| Fire and Ice Fest in Portsmouth Begins February |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Get ready for the first PortsmouthFire and Ice Festivalfrom Thursday evening, February 13 through Monday, February 17, 2014. The Fire and Ice Festival celebrates Valentine's Day, Presidents Day Weekend and winter in Portsmouth, with festivities coordinated by members of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. (Click title to see schduel)
Building on the Ice Fest that the Portsmouth Gas Light Company restaurant has held on weekend evenings in mid-February for the last three years, the new city-wide Festival incorporates day-time fun for families, special programs and offers in stores, restaurants and performing arts spaces and evening entertainment. Portsmouth Gas Light Company hosts its Fire & Ice Fest on Friday through Sunday evenings, with three ice bars, fire pits, ice luges, wood fire-grilled food and ice sculptures.
Strawbery Banke Museum will host a hearth-cooking workshop and dinner on Friday; Winter Night in Pitt Tavern on Saturday; and dog sled rides on Sunday. New Hampshire Public Television will be screening films at Seacoast Repertory Theater selected to promote their group tour to Iceland in June 2014 with Willem Lange, while the Players Ringwill be showcasing performances by Patrick Dorow Productions. The Discover Portsmouth Center continues its “Flowers of Winter” exhibit with a special program at 11amSaturday morning. It all kicks off at the Port Inn Opening Night Party Thursday, February 13.
“The first Portsmouth Fire and Ice Festival is a direct outgrowth of the collaborative brainstorming that took place among the businesses who rely on the tourism dollars that contribute so much to the community,” said Valerie Rochon, Tourism Manager for the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. “Fire and Ice builds on events that were already happening in the city to give couples and families an additional reason to make Portsmouth their Valentine’s Day and President’s Day Weekend holiday getaway.”
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
ThursdayFebruary 13
The Port Inn Opening Night Party.Time TBA. Port Inn debuts its renovated lobby and guestroom designs at the kick-off party, serving Fire + Ice cocktails featuring New Amsterdam vodka and appetizers for guests and a fire pit and ice sculptures for outside decor.
The Music Hall7pmHD Broadcast:Romeo and Julietstarting Orlando Bloom. $22.
Friday February 14
President’s Day Weekend Hearth-Cooking Workshopat Strawbery Banke Museum. ($65. Advance reservations required atwww.strawberybanke.org.)
Portsmouth Gas Light Company Fire + Ice Fest Charity Night.Begins at 6pmwith all proceeds from the door and raffle tickets to benefit Pro Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke and Seacoast Repertory Theater. There will be three ice bars, fire pits, ice luges, wood fire grilled food and ice sculptures. Beverages are sponsored by Southern Wine and Spirits and New Hampshire Distributors.
Men in Motion, a fire-y all male review begins at 8pmin the Portsmouth Gas Light Company Third Floor Night Club. Tickets are $15.
The Music Hall Loft–La Dolce Vita 8pm– retro cabaret with the Gaudy Baubles. $38.25 includes dessert.
Saturday February 15
Flowers of Winter Exhibit.Beginning at 11amwith speaker David Park Curry. Discover Portsmouth Center
NHPTV Presents Winter films at the Seacoast Repertory Theater. Throughout the day, the Rep will be playing winter themed shows and short films from NHPTV. This event is free to the public.
Portsmouth Gas Light Company Fire + Ice Fest.Beginning at 6pm, there will be three ice bars, fire pits, ice luges, wood fire-grilled food and ice sculptures. Beverages are sponsored by Southern Wine and Spirits and New Hampshire Distributors.
Winter Night at Pitt Tavern, 7-10pmat Strawbery Banke Museum celebrates President’s Day Weekend in a manner George Washington would have recognized when he visited the Tavern in 1789. Live acoustic music, beer specially brewed for Strawbery Banke by the Portsmouth Brewing Company and tavern food prepared by The White Apron Café at Strawbery Banke. $22.50 per person.
Sunday February 16
Dog Sled Ridesat Strawbery Banke from 10am-4pm. Seal Cove Dog Sledding will be providing dog sled rides to the public on Puddle Dock at Strawbery Banke. Free demonstration of miniature portrait painting, recreating the traditional oil-on-copper style popular in the eras of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, presented by Strawbery Banke artist-in-residence Alan Ammann in the Tyco Visitors Center.
Performances by Patrick Dorow Productionsat the Player’s Ring from 12-6pm. The Player’s Ring will also be providing warm beverages for anyone enjoying the festival who need to warm up! This is a free event to the public.
Portsmouth Gas Light Company Fire + Ice Fest.Beginning at 12pm, there will be three ice bars, fire pits, ice luges, wood fire grilled food and ice sculptures. Beverages are sponsored by Southern Wine and Spirits and New Hampshire Distributors.
Fire and Ice Themed Pecha Kucha.Doors open at 6pmand presentations will begin at 7pmat the Portsmouth Gas Light Company in the Third Floor Night Club. During a Pecha Kucha night, presenters are asked to bring 20 slides related to the night’s theme but are only given 20 seconds to explain each one. The Gas Light will have the bar open and a limited menu available to guests.