Mayville festival is the icing on the lake
Castle puts crowning touch on Mayville's winter extravaganza
(January 27, 2008) — Come snowstorm or thaw, there'll be an ice castle at the Mayville I.C.E. Festival in Chautauqua County.
After all, I.C.E. stands for Ice Castle Extravaganza. The centerpiece of the festival, a structure some 50 feet long and 12 feet high, usually is made from blocks of ice cut from Chautauqua Lake. It takes volunteers about two weeks to construct the frozen masterpiece, billed as the southernmost ice castle built in the United States.
After all, I.C.E. stands for Ice Castle Extravaganza. The centerpiece of the festival, a structure some 50 feet long and 12 feet high, usually is made from blocks of ice cut from Chautauqua Lake. It takes volunteers about two weeks to construct the frozen masterpiece, billed as the southernmost ice castle built in the United States.
"If the lake doesn't freeze, the castle will be made of bales of hay sprayed with water," says Melissa Balch, a member of this year's festival committee.
Whether you're looking for a family outing over President's Day weekend or a couple's getaway after Valentine's Day, you can have a really cool time at the 20th annual festival, to be held Feb. 16 and 17 at the tip of Chautauqua Lake.
As with any winter festival, some events depend on the weather: the snowman-building contest (bring your own hat, scarf and carrot nose), the huge snow slide, snowmobile rides and ice skating on the lake.
However, there will definitely be a kids' corner with coloring, face painting and other hands-on activities; pony rides, carriage rides and a petting zoo, and the hotly contested broomball tournament. Organizers have stockpiled enough snowballs in their freezers for the snowball-throwing contest. And on Feb. 16, the day ends with a bonfire, fireworks and lighting of the ice castle.
"It's something nice to do in the winter. You can get outside and get some fresh air," says Mary Dentinger of North Tonawanda, Niagara County, adding, "You need to wear lots of warm, heavy clothes and boots because it gets pretty cold outside."
Dentinger trekked to the festival numerous times when her children were little. A couple of years ago, she and her husband, Rick, went as empty-nesters and enjoyed a getaway weekend at Webb's Lake Resort in Mayville.
"We went to the festival during the day, came back to the hotel for dinner and then went back to the festival in the evening," says Dentinger. "It's really different at night because the ice castle is illuminated."
She has special praise for the snowmobiler's flare parade, which this year is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16.
Webb's has 52 rooms, some with hot tubs; the Captain's Table restaurant; and Webb's Candy, known for its chocolates and trademark goat's milk fudge.
Webb's has 52 rooms, some with hot tubs; the Captain's Table restaurant; and Webb's Candy, known for its chocolates and trademark goat's milk fudge.
Down the street, the newly opened Chautauqua Suites Meeting and Expo Center has 91 rooms, many with lake views, plus Olive's Restaurant and the Bellini Lounge. There are other bed-and-breakfast inns and restaurants in the vicinity.
Christine A. Smyczynski is a freelance writer and author of Western New York, an Explorer's Guide.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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