Ely Correspondence – January 2017

Fire and Ice Festival Snow and Ice Sculpture Competition

Cave Lake State Park is the location for the Snow and Ice Sculpture Competition that takes place January 13 through 15, 2017. Contestants have two days to build their entries for the judging that takes place Sunday afternoon.

In addition to the ice sculptures, also enjoy food sold by local vendors.  Other activities include ice bowling, golf, sledding, skating, and ice fishing on both Saturday and Sunday at the lake. The horseshoe tournament is Saturday, January 14 at 11 am. Sign ups are at 10 am.  The fireworks over the lake on Sunday evening top off a great day in the high mountain desert area of eastern Nevada.

All sculptures must be completed by 3 p.m. on Sunday, with the winners announced that evening at 6 p.m. right before the fireworks show. The first prize winner will receive a grand prize of $1,000. Second place will receive $500 and third place $250. For more information check elynevada.net or call 775-289-3720.

The Fireworks Express train runs Friday evening, January 14, at 6:00 pm. Fireworks are set off from the moving steam engine train as it runs through downtown Ely. As far as we have been able to determine, there is no other place that shoots fireworks from a moving steam train.

— Lorraine Clark