14th Annual Fire & Ice Festival is Feb. 8
PUTNAM — The Putnam Business Association, in partnership with The Town of Putnam, is once again hosting the largest single ice block competition in all of New England – the 14th Annual Fire & Ice – A Valentine’s Festival. 
The event, which runs from noon to 8 p.m., boasts more than five dozen ice carvings, ice photo opportunities, a 30-foot inflatable igloo, stilts walkers, a magician, a fire juggler, belly dancer, face painters, a massive heart-shaped bonfire pit, food trucks, epic fire demonstrations, the “Just in Time for Valentine’s Vendor Fair”, a beer garden, signature pours off ice luges, winter games and the iconic Ice Bar Arena.
From noon to 5 p.m. professional, amateur and group carvers create their masterpieces using 300-pound ice blocks.  All the blocks are sponsored by local businesses and carved by dedicated artists. Professional demonstrations are being sponsored by Ketel One, 85 Main, and Coca Cola.  Icy photo opportunities are sponsored by Woodstock Building Associates, Rawson Materials, Spirol, Girls ‘N’ Tools, WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors, Jewett City Savings Bank, The Hare and The Hound, Rampco Construction, Cargill Chevrolet and CDM Smith. The awards ceremony is at 6. 
For adult patrons there will be a 12-foot Ice Bar sponsored by Teremana Tequila and Jägermeister that will be serving drink specials by The Courthouse Bar and Grille. Ice Luges will be at Saw Dust Coffee House, 85 Main, The Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub, Blackstone Putnam, Daley’s Pours and The Hare and The Hound. Bear Hands Brewing Company will showcase their annual Beer Garden.
Back by popular demand is the 30-foot inflatable igloo sponsored by Gerardi Insurance – Hilb Group. From noon to 3 p.m. the igloo will feature meet and greet with UConn Mascot Jonathan — the Husky sponsored by Tom and Kathy Borner. Then the igloo will transform into The Crossings igloo takeover from 4 to 8 p.m. Also returning is Love Lane, an arts alley presented by Putnam public schools as well as the REMAX hot air balloon. Face painters, sponsored by Northeast Flooring and Kitchens - will set up shop inside the Montgomery Ward Building. Silt walkers and other unique acts will roam up and down Main Street entertaining the crowds — sponsored by Guaranteed Rate, Ruth Michalski and Big Gary’s Discount Liquors.
The festival welcomes newcomers to discover the many shops and galleries of Putnam. The Congregational Church will host the “Just in Time for Valentine’s Vendor Fair”. In addition to 13 select vendors, the Church will also feature a roaring fire pit along with lunch offerings.
There will be fire performances throughout the day ending in an epic fire breathing finale. Other performances on the fire stage include music and karaoke by request, magic shows, fire juggling and belly dancing sponsored by Byrnes Agency Insurance, Spicer Propane and Oil, The Liv and Donahue Industries. Music and sound provided by Daley’s DJ Service.
Parking is free and available in the municipal lots throughout Putnam and on Kennedy Drive. New this year will be a complimentary shuttle service. Visit: www.discoverputnam.com/fire—ice.

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