Ice Breaker Festival 2025

Ice Breaker Festival is a FUN, FROSTY, WINTER CELEBRATION! Held annually on the first weekend of February, it's a time when the quiet winter streets of South Haven HEAT UP with activity and people!

West Michigan’s predominant and growing winter festival is showcasing dazzling ice sculptures, chili cook-off, cardboard sled races, pub slide, outdoor ice skating, horse drawn wagon rides, s’mores roasting and many more exciting activities throughout downtown South Haven.

The not-to-be-missed highlight of this annual event is the sculpting of more than 30 blocks of ice, weighing 300-600 pounds each, into incredible works of frozen art. The Ice Sculpting competition has two divisions - professional and amateur. Take a stroll around downtown to see all of the “cool” designs! While admiring all the amazing ice displays, be sure to enjoy the Pub Slide, with food, drink, and entertainment specials offered at participating bars and restaurants all weekend long.

The streets of South Haven will be blazing on Saturday, February 1st as the SHJYL “Heat the Streets”, offering fire pits open for s’more roasting! Also on Saturday, the Professional Chili Cook-Off provides downtown South Haven restaurants & bars the opportunity to vie for the coveted “Con Carne Trophy”. Visitors will be tempted with delicious chili creations from 23 participants, and votes will decide whose chili will win the trophy! Trophies for the chili cook-off and ice carving competition will be awarded during the champions of ice awards reception on Saturday evening.

Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides throughout town, or take the family ice skating at the rink in downtown South Haven.  There will also be a great variety of family-fun activities throughout the weekend.

Plan now to join us for the annual Ice Breaker Festival!