How Fire and Ice Festival in Watkins Glen heats up area during 'dead time' in Finger Lakes
Spending throughout the area by attendees of the annual Fire & Ice Festival brings significant fuel to the economies of local restaurants, retail stores, bars, wineries, breweries, lodging and the Schuyler County Health Foundation.
The 12th annual event at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, held in late January, provided a $20,000 donation to the Schuyler Hospital from event proceeds. The impact didn't stop there. Festival-goers shop and eat at establishments throughout the area over the three days the event is held, providing businesses that rely on tourist traffic with a much-needed boost in the depths of winter.
Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nigar Hale said the Fire & Ice Festival, hosted by the Harbor Hotel, benefits the Schuyler County Health Foundation and much more.
“So, anyone who attends stays over at the Harbor Hotel, spends money at the event, and a portion of that money goes to a phenomenal organization, the Schuyler County Health Foundation,” Hale said. “It’s also a fabulous opportunity to bring people to the Watkins Glen Area in the middle of winter.”
Hale said she couldn’t give a dollar figure of the impact the event has on local businesses, though it's substantial.
“But there is no question, if you look at the data that we have access to, it impacts anything that would drive sales tax,” Hale said. “So, you're talking about retail sales, restaurants, breweries and wineries and many more. That’s what really makes this such an appealing weekend.”
Hale said people go to Fire & Ice from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but the rest of the day they check out and enjoy all the other amenities in the area.
“What the exact monetary impact is I couldn’t tell you,” Hale said. “But if we were without the Fire & Ice event in late January, between 10-20% of the people that affect businesses in the area would come to the area. So, we’re thrilled to have Habor Hotel that does this for the community.”
The popular event, which thousands attend, includes ice sculptures, games, drinks and 30,000 pounds of ice for sculptures.
Fire & Ice event has a 'multiplier effect' on area businesses
This year's event sold out room and ticket packages at the Harbor Hotel.
“I couldn’t imagine Watkins Glen and the surrounding area without the Harbor Hotel,” said Robert MacBlane, owner of Seneca Cheese Company, at 29 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen. “I mean, the hotel is the anchor of downtown Watkins Glen and Fire & Ice is just unbelievable. Nothing else is going on here in January or February. It's a dead time, but the Fire & Ice event has a multiplier effect.”
The Seneca Cheese Company is closed in the winter season and reopens in the spring, but because of the effect Fire & Ice has on the area it is reopened for the weekend.
“We’re technically closed right now, but we reopened because of the Fire & Ice event, the number of people it brings in and the residuals are just unbelievable,” MacBlane said. “We’re just lucky to have it.”
Jason Mong, owner of Watkins Glen Wine & Spirits and Lakeside Resort & 3812 Bistro, a hotel/restaurant on Seneca Lake, said the Fire & Ice event helps bring business and awareness to several area businesses.
“January is the slowest month here,” Mong said. “What Fire & Ice really does is it brings people from outside the area, from Pennsylvania, other parts of New York State and other areas to the Watkins Glen area. It brings business to the area and awareness to what is in the area, which is good for all businesses.”
Curtis Connelly, owner of Curly’s Family Restaurant, of 2780 State Route 14, Watkins Glen, said his restaurant and others get the perks from the Fire & Ice event, and so do the hotels and other businesses.
“We do well with the (Fire & Ice) event and with the wine industry as a whole since they started doing their things on the wine trail,” Connelly said. “We also get a boost from the people staying at all the hotels during the Fire & Ice event, and the people who own the hotels are getting good rent prices as well.”
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Fire & Ice proceeds support the Schuyler County Health Foundation
The past three years the Harbor Hotel has donated about $20,000 to the Schuyler County Health Foundation with money raised from the Fire & Ice event proceeds.
“This is a really nice community event,” said Kimberly Sprague, director of the Schuyler County Health Foundation. “The support is amazing, and we are grateful for the donation.”
Since 1987, the Schuyler County Health Foundation has provided funds to Schuyler Hospital and its related medical facilities, including the Seneca View Skilled Nursing Facility, through major gifts and fundraising events.
Sprague said the foundation has a strong focus on community integration.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Watkins Glen Fire & Ice Celebration drives economy in 'slowest month'
