Get outdoors with Ice Fest
Winter hikes, winter lights, frosty runs and outdoor ice skating will offer ample opportunity for chilly fun in celebration of the N.C. Smokies Ice Fest Weekend Jan. 26-28.
• An outdoor ice skating rink will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the weekend at Sorrell’s Street Park in Canton. Rentals will be available 4-8 p.m. Jan. 26 and noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 27-28, free for Haywood County residents with a valid ID. Non-residents will pay $5 for rentals or a donation of one canned food item per person, with a receipt of purchase from a downtown Canton business that same day.
• Cataloochee Ski Area staff will participate in a lighted run/walk/parade on the slopes in Maggie Valley at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, offering a mesmerizing spectacle for visitors watching from the lodge deck or bottom of the slopes. An aerial view will be offered on the web cam at cataloochee.com/the-mountain/webcams.
• Jog the Dahlia Ridge Trail at Haywood Community College during the Frosty 5K 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 28. This free, untimed event will offer an opportunity for winter exercise, with exciting activities to enhance the experience along the trail. Hot chocolate will provide a warmup at the starting line, with surprise stations at each kilometer including a ring toss to win candy and a sticker door hanger.
• Go hiking with Haywood County Recreation and Parks Jan. 27-28. From 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 27, a hike on the closed Blue Ridge Parkway will offer a chance to enjoy views and solitude, starting from the U.S. 276 parking area. Hikers can turn around at 1.5 miles to make it a 3-mile hike or continue to Pisgah Inn for a 6-mile trek. On Jan. 28, a hike to Howard’s Bridge on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Maggie Valley will cover 3.2 miles, great views and waterfalls, starting at 10 a.m. and continuing through 3 p.m. Each hike costs $10, with registration at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.
For more information and a complete listing of all Ice Fest events, visit ncsmokiesicefest.com.