A collection of local newsletter notices promoting the 2022 I.C.E. FEST.
Newsletter: Tuesday, January 4th, 2022
--Chuck Zwilling stopped by Little Falls Radio last week to announce that Ice Fest 2022 is set for Saturday February 12th and Sunday February 13th at Green Prairie, Fish Lake. A FREE Family Friendly Weekend of Winter Events featuring the World's Largest Ice Carousel (attempt), which currently is held again by Finland as the Zwilling family will try to accomplish again this year. Activities to include Human Foosball, Curling, Dog Sledding, Underwater Drone, Santa Rides and Pictures, Airplane Rides, Hockey and Open Skate, Igloo Building, Spear Fishing, DJ Music, Powered Parachute Airplane Ride, and Spin It To Win It. Donations are being accepted the weekend of the event or you can donate online via www.givemn.org/Icefest2022, or mail a check, payable to Pay It Forward Foundation to 21296 Forest Road, Little Falls, MN 56345. The Pay it Forward Foundation then with the Zwilling Family give to the Flyer Pride Pack elementary backpack to feed the hungry and to the Kare Kloset for middle school and high school students in need throughout the school year. More details will be released including shuttle bus info prior to the event next month for the Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Carousel Weekend.
Newsletter: Friday, February 4th, 2022
--The Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Carousel Extravaganza is next weekend on Green Prairie Fish Lake as they attempt to break the world record for largest rotating ice carousel. Chuck Zwilling stated yesterday they are in need of giveaway items for their spin it to win it promotion at the event and if you can help all Pennie at 952-457-6522 all proceeds of the spin it or win it go to the Flyer Pride backpack program at the elementary schools. This year there are a number of shuttle bus locations to take you too and from the event so you do not need to park out at the shelter site. The list and all the events next weekend 10am-6pm on February 12th and 13th can be found at the MN Icefest website which is their Facebook page. Chuck Zwilling will be the guest on Community Program on AM960 KLTF Tuesday morning at 8:30am and also online at fallsradio.com.
Newsletter: Wednesday, February 9th, 2022
--Chuck Zwilling announced yesterday on Little Falls Radio that all is getting set for Ice Fest this weekend on Green Prairie Fish Lake north of Little Falls. The ice in around 20-24 feet thick making is perfect with the cold weather recently to work on the ice. Zwilling said the big issue after 5 years of breaking and trying to break the world record for a spinning ice carousel is they are running out of lake so likely the last major attempt on a world record will be this weekend on the lake. The event is 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday with a number of events, curling, human foosball, igloo building, dog sledding on Sundays, skating, skiing, free airplane ride (weather permitting), hockey, spear fishing and much more. There will be warming tents to warm up during the weekend and beverages at the event for those to enjoy. The event is also a fundraiser for the Flyer Pride Pack and Kare Closet at the schools to help for students in need and with no child going hungry. In the years with the schools the fundraiser of Ice Fest they have raised over $56,000 and Chuck thanks all the community support and all the Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Sponsors making the event a big success each year. There is no admission to the event, also free shuttle buses will go to and from events but only Saturday from Little Falls businesses, Sunday you can park by the beach access for the event. Zwilling stated on the world record attempt the big thing is not the amount of ice which will be around 80 tons of ice but the spinning continuously in breaking the record once they can keep it going, this was not able to happen last year due to the brutal cold. This weekend temps Saturday in the single digits above zero with highs in the 20s on Sunday helping make the events a little more tolerable for those to come and take in the Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Carousel Extravaganza known as Ice Fest. Volunteers can still help with the event this weekend for more details on everything go to MnIcefest.com or contact Chuck Zwilling at 320-249-1504.
** Newsletter: Monday, February 14th, 2022 **
--According to the Zwilling family Sunday morning they were able to get the Ice Carousel rotating in their attempt of setting a new world record with unofficial specs of 405 Meters, 1328 feet wide, 31.8 acres, 80,000 tons of ice moving with just 2 outboards and 2 trolling motors propelling it. They do need a formal surveyor to get the measurements but the family reported that all was going well to break that world record so when official results are tallied many can wish a big congratulations to them. Zwilling also stated there is still time to get your donations in for I.C.E. Fest 2022- proceeds go to Flyer Pride Pack (weekend food backpack program) and Kare Kloset (a resource for students that don’t get their basic needs met at home). Donations are being accepted via https://thrivent.cotribute.co/events/599055/detail or by check, payable to Pay It Forward Foundation, mailed to 21296 Forest Rd, Little Falls, MN 56345. Pay It Forward Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Newsletter: Tuesday, February 15th, 2022
--Chuck Zwilling did confirm Monday that I.C.E. Fest 2022 was a huge success. Record amount of food served, which means way more attendees. (Double the amount of food served) Also they did officially reclaim the World Record for largest Ice carousel for now as at least 2 maybe more groups are going to try and beat it. Zwilling said the new record is 1,328 feet across, .8 miles around, 3 hours per rotation and 6 full rotations to get the world record back in Little Falls. Spinning for over 20 hours. Thanks to all the help and volunteers making this the biggest event yet.
Newsletter: Wednesday, February 16th, 2022
--Ice Fest members are reaching out for volunteers to help with tasks that range from disassembling the banners/frames, dismantling the hockey boards, unloading the trailer into the storage unit, picking up cones, etc. If your company/organization has a volunteer program, this would count towards that. Any amount of time that anyone can contribute would be great! Many hands make light work. If you can help out please call Becca at 320-282-8901.
Newsletter: Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022
--Chuck Zwilling announced Tuesday on Little Falls Radio that they raised $24,000 for the Kare Kloset at the High School and the Flyer Pride Backpack Program at the Elementary schools in Little Falls, which is a 20% increase than the previous year. Zwilling said that they will make the official check receiving to the school Thursday. Zwilling again thanked all the supporters, sponsors, volunteers, those that brought in the excess food after they ran out the first day to keep it going through the second day. He thanked those that took aerial photos and videos of the Ice Carousel that broke the world record and can be viewed at mnicefest.com. Zwilling is already thinking about next year and possibly a different approach as they are pretty much out of lake of going any bigger on the rotating ice carousel but maybe an ice carousel inside an ice carousel is in the works for 2023. The 2 day event is planned for next February and still planned on Green Prairie/Fish Lake so plan another a great time.
