Despite a snowy weekend, the 2020 Reading Fire + Ice Fest was one of the most successful yet! Produced by the Reading Downtown Improvement District with co-operation from the GRCA, downtown came alive Friday and Saturday night! Visitors were able to catch a Fire Performance before the Reading Royals took the ice at the Santander Arena, or take selfies with a statue of Olaf in-between local bands playing on the 500 block of Penn Street.
This year saw more food and drink options than ever before. From waffles filled with ice cream, to classic beer-battered fries, there was something for everyone’s taste buds.
The fest has even inspired local restaurants to take part in the activities. The Reading Distilling Guild had a DJ of their own to entertain guests, Cheers at the Double Tree mixed up special Fire + Ice themed drinks, and Saucony Creek had an entire bar made of ice plus a fire pit.
Reading Fire + Ice Fest Photo-Gallery
Speaking of drinks, the first annual Fire + Ice Craft Beer Fest delivered good times for all involved. Thanks to our sponsor, Abraham Lincoln Events, for allowing the Craft Beer Fest to relocate to the Abraham Lincoln’s ballroom after the storm forced the event inside.
Despite the weather, we saw over 150 people join us at the Craft Beer Fest, with 18 breweries in attendance, overshooting our highest estimations!
The fun didn’t end at the Craft Beer Fest, as the Snowfall Bash ended the festival in a big way. We’ve taken pride in making the Snowfall Bash a dance party for everyone, and this year was no exception. We were able to offer three bands for the price of one, with no increase in ticket costs. Families were able to enjoy music from the 70’s, 80’s, and now, as we filled the Double Tree’s ballroom with a rocking crowd.
Thank you to our Ambassadors at the Downtown Improvement District, for setting up and tearing down equipment during Fire + Ice Fest. Our Ambassadors are here to make downtown a safe, clean, and green place to visit, and were in full force at the fest. During the fest, Ambassadors were able to provide escort services for guests walking back to their cars .
Reading Fire + Ice Fest is just one of the ways that downtown is becoming a destination spot. We are constantly seeing growth and positive development within the district. There is a large variety of great restaurants in the district, and we welcome The Den by Slyfox as the next best place to grab a bite to eat.
For a complete list of restaurants in the district, visit:
http://www.downtownreading.com/restaurants
Families will soon have a new attraction when coming into the city with the launch of the Reading Science Center. The Reading Science Center held a preview for their facility during Reading Fire + Ice Fest, and we can’t wait to see what the center will look like when it’s complete!
The Reading Downtown Improvement District will continue providing a safe, clean and green downtown year-round, with June being our next big event, Downtown Alive!
