This year’s Festival of Ice is heading West.
“The Frozen Frontier” is the theme for the 12th annual Clarks Summit Festival of Ice. Activities during the event take place 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Ice sculptures will be on display for the entire festival.
Laura Ancherani, executive director of Abington Business and Professional Association and ice festival project manager, said this year’s theme stemmed from several different ideas.
Ancherani’s husband has Texas roots, so she said she was familiar with the “Wild West.” The namesake of the festival, 55 ice sculptures created by a handful of artists, also must tie in with the theme, said Ancherani. She and the committee drew inspiration from Clarks Summit’s Frontier Communications main symbol.
“Frontier’s mascot is a buffalo and we said, ‘This would tie in so well with what we want to do,’ ” she said, adding that the festival’s biggest ice sculpture will be the Frontier buffalo.
Ancherani said the committee also was inspired by The Portal Institute, an organization dedicated to spreading awareness and offering education on Native American and Eastern cultures.
The institute and its subset, The Belize Fund, are located in Susquehanna, but are set to move to the Abingtons within the next few years, Ancherani said.
In addition to the event’s signature activities and live music, a large portion of the event will focus on Native American culture. The Portal Institute will bring a smaller version of its All Nations Benefit Pow Wow, held each September, to the festival, Ancherani said.
According to Marlene Iris, coordinator of The Portal Institute, various tribes from the region will showcase pieces of their culture, from construction of Native American flutes to original bead work and loom demonstrations. Vendors will be on hand with original pieces for sale.
In addition to Cherokee flute player Chris Hunsicker’s performances throughout the afternoon, there will be a drum group led by Red Thunder Bear.
“Drums are important parts of Native American cultures,” Iris said. “The drum beat is the heartbeat of Mother Earth.”
People at the festival will have a chance to participate in interactive storytelling, singing and dancing, which Iris said is another key part of Native American culture. Aztec Fire Dancers the Salinas family will perform in full regalia with dramatic, high-energy choreography that is full of symbolism.
“Dance is a way to be one with Mother Earth,” Iris said. “It’s beautiful to watch.”
Iris said that piquing an interest is part of The Portal Institute’s mission. The organization was founded by her husband, Sri Akhenaton, who serves as director. In his quest to honor his Native American heritage and spread awareness of the culture, Iris said moving the institute into the Abingtons is his dream. She hopes the involvement in Festival of Ice brings similar awareness.
“It really should be a very nice opportunity for people to learn about Native American culture, because they are the indigenous people,” Iris said. “It is time to respect them and honor what they have to offer us.”