Ice Harvest Festival at Hanford Mills Museum

On the first Saturday in February, Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith, NY, hosts the region’s coolest tradition: the annual Ice Harvest Festival! This fun, family-friendly event features a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that celebrate the old rural tradition of ice harvesting

Ice harvests were once an essential part of winter in rural communities. Before there was refrigeration, ice was needed to preserve agricultural products and to keep food cold in the warmer months. At the Ice Harvest Festival, visitors will be able to get a hands-on look back at the tradition. Using historic tools and techniques, they can cut and maneuver blocks of ice from the Mill Pond, and then transport the blocks to the ice house by sled. (Fun fact: the ice harvested at the festival will be used to make ice cream at the Hanford Mills Independence Day Celebration in July.)

Other activities at the festival include ice sculpting and blacksmithing demonstrations,  a hot soup buffet featuring soup from local restaurants, bonfires, demonstrations and  local farmers and vendors.  It’s a wonderful day of celebrating history and winter!

Click here to see all the places to stay and things to do around the Hanford Mills Museum area.

Ice Harvest Festival
Hanford Mills Museum
51 County Highway 12
East Meredith, NY 13757
607-278-5744
http://www.hanfordmills.org/