Wellsboro is celebrating winter with a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages on three Wellsboro Winter Weekends, February 8, 15, and 22.

Next Saturday, Feb. 8, is Ice and Spice Weekend. Love will be in the air in downtown Wellsboro. Seven different ice sculptures symbolizing love and romance carved from 19 blocks of ice weighing 300 pounds apiece or 2.85 tons will be on display on sidewalks in front of Main Street businesses.

Kyle Soltis, Eli Novak and Freddy Grosser will transport the ice from Elegant Ice to Wellsboro and assemble five of the seven ice sculptures.

By 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8 the pre-carved Throne of Hearts created from 7 blocks of ice weighing 2100 pounds will be placed in front of the Ginn and Vickery law offices at 99 Main Street. Children and adults can sit on the ice throne and have their pictures taken. 

Four more ice sculptures each pre-carved from 600 pounds of ice, including Cupid, double hearts, a harp and an interactive heart with its center carved out, will offer more photo opportunities for the public.

The businesses where these four ice sculptures will be placed are: in front of the Arcadia Theater at 50 Main Street; Highland Chocolates at 82 Main Street; the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street; and Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods at 91 Main Street. 

Soltis and Grosser will make the ice fly while using their carving skills to create two ice masterpieces from 1200 pounds of ice. The public is invited to watch them at work and ask them questions. It’s free.

The first ice carving demonstration will begin at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Café 1905 window at Dunham’s Department Store at 45 Main Street. It will be a 3D butterfly on a 3D heart. The second demonstration will start at 12:30 p.m.  It will be a carving of Interlocking hearts in front of Timeless Destination at 77 Main Street. 

“Because ice carving can be done in a relatively short period of time, people can stick around to watch a sculpture being created from start to finish,” said Jeff Meyers, owner of Elegant Ice LLC, Broadview Heights, Ohio. 

Chili and Chowder With A Chance For Chocolate Taste-Off Passports are Available Monday to Friday, February 3-7 and Saturday, Feb. 8
Those who want to taste the chili and chowders and select the top three winners of the taste-off can call, email or visit the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning Monday, February  3 until Friday, February 7 at 570-724-1926,  info@wellsboropa.com or stopping in at 114 Main Street to purchase a taste-off passport or for more information. On Saturday February 8, the day of the event, passports will only be sold outdoors in front of Penn Oak Realty, Inc. at 65 Main Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be 15 different types of chili and chowder to taste at 15 sites in downtown Wellsboro and an opportunity to win a fun and unique basket of chocolate at each of those 15 locations on Saturday, February 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

Tickets for Velveeta are close to selling out
Velveeta will perform a variety of 1980s and 1990s pop and rock tunes and a mix of today’s music at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday, Feb. 8 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. A four-member group known as Penn State’s premier party band, Velveeta was formed 30 years ago in 1995 in State College, PA as a fun little side project to play some cheesy 80’s music. No one could have guessed that what started as a novelty band would last this long and evolve into a musical group that has expanded its song selection and performed far and wide. This band is in-demand, locally and across the state. For tickets, call 570-724-6220 or visit deanecenter.com. 

Free Dance Lesson
Being offered at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday, Feb. 8 is a free, hour-long, cha cha dance lesson in the lobby of the Deane Center at 104 Main Street as a part of Wellsboro’s Ice and Spice Winter Weekend. “This is a great opportunity to come out and learn a few cha cha steps, which can be used to dance to a wide variety of music,” said Kacy Hagan, owner and instructor for Kacy’s Learn 2 Ballroom Dance. “It’s fun for all ages, and no prior dance experience is necessary,” she said. 

Attendees can come as partners or singles to the class. Singles will be paired up or can dance on their own, whichever they prefer. Wear comfortable shoes with smooth soles rather than sneakers to more easily turn on the dance floor. 

“Preregistration is not required. People can just show up,” said Hagan.  

FYI:

For more information about the Wellsboro Winter Weekends . Ice and Spice on Feb. 8, Cupid’s Weekend on Feb.15, and Crafts and Cuisine on Feb. 22, call the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at 570-724-1926, email info@wellsboropa.com or visit www.wellsoboropa.com.