Freezin' Arts Fest set for Saturday, Feb. 6

Downtown Oberlin hosts the second annual Freezin' Arts Fest, on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring ice sculpting, live music, games, snowflake-making, and refreshments.

The event is sponsored and organized by Oberlin's Main Street Chamber of Commerce and downtown Oberlin businesses and organizations.

Ice sculptor Jeff Meyers, of Elegant Ice Creations, returns this year to sculpt three blocks of ice. Meyers will create: a phoenix, recognizing Oberlin City Schools District's mascot; a jazz saxophone, honoring the spring 2010 opening of Oberlin College's Litoff Jazz Studies Center; and a snowman, celebrating winter fun.

He will carve in front of Ben Franklin & MindFair Books, on West College Street.. Until they melt, Meyers's ice creations will remain on display near the flower planter on the southwest corner of West College and South Main streets.

Along West College Street, visitors will also find an OCircus! street performance troupe, a mime, and innovative "ice" themed games, including ice cube toss and ice bowling.

Downtown Oberlin businesses and organizations will also be hosting activities during Freezin' Arts Fest. Confirmed activities as of Thursday, January 28, include the following:

Herrick Jewelry, 7 W. College St., will offer free hot chocolate and cookies. Donations will be accepted for Oberlin Community Services (OCS).

Laura Dahle will offer free face-painting inside Ben Franklin & MindFair Books, 13 W. College St..

Carlyle Gift & Flower Shop, 17 W. College St., will serve free hot chocolate. Donations will be accepted for Haitian orphanages and earthquake relief.

Agave Burrito Bar & Tequilaria, 19 W. College St., will feature live music, beginning with Larry "the Chicken Man" Trupo at 12:00 PM, and will also offer special discounts on hot beverages.

Apollo Theatre, 19 E. College St., will hand out free posters of coming movie attractions.

Ginko Gallery & Studio, at 19 S. Main St., will have a free snow-flake making activity for all ages. From 2 to 4 p.m., Ginko Gallery & Studio will also host an opening reception for the "W.E.E.E. Man Show" art display. The W.E.E.E. (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) show is organized and created by a group of Oberlin High School art students using discarded electrical and electronic equipment to make art.

Watson Hardware, 26 S. Main St., will serve free cabbage and noodles. Donations will be accepted for OCS.

Yesterdays Ice Cream Shoppe, 53 S. Main St., will give out free freezer pops.

Oberlin Public Library's The Bridge community computer lab, 82 S. Main St., will host several activities, including winter-themed coloring pages for younger children, winter-themed online computer games and word searches, and a hands-on "Sparkling Snowflake" for children. All activities at The Bridge take place in the center's back computer lab, known as "The Backspace," and are safe, easy, and fun.