A local organization continues to grow an annual winter event to benefit the community.
Butler A.M. Rotary member Dena Martinez told our newsroom more about the Carved In Ice Festival and Chili Cook-off.
“I thought that we had a great event this year. We were able to increase our ice sales this year so there were more ice sculptures than in the past two years. We had more giant, which are the larger four or more block, sculptures. Those are the ones that are still lasting that you can still see in Diamond Park.”
Martinez is co-chair of the event which ran for a third year last weekend along Main Street in Butler. Entertainment included live ice sculpture carving, a chili cook-off at the Art Center, food trucks, expanded wine and beer tasting, music and more.
After expenses, the Rotary estimates that it has raised over $20,000 with this year’s event which is at least $1,000 more than last year. According to Martinez, that money will be used to help those in need in our community.
“We do support the Kids Weekend Backpack Program through the Butler Area School District and that helps provide food for the weekend for students that are food insecure. In addition the group is working on a playground project which we refer to as the Children’s Memorial Playground so we are hopefully refurbishing a portion of Butler Memorial Park,” Martinez explained.
The Monroe Hotel beat out four other restaurant competitors to win the chili cook-off trophy based off the votes of over 400 tasters.
Written by Ryan Saeler
