Plymouth Ice Festival
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“It's had a huge impact,” said
Sincock, noting cost factors preclude
the city doing a formal financial impact
study. He admires the visiting carvers'
skills.
“I can't draw a straight line with a
ruler,” Sincock addedwitha chuckle.
Both as a state representative and
now Plymouth Township supervisor,
Kurt Heise has helped to cut the cere-
monial ice ribbon to kick off festivities.
“First of all, it's a festival that's
enjoyed by our residents,” said Heise.
“It brings in many guests and visitors. I
think there's certainly an economic
benefit. More importantly, it's a unify-
ing event. We are one community and
this is awaywe celebrate that.”
Graff said the festival draws fromall
ages, including families and young
adults. The evening parties “create one
of the busiest weekends of the year,”
Graff said.
Young adults often like to watch
carving in the evening, he has found.
The Chamber entertains volunteers on
festival Friday at E.G. Nicks.
“We appreciate what they do and it
gives us a chance to show that,” Graff
said. “And it's a lot of fun. It's a great
way for us to reward and thank them.”
He agreed some festival visitors
who don't shop immediately may
return later for purchases. “You know
you can go back and get it,” Graff said
of such shoppers.
Also enjoying the event is Tony
Bruscato, director of the Plymouth
Downtown Development Authority. He
too likes the creativity. “The college
competition is always fun,” said
Bruscato. “It's just fun to walk around
the streets and see the sculptures.”
Bruscato agreed it helps with the
post-holiday lull. “It's one of the few
events we have after Christmas. It
brings a lot of visitors downtown. We
hear that from our merchants. People
have a tendency to walk around. They
spend a lot of time also visiting our eat-
ing establishments,” he said.
Festival weather has been unpre-
dictable in the past.
“It's a balancing act. I've been there
when it's super brutal and when it's
been 50 degrees. You want something
in themiddle,”Heise said.
Kim Kelp
