Cold weather perfect for this month's First Friday

South Bend, Ind. – With a wind chill in the single digits tonight – it may not be perfect weather for fireworks – but that’s not stopping Downtown South Bend from hosting this month’s First Friday. In fact, some say it is the perfect weather for the downtown favorite.

Downtown South Bend’s First Friday event will keep you warm with this month’s theme: fire and ice.

Nine ice carvings by the Michiana Ice Carving Association will line the streets- with some featuring fiery elements. Fire dancing and a fireworks show are also on the agenda to round out the fun.

Your family can warm up at warming stations and fire pits located at downtown businesses- Howard Park- and the John Hunt and Studebaker Plazas.

While the wind chill may dip down to the single digits, it turns out that the event actually benefits from the cold temps.

Senior Director of Marketing and Events for DTSB, Kylie Carter says that the event benefits from the cold temperature.

“February First Friday is always really cold,” says Carter. “It’s perfect weather for ice carving. We had one year where it was warmer and they melted really quickly so we actually want this cold weather.”

It is recommended that you arrive in plenty of layers since this is an outdoor event. However, several restaurants near the events are still participating in Restaurant Weeks with discounted and specialty meals. Carter recommends stopping in to any participating restaurant to warm up and grab a bite.

The event will start with live ice carving at 3 p.m., Friday and will continue until 9 p.m. More details and a map of the sculptures can be found here.


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