The Lava Hot Springs Fire & Ice Winterfest is held each year over the first full weekend of February in the quaint resort town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho (just over 1 hour south of Idaho Falls), famous for its natural spring-fed hot pools. Come, bring the family and celebrate winter! USA Today called it one of the “Top 10 Zaniest Winter festivals” in the world!
FRIDAY, FEB 1
SNOW SLEDDING — Friday, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the City Park (east of the baseball diamond)
Bring your own sled or snow tube.
WINE TASTING — Friday, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Riverside Inn
Start the weekend off with a sampling of Northwest wines and appetizers at the Riverside Inn, located on the banks of the Portneuf River (255 E. Portneuf Ave).
COST: For $30, you’ll enjoy samples of up to 5 red wines, white wines, and/or dessert wines, along with delicious appetizers. Included in the price are 5 drink chips and a Fire and Ice commemorative wine glass to take home!
FIRE PERFORMERS — Friday at 7:00 p.m. on Main Street
Fire performers from Lava Flow Fire will entertain your family through dance, acrobatics and music as they manipulate flaming objects. This will be great free entertainment for the whole family so bring the kids and enjoy the show! The show will be performed at the Chuckwagon Garden (on Main Street, across from the Chuckwagon Restaurant).
COMEDY NIGHT — Friday, 9:00 p.m. at the Lava Community Center
Comedians from Salt Lake City’s Quick Wits Comedy Improv.
Bring a date and enjoy the show at the Community Center (150 N. Center).
TIMES: One performance at 9:00 p.m.
COST: For only $12 you can enjoy an evening full of laughter and fun. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.
SATURDAY, FEB 2
CHILDRENS’ WATER CARNIVAL — Saturday, 11:00 – 1:30 p.m. at the Indoor Aquatic Center
Bring the whole family to the annual FREE children’s Water Carnival, sponsored by the Lava Hot Springs Foundation. There will be games, prizes, and water fun. Events will be oriented towards a 12 and under crowd but all ages are welcome. Events include floating relays, wall climb races, diving contests, and a splash event. This event will be held indoors at the Olympic Swimming Complex, 195 N. Center.
COST: FREE for kids (17 and younger). $5 for adults. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
POLAR FLOAT PARADE— Saturday, 2 p.m. on the Portneuf River
One of our zaniest events: the Polar Float Parade! For those who dare: jump into the bone chilling Portneuf River, on a float tube, dressed in your craziest costume! All for a chance to win prizes and maybe international fame! In the past, we have seen wonderfully creative costumes, from the Easter Bunny to Santa Claus, to the infamous band KISS floating down the Portneuf. Do you dare jump in with the rest?
COST: $10 entry fee (includes tube rental). Register by 1:30 at Mountain Mayhem(156 E. Main) sign a waiver and pick up your tube (Note: you will need to bring your ID to rent the tube). Each year we have more and more brave contestants signing up, so get registered early. Entries accepted until we run out of tubes!
LOCATION: Contestants enter the river at the Old Pancake House bridge (253 E. Portneuf Ave.) and float for 1/4 mile to the Community building. After the parade all Polar Float participants are invited to warm up in the hot pools at Lava Hot Springs Inn.
PRIZES: Prizes awarded to the best GROUP COSTUME (4 or more people) and to INDIVIDUALS. (Only those who pay entry fee are eligible for prizes.) Remember, it isn’t a race, it’s a zany costume contest floating parade! No hurry, just fun!
STEP BY STEP PAINTING of Scenic “L” Mountain in Winter with Patty Healy at Dragonfly Gallery – Saturday 4-6 p.m.
COST: $8
LOCATION: 178 W Main, preregistration preferred.
Join Patty Healy at Lava’s Dragonfly Gallery for a guided step-by-step painting on a 4″x 4″ canvas of the scenic “L” Mountain in winter. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Please no alcohol.
POLAR ICE CATAPULT – ICE BALL – Saturday 4-5 p.m.
COST: $5 – Presales available on ice balls.
LOCATION: At the hill between the Olympic Pool and Community Center.
Step up to Lava’s ice catapult and try your hand at launching your ice ball! Prizes awarded to the top 3 contestant that can launch their ball the furthest. Don’t miss this one of a kind event! Wear warm clothes and get ready for an icy time!
FIRE PERFORMERS and THE TORCH LIGHT PARADE — Saturday DUSK and then at 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Main Street
At dusk Saturday evening (and weather permitting), there will be fire in the sky. Watch local daredevils ski down the “L” mountains with lit torches. This is amazing to watch.
Fire performers from Lava Flow Fire will entertain your family through dance, acrobatics and music as they manipulate flaming objects. This will be great free entertainment for the whole family so bring the kids and enjoy the show! The show will be performed at the Chuckwagon Garden (on Main Street, across from the Chuckwagon Restaurant).
CASINO NIGHT — Saturday 8:00 p.m. at the Community Center
Back to the Community Center for a fun night, Vegas style! We’ll play Twenty-one and Texas Hold ‘Em for a chance at bragging rights and a Fire & Ice Sweatshirt. All ages are invited.
COST: $15 at the door buys your set and puts your name in the drawing for some fantastic Raffle Prizes!
INFO: For more information, contact Mark at (208)-776-5221.
KING and QUEEN of WINTERFEST 2019 — Saturday, 10 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel Bar; again at 12 a.m. at the Blue Moon Bar.
Two King & Queen Winterfest Competitions—if you win one, can you win the other? Grand prize awarded in the event the same King and/or Queen Winterfest are chosen in both competitions! Join us for this zany moment-of-fame contest x2!
PRIZES: Fire and Ice Winterfest sweatshirts.
SUNDAY, FEB 3
AMERICAN LEGION BREAKFAST— Sunday, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Lava Community Center
The American Legion crew will be cooking their famous breakfast.
COST: $5 at the door.
RUBBER PENGUIN RACE — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. on the Portneuf River
Drop your Penguin in the Portneuf River—the starting line is at the Old Pancake House Bridge.
COST: $5 for 1 penguin, $20 for 5 penguins. – Presales available. Penguins can be purchased at the different events; from the Merchant Hut, the Penguins walking around Lava Hot Springs.
PRIZES: The fastest penguins earn prizes!
RUNNING OF THE BULLS — Sunday at 11:00 down Main Street
TO PARTICIPATE: Register for Running of the Bulls at the community center Sunday between 8:00 to 10:45 a.m.
COST: $5
The festival concludes with the Running of the Bulls. The zany gets zanier as you soak and run from pool to pool. Run down Main Street in just a swimsuit and flip flops in the middle of winter, in Idaho. We dare you! Soak in the Lava Hot Springs Inn Hot pools and then head over to the starting line at the Silver Grille for adults and the Chuck Wagon Restaurant for the younger racers. The finish line is at Lava’s World Famous Hot Pools; PAID participants (that have a wristband) receive free admission to the Idaho State Hot Pools.
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