2006 Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular
CARVERS AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN STILL BE PART OF NORTH AMERICA'S OLDEST AND LARGEST FREE ICE CARVING EVENT January 20-22, 2006
By Melissa Bunker
(313) 886-9074
PLYMOUTH, MI December 13, 2005. Michael Watts knows what families and corporations love about January in Michigan- cold and ice and tourism. He is the producer of the famed Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular, which is celebrating 24 years of making downtown Plymouth come alive in January. This year the celebration takes place the weekend of January 20 through 22, 2006
The free, family friendly winter festival has averaged 500,000 visitors during the past 23 years, pumping more than one million dollars to the city's stores and restaurants each year. The event also generates enormous media exposure for carvers and their art, as well as for the combined Plymouth Community (Plymouth and the Charter Township Plymouth) the suburban hamlet west of Detroit
The Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 foundation established to organize and raise the funds to present the annual festival. The event is funded solely by selling sponsorships, charitable donations, and funds generated by vendors at the festival.
There are several ways to participate in the festival this year and help guarantee its success. Companies and organizations can become sponsors. Corporate sponsors who fund the festival benefit from a low cost-per-exposure and sidestep the limitations of traditional advertising in return. Visitors associate the companies with an extraordinary family activity. Sponsor opportunities are outlined http://www.wattsupinc.com/sponsorships/piiss/.
There are still openings for student carvers to participate. Those interested are asked to phone Sandra Watts at (734) 459-6969 before December 20.
Once an obscure culinary art, the Plymouth festival has helped establish ice carving as a world-class competitive event. It is the oldest, largest ice-carving event in North America. In 1998 and 2002, Plymouth sent their best to participate in an Olympic demonstration sport in Nagano, Japan.
Once an obscure culinary art, the Plymouth festival has helped establish ice carving as a world-class competitive event. It is the oldest, largest ice-carving event in North America. In 1998 and 2002, Plymouth sent their best to participate in an Olympic demonstration sport in Nagano, Japan.
The ephemeral nature of ice sculpture makes the event a "must see." Artists answer questions while carving, strengthening the connection for visitors, who discover the tools, techniques and physical prowess ice carving requires.
General information, historical data, directions and photos are available at www.plymouthice.com Members of the media are asked to phone Melissa Bunker at (313) 886-9074 to set up interviews.