesburg hosts its free, annual Ice Fest on Saturday featuring world-class ice carvers in Loudoun County, Virginia.
The artists will begin their sculptures Saturday morning. Festival activities are scheduled from noon to 4 p.m.
This is Village at Leesburg’s ninth annual Ice Fest. The festival was not canceled in 2020, 2021 or last year, as many events were because of COVID-19.
Village at Leesburg, which has a permit that allows shoppers to walk around the area with alcoholic beverages from on-site restaurants and bars, will include ice skating, interactive ice games, including ice corn hole, face painters, balloon artists, caricature artists and strolling entertainers.
Entertainment includes a DJ, as well as student performers from Bach to Rock and the Dance Academy of Loudoun.
Dozens of retailers and restaurants will also contribute. The Conche will set up a s’mores station. Vino Bistro will offer hot cider. Many stores will have festival discounts and sales, and restaurants will offer cocktail specials.
The ice sculptures, some of the country’s top award winners, include Chris Wyer, who is the creative director of the event. Wyer works for D.C.-based Ice Lab, which supplies ice sculptures for events. His past ice carving works have included animals and international landmarks.
Village at Leesburg, located at 1602 Village Market Blvd., is one of the region’s largest outdoor retail centers. It has more than 40 retailers, restaurants and other businesses.
A similar event, Ice-travaganza, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Reston Town Center near its ice-skating rink, with ice sculptors live carving, food and entertainment, and ice skating performances.
