DOWAGIAC — Ice will be hitting Dowagiac this Saturday, not in the form of weather but as ice carvings.

The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce will host its 24th annual Ice Time Festival beginning with ice carving at 8 a.m. along Front Street.

Kris Soenen, the owner of Who Knew Consignment and chairman of the festival, said one of the newest additions to the festival is Frosty Human Foosball.

Open play will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a tournament style of play taking place after, from 1 to 3 p.m.

“It’s life-size foosball, so six people on a team, and everybody has to lineup like you do when you play the tabletop version,” Soenen said. “It’s just for the glory and the fun of it.”

Soenen said there are still openings for the tournament, and she expects attendees to get involved once they see how it works.

Soenen, who has been the chairperson for the past eight years, has experienced the community come together to witness ice carving. 

“The big draw is the ice carvers, who carve the ice live on the street that day,” Soenen said. “No matter what the conditions are, they have to make do and make it work, which is a challenge, but they rise to that challenge every year.”

As chairperson, Soenen tries to add a physical component to the festival’s lineup every year so that guests can get moving during the event.

This year will be the festival’s sixth year hosting the open fish toss.

“People come from all over just to compete in that,” she said. “This year, children will be able to make ice art with paints at Beckwith Park. The activity will be dependent on the ice not melting.”

LiveStatue, a statue performer, will also make an appearance as Jack Frost or a winter wizard or warlock during the festival.

“He performs and competes internationally in Europe at the World Living Statue Championships, so that will be a fun new addition,” Soenen said. “He’s out of Grand Rapids and travels internationally and does national events.”

Four years ago, LiveStatue performed at the event as Jack Frost. He also attended the Rod and Roll car show in the summer as a fortune teller.

Another highlight of the event will be Mid-Union Sled Haulers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to amateur dog sledding. Paw Paw resident Jan Bloom and four of his sled dogs will be available for meet and greets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the festival.

Overall, Soenen said the goal of any chamber event is to draw people to visit Dowagiac for the day.

“We hope people will take part in our activities, have a little fun and break up the winter grayness,” she said. “That’s the fun part for me — just seeing people enjoy themselves, no matter what the weather is.”