26th Annual "Fire & Ice" Showcase kicks off in Somerset over the weekend

SOMERSET, Pa. (WJAC) — Somerset's annual "Fire and Ice" event began over the weekend, which has been attracting visitors to the Somerset Area for 26 years.

Due to COVID-19 this year, organizers are now calling it a "showcase," limiting some activities to keep people safe.

Regina Coughenour, Executive Director for Somerset Inc., says there's a focus on keeping the activities outdoors this year.

"We hope that people can come and put away their worries, because we pre-planned it all, so there's no interaction that would ever occur that you wouldn't be comfortable with," she said.

Regina says this year, the event is more self-guided and to-go style than usual.

Visitors can grab a map and check out their 44 ice sculptures -- each of them sponsored by local businesses -- with a special theme.

"They're roaring 20s theme, which is so cool. They're everything from Al Capone to Great Gatsby to Women's Right to Vote to old fashioned cars," she said.

Bonfires, food trucks, scavenger hunts, and even a new Kids Story Stroll will still be there, but the fireworks have been cancelled.

"We just structured everything so that it's very self-guided, socially distanced, outdoors, and fun," Regina said.

Visitors can come check out these sculptures until the ice melts.

"We want people to be safe, and we want people to make memories," she said.

Click here for more information on this year's Fire & Ice event.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfZ4O1tIyapaetkaF6p7XRnmSim5ViwKm71pyYrJ1doLakt9Jmpp%2BeXZ67br%2FOppyrq5WperDCxKtkraCVYsSmscqepZ0%3D