The seventh annual Fire & Ice Festival kicks off the last weekend of January in downtown Rochester with the inaugural Brooksie Way ‘Chill at the Mills’ 5K road race, a food truck rally and a host of free activities that celebrate winter in Oakland County.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said the event, which is set for Friday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, January 26, continues to be among the premier winter events in Michigan. Activities include dog sled rides, a tube sledding hill, ice skating, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, ice carvings, marshmallow roasting, and a TasteFest/beer tent. There is no charge for any of the winter activities.
“It’s a free family event that grows every year as the word spreads,” Patterson said. “We’ve added the ‘Chill at the Mills’ 5K road race, a food truck rally and we’ll even have a pet adoption area. Of course one of the highlights is the spectacular fireworks display on Friday and Saturday night. There truly is something for everyone.”
The fireworks display, sponsored by Hour Detroit and Soave Real Estate, begins about 8 
p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 near the corner of East Third and Water Streets. A concert by the teen singing group, “By the Way,” precedes the fireworks each night. The Big, Bright Light Show, which illuminates downtown stores in a glorious rainbow of colors, will be on from 6 p.m. to midnight each day of the festival.
The ‘Chill at the Mills,’ sponsored by Shelton Buick-GMC and affiliated with The Brooksie Way, begins on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. behind the Rochester Mills Beer Co. and near the fire station.
“It has already exceeded our expectations for a first-time 5K race,” said Deb Kiertzner, race director for The Brooksie Way. “We were projecting between 200-300 participants and we’re already at 400. I think it’s a testament to the reputation of The Brooksie Way.”
The TasteFest includes offerings from Chomp, Buffalo Wild Wings, Holy Cannoli’s, Ganbei, Main Street Deli and the Rochester Mills Beer Co. Live carving demonstrations are set for Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Rochester Mills Beer Co. and Saturday at East Third and Main Street from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Dog sled rides are Jan. 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New this year the Oakland County Animal Control division will have a display and offer pets for adoption near the Rochester Fire Department.
The festival runs Jan. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Complete information on activities is at AdvantageOakland.com or DowntownRochesterMi.com.
The Fire & Ice Festival is presented by Oakland County, Oakland County Parks, Downtown Rochester and the city of Rochester. It is sponsored by Hour Detroit, Soave Real Estate, Rochester Mills Beer Co., Shelton Buick GMC, Oakland County Credit Union, Buffalo Wild Wings, Genisys Credit Union, The Brooksie Way, the Royal Park Hotel, Auto Lab and the Onyx Rochester Ice Arena.
About Sarah Hovis