Leavenworth, the Bavarian village east of Stevens Pass on U.S. 2, will bustle with sledders, snowshoers and ice sculptors at the annual Ice Fest on Jan. 13 and 14.
The Christmas Lighting Festival, which delivers the village from darkness during the snows of early December, sets in motion Leavenworth’s winter schedule of fairy-tale celebrations. The town has a warm atmosphere on cold days and, aglow with holiday lights at night, can seem magical.
In a trance of imposed Old World charm, visitors start buying things like cuckoo clocks and nutcrackers. They embrace polka music and consume sausages because they’re called “wursts.”
At the Ice Fest, the trance continues, with the addition of winter sports. Visitors can race on snowshoes, toss snowballs for glory, join a tug-of-war or just watch: Watch the kids hunt for ice cubes filled with little treasures, take in the snow sculpture contestants pursuing their craft or cheer on the dogsled-pulling championships.
Families come back year after year just to compete in the snow sculpture contest, festival media relations director Sherry Schweizer said.
“I’ve seen merry-go-rounds and White Houses and they often stay with us a month before melting,” Schweizer said, referring, of course, to the elaborate creations.
Some come to “smoosh.” It takes four, united in a comedic test of balance and teamwork. Team members stand in a line, buckle on a 10-foot 2-by-4 and walk gracefully in concert. If that doesn’t sound dumb enough, it’s a race.
Master of ceremonies at the event is Jeff Renner, KING-TV’s weather forecaster. The command center is at the gazebo in town square, where registration, required for all events, starts at 9 a.m. Jan. 13.
Most events take place near the gazebo and along Front Street, Leavenworth’s main drag.
The snow sculpture competition is held at Lions Club Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Back downtown at 11 a.m., people take up brooms and sweep frisbees along Front Street in an event that loosely resembles curling, and from noon to 3 p.m., the Great Snowball Toss will proceed.
Enter the Bavarian Mug Relay, a humbling tutorial for those who have snapped at Leavenworth’s able waiters and waitresses, at 1 p.m. Teams of two run a relay obstacle course carrying mugs filled with ice water.
Smooshing starts at 2 p.m.
Saturday’s final event is the seven-man, woman or child tug o’ war.
“Uncle Uli’s Pub is undefeated and everyone’s always after them,” Schweizer said.
Suspiciously, Uncle Uli’s is one of the event’s sponsors.
Both Saturday and Sunday, mushers from the eight weight-class categories of the Northwest Dog Sled Pulling Competitions will exhort man’s best friend to tug concrete blocks on sleds over the icy streets.
Sunday is the Winter Fun Fest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Leavenworth Ski Hill, a few blocks north of downtown. Play in the snow, alpine and cross country ski, go tubing, try snowshoeing or lay it all on the line at the Nordic jumping hill. Snowshoe rentals are free this day and lots of organized activities are planned.
Besides dog sled pulling, the only competition in town on Jan. 14 is shopping among Leavenworth’s collections of clothing, gifts, candy, German foods, jewelry, books and crafts.
Several galleries show paintings, photos and sculpture of Northwest artists.
Visitors can ark and ride, in a horse-drawn sleigh or by calling 509-548-RIDE to flag a taxi.
When you’re sick of the outdoors, consider the miniature golf course, movie theater and nutcracker museum.
Waterfront Park on the Wenatchee River and the lower Icicle River area are featured on Audubon Washington’s “Great Washington State Birding Trail.” Both are short walks from downtown and are lovely even without the birds.
The Vagabonds play music from 5 to 6 p.m. at the gazebo, followed by a salute to the new year, complete with fireworks and music.
All that’s left is to book your room for the Chicks on Sticks Race or the Hog Loppet in February.
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