Visitors flock to Hunter Ice Festival despite frigid temps

NILES, Mich. - Downtown Niles was bustling with people enjoying the Hunter Ice Festival on Saturday. The annual event features a ton of carved ice sculptures and a variety of food vendors, including ice cream, if you can believe it! Julie Williams came down here from Hudsonville to celebrate her 26th wedding anniversary with her husband.

“We're raised in Michigan, but yeah this is what winter is about, so no worries at all,” Williams said.

And to deal with the frigid temperatures, there is even a warming center that serves free hot beverages. Even with the low temperatures, Julie's husband Jim was excited to come down to the festival for their first time.

“Niles Michigan came up as a really good place to come down and spend the weekend and it was colder than anticipated but it's good that there was an ice festival,” he said.

Even people from Culvers were out here handing out ice cream, all to raise money for this year's ice festival.

“In Michigan people are kind of used to weather taking a turn, but it's a wonderful opportunity for everyone and support all the local businesses, so you know, you definitely can't miss out on it,” said Steven Rush, First Assistant Manager at Culvers.

The Hunter Ice Festival runs through Sunday. Click here for more information.