Downtown Ithaca To Celebrate the Holiday Season with Winter Festival
Posted by Dustin Horton // November 27, 2011 // News
Downtown Ithaca will be celebrating the holiday season with a Winter Festival from December 2nd to 11. Events include a new Ithaca Restaurant Week and the 2nd annual Chowder Cook-off and Ice Wars Ice Carving Competition.
First Friday Gallery Night
Friday, December 2, 5 pm-8 pm – Various locations
Enjoy a walkable tour of downtown Ithaca art galleries. Over a dozen galleries join in this final first Friday of 2011. Stroll and find the perfect holiday gift for the art-lover in your life.
The Art of Wine Country
Friday, December 2, 6 pm-9 pm – Finger Lakes Wine Center
Finish up your gallery tour at the Finger Lakes Wine Center. See wonderful work from local visual artists of wine country, plus participate in “The Art of Wine Tasting”, a workshop on how to taste and select local wines.
Santa’s Arrival & Kids’ Holiday Fun
Saturday, December 3, 12 pm-3 pm – The Commons
Enjoy a day of family fun on the Commons! Meet Santa and his elves, who will be available for free pictures. Festive dance, music, and magic performances will be taking place all afternoon.
Harlem Gospel Choir
Saturday, December 3, 8 pm – The State Theatre
From the heart of Harlem in New York City, the Harlem Gospel Choir travels the world as ambassadors for African American culture. Sharing their joy and faith through music, they have become the country’s premier gospel choir.
Ithaca Restaurant Week
Monday, December 5 – Sunday, December 11
Experience culinary delights at the first Ithaca Restaurant Week. Over 20 participating restaurants will showcase their culinary excellence with prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner throughout the week. Lunch menus include two courses for $10 or $15. Dinner menus include three courses from $20 to $40. Wine pairings are available with select menus. Additional workshops and events will take place at the Finger Lakes Wine Center and other select locations. Find out why Ithaca was named one of the top “foodiest” towns by Bon Appétit magazine.
Ithaca Ice Wars
Friday, December 9, 4 pm-10 pm, Saturday, December 10, 9 am-6 pm – The Comons
Join in the fun at this world-class ice carving competition. Sixteen ice sculptors, three rounds of competition, only one winner! The first single-elimination competition is the one block speed-carve, in which each participant will have 20 minutes to create a sculpture. The carve-and-deliver round requires participants to carve and deliver an ice sculpture to a downtown location in just three hours. The final round involves a National Ice Carving Association event featuring a two-block carve over four hours. This final round promises to produce striking pieces. At the end of all three rounds, winners – including the People’s Choice winner – will be announced.
The Nutcracker
Friday, December 9 – Sunday, December 11, 7:30 pm – The State Theatre
Ithaca Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” will run all weekend at the State Theatre, with music provided by the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra. Choreographed by Lavinia Reid, and set to the familiar Tchaikovsky musical score, “The Nutcracker” is a treat for the whole family and an Ithaca holiday tradition.
Wine and Jazz Holiday Party
Friday, December 9, 6:30 pm-9 pm – Finger Lakes Wine Center
The Downtown Ithaca Alliance and the Finger Lakes Wine Center host the Wine and Jazz Holiday Party. Tapas, Finger Lakes wines, and local jazz music make for an evening of holiday revelry!
The 2nd Annual Downtown Ithaca Chowder Cook-Off
Saturday, December 10, 12 pm-5 pm – The Commons
Over 20 restaurants will compete in a chowder cook-off. Come and taste them all, then vote for your favorite! You determine the winners! Seafood, meat, and vegetarian chowders will be offered up for your enjoyment and evaluation. Tickets are $10 for 10 tastes (each taste is ¼ cup).
Holiday Artists Market
Saturday, December 10, 11 am- 5 pm – Women’s Community Building
The market will feature over 20 local fine artists, all from Tompkins County, who offer an array of original art pieces at reasonable prices. Browse and shop while listening to the sounds of the East Hill Jazz Duo featuring Johnny Russo on piano and horn and Doug Robinson on guitar.
For more information on these or other downtown events, visit www.downtownithaca.com, or call the Downtown Ithaca Alliance at 607-277-8679.
