Ice Festival Brings Energy, and Heart, to Port Jefferson Village

The streets of Port Jefferson Village transformed into a winter gallery during the Seventh Annual Ice Festival, where life-sized ice sculptures, live carvings and activities for the whole family drew crowds despite the weeks of cold.

Organized by the Port Jefferson Business Improvement District (BID) Management Association, the festival, held February 14 and 15, was designed with a clear goal in mind: bring the community together and breathe life into the village during the quieter months.

"We do this every year in January or February because it's our slowest time," said James Luciano, president of PJ Lobster House and a member of the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerceand BID board. "The idea of putting ice all over the Village is to get people moving around, walking, shopping and enjoying the restaurants. It brings everyone down."

The festival also coincided with an ongoing Heart Month initiative throughout Port Jefferson Village, made possible by the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and the Stony Brook Heart Institute, with planning support from Stony Brook University'sOffice of Government and Community Relations.

As part of Healthy Heart Monthin Port Jefferson, community members are invited to "Love Your Community. Love Your Heart. Spend February in Port Jefferson - Seawolves Country!" The Village is hosting a month-long calendar of heart-themed events, including free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings by Stony Brook Medicine, healthy cooking demonstrations, meditation sessions, community walks and wellness workshops.

"Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine were proud to sponsor this year's Ice Festival," said Erika Karp, associate director of Stony Brook University Medicine and Community Relations. "It was incredible to see so many neighbors exploring Seawolves Country. We hope our Stony Brook employees and students will continue to enjoy visiting Port Jefferson Village throughout February in honor of Heart Month."

From children playing ice mini golf to family hay-rides throughout town, the weekend highlighted how collaboration between local businesses and Stony Brook can energize the region, even in the heart of winter.

Luciano noted that while the festival is a fun experience, it's also a significant investment. "The Ice Festival costs about $65,000," he said. "Without major sponsors like the hospitals and the university, we can't do events like this. That support is huge."

This year's festival theme, "Superheroes & Villains," came to life in intricately carved figures situated throughout the village, encouraging visitors to explore Main Street and beyond. Live ice carving demonstrations drew crowds as artists transformed large blocks of ice into detailed art pieces.

For longtime Village business owners like Marianne Ketcham, owner of Home Kingdom and treasurer of the Port Jefferson BID Management Association, the impact is clear.

"This event is very important for the businesses," Ketcham said. "In the winter, it brings an influx of people that would not ordinarily be coming through the Village. The idea is to have them walk around and patronize the retail stores and restaurants. It's a boon to the business community."

As Ketcham emphasized, the festival's success lies not just in the sculptures themselves, but in what they spark: movement, connection and community support for the small businesses that line the Village's streets.

With Heart Month events continuing throughout February, organizers hope the Ice Festival is just the beginning of a healthy season in Port Jefferson.

- Lily Miller