Page 3 - icefest2020

Plymouth Ice Festival Page 3

Tribute to tradition

Community support is key to success of 38th Ice Festival

James Geitzen is about to host an crowds last year. finance the festival.
event for 100,000 people and he can't Geitzen, the owner of JAG “There is just so much to do, and it
wait. Entertainment, has been organizing gets people out during the winter for
“I'm just the steward of one of the the event for the past five years and is some fresh air, some family time. I
oldest, most traditional events in looking forward to his sixth year at the know, everyone says it, but we really do
Plymouth. I take this very seriously helm. have entertainment and activity for
and am well aware the event went on “This event is just such a testament everyone.”
for more than 30 years before me and to the community, to the involvement of In addition to the ice carvings,
will go on long after me,” he said. the entire community. I am honestly which attract crowds from throughout
This year, the 38th annual Ice humbled by being a part of it,” he said. the metro area, this year there are
Festival will take place throughout Geitzen explained that the Ice even more interactive events, some
downtown Plymouth beginning with an Festival is completely funded by dona- even involving the carvings
opening ceremony in Kellogg Park at 7 tions and that there is no municipal “There are at least three that are
p.m. and ending Jan. 12. The park will funding involved. Last year, he said, designed for photos,” he said, “a pen-
be filled, Geitzen said, with unique ice the event had 122 sponsors and this guin, an angel and a butterfly along
carvings, several of which will be inter- year, early on, more than 90 sponsors
active, something that attracted huge had already committed to helping See Tradition, page 4