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Fire and Ice Festival to bring Bethany Beach alive Jan. 26-28

January 20, 2018

Bethany Beach, often known as the coast's quiet resort, will be coming alive for a winter-themed festival throughout the town Friday to Sunday, Jan. 26 to 28. The inaugural festival is a collaborative effort between the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and the community.

The weekend will boast a variety of attractions including live ice sculpting and an outdoor ice-skating rink. For Amy Dalrymple, chamber event and member relations manager, it's been exciting to see everyone come together for the event. She said, "We weren't sure how the community would respond, but we got 21 sculpture pieces for the tour, and that was double what we had hoped for." What makes the event unique is the time of year. She said, "It's in what is generally a slow time of year for Bethany, but the community embraced the concept." At its heart, the Fire and Ice Festival is really about the partnerships between the community and the commerce section that sustain the town the whole year through.

For Bethany Blues of Bethany Beach, a pillar of the community, sponsorship and participation were simply a given. "Having events like this during the off-season gives us the perfect opportunity to get to know community members better," said Tiffany Cordeaux, event coordinator for the location. "This is what small-town living is all about – the winter festival with ice skating, the familiar faces and the ability to partner with other businesses."

Bethany Blues will sponsor food for the live sculpture viewing party at Mango's. The live sculpting will take place at the bandstand Friday, Jan. 26, for free, but those who want to dine and view the event can do so from Mango's deck. The party, hosted by Beta Sigma Phi Alpha Alpha Chapter, revs up at Mango's beginning with the Funsters at 5 p.m., and the live sculpturing begins at 7 p.m. Bethany Blues will serve up delicious barbecue, and attendees can be in on the action.

The sculptures will then be placed around town at 21 business locations to be displayed for the weekend. Adding to the winter wonder will be an outdoor ice-skating rink provided by Chill Entertainment. The rink will be located at Hollywood Street and costs $5 for 30 minutes, which includes skate rentals.

Capping off the perfect small-town festival weekend will be the culinary tour which includes Bethany Blues, 99 Sea Level and Sedona. Attendees can eat and drink their way through the town for $30, and at each stop they will receive a drink and small plate. Bethany Blues will be going with a Korean theme and showcasing its barbecue and whiskey knowledge. To purchase tickets, go to www.thequietresorts.com and follow the event links.

The Inaugural Fire and Ice Festival in Bethany Beach is truly a weekend built for and by the community. There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. All are invited to come out and see the beautiful ice sculptures that will be adorning the town, or take a spin on the ice rink. Enjoy the restaurants and shops, or just come and gather with friends and take in the ocean. Winter is a beautiful time of year to discover a whole new side of a favorite quiet resort!

For more information, go to www.fireandicede.com.

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