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Plymouth Ice Festival

Close up and personal

Petting farm and pony rides will thrill young visitors

One of the most popular attractions
at the Plymouth Ice Festival this year is
sure to be the pony rides for little ones
provided by Carousel Acres.
“We call them the pony/unicorn
rides,” said Tammy Iacobelli, the
owner of Carousel Acres, a family busi-
ness that has been providing special-
ized animals for schools, parties and
festivals for more than 25 years. The
unicorn is actually a very cooperative
pony wearing a harness with a pros-
thetic horn.
“Children love it,” Iacobelli said.
She said the number of ponies,
along with the animals she is also
bringing to the festival for the petting
farm, will depend on the weather. She
said she never takes a chance with any
of her animals getting sick or chilled.
“These are all animals we have
raised here on the farm, so we under-
stand their temperaments and nature.
We won't take a chance with them,” she
said. She said there are lots of possibil-
ities for animals appearing at the festi- Experienced and attentive staff members from Carousel Acres will be on hand at
val and she plans to bring a miniature the petting farm and pony rides sponsored by Michigan First Credit Union during
the ice festival this year.
horse, a donkey, some goats, a sheep or
two, an alpaca and perhaps some mals we have raised,” she added. cotton candy and expected to be a pop-
ducks and bunnies. She said she will send two staff ular treat during the event.
“I'm just not sure yet,” she said of members with the animals at the Ice Michigan First Chief Mortgage
the animals. “It always depends on the Festival. Lending Officer Dan Sugg said the 90-
weather. For instance, the bunnies are An arctic fox and a reindeer or cari- year-old credit union wanted to be a
not usually outside, so I just don't know bou were possible choices for the pet- part of the festival and the community.
how they might do if it is really cold.” ting farm, too, she said, but again, the Sugg said he is a Plymouth native and
She and her family, including her weather the day of the event will dic- has attended the ice festival many
four daughters and 10 grandchildren, tate which animals are on site. times.
are all involved with the farm. “Not my The pony rides and the petting farm “We're committed to the community
daughters so much now that they are are being sponsored this year by and wanted to show our involvement
grown, but my grandchildren enjoy it,” Michigan First Credit Union which has here. The ice festival seemed like a
she said. Iacobelli worked in special two branches in Canton Township and great opportunity,” he said.
education for 28 years before operat- a mortgage office in Plymouth across Michigan First also sponsored the
ing Carousel Acres full time. from Kellogg Park. largest ice sculpture in Kellogg Park
She stressed that all the animals she Visitors to the pony rides and pet- this year using 20 blocks of ice, the
brings are used to behind handled and ting farm might also want to watch for largest sculpture in six years or so
around people. the elves handing out “dry snow” to according to festival producer James
“As I mentioned, these are all ani- youngsters. The dry snow is actually Geitzen of JAG entertainment.