Saturday, January 9,

Main and 6th Streets -- Downtown Racine

On Saturday, January 9, 2010 the merchants of downtown Racine will present the third annual Downtown Racine Carves its Niche, a winter ice carving festival.  There will be 12 ice blocks on the sidewalks of Main and 6th Streets in front of sponsoring merchants. At 10 AM professional ice carvers will begin transforming 300 pound blocks of ice into beautiful sculptures using only hand tools and their imagination.  While the carvers work they are happy to explain their techniques and have fun with their fans guessing what their creation will become. 

This year carvers will create and carve based on the theme  “Cooler by the Lake”.  The ice carvings will be judged at 3pm by Racine’s First Lady, Teresa Dickert, wife of Mayor John Dickert.  This is a new element of Downtown Racine Carves its Niche, and will prove to throttle up the fun and friendly competition between the carvers. 

While downtown, explore the unique businesses, warm up, shop or get some coffee and lunch.  Plumb Gold on Main Street, will host demonstrations of wax carvings.  Come in out of the cold.  It will warm your heart !

This year’s performing artists are:  Andy Haas Schneider, Bob Lanenhohl, Noreen Lephardt, Dick Emmerich, Mike Lechtenberg, Bob Lechtenberg, Emily Lechtenberg, Scott Stauske, John Haas, Joe Winters, Jeff Shawhan and Jim Malkowski. 

Sponsoring merchants include:  Dover Flag & Map, Molly MaGruder, E.H. Mathis Conservative Framing, Art Metals Studio, EYE-OpenerZ, Dunn Bros. Coffee Shop, Plumb Gold Ltd, Copacetic, Greens & Goods, Dimple’s Imports, Racine Optical Company, Moxie Child Children’s Boutique, Porters of Racine, JoJo’s Toys, Casablanca de Mexico and Ricky’s Place. 

Pictured below are scenes from the January 12, 2008 ice carving event in Downtown Racine.