From ice sculpture trail to blacksmith's forge - Whitby's Fire and Ice Festival to bring winter magic to town

The free to attend festival on January 23 will celebrate Whitby's culture, heritage and community through a trail of nine sculptures stretching from Baxtergate into the town.

Each sculpture will tell a different part of Whitby’s story, from its Jurassic coastline and famous Whitby Jet to fishing traditions, music, literature, photography, food and drink, and alternative culture.

Visitors will also be able to able to enjoy live a ice carving demonstration, an interactive carving wall for children, a working blacksmith’s forge and fire and drumming performance.

One of the nine sculptures will be designed by a local child through a special competition The Future of Whitby.

Opening on November 15, the competition will invite children from Whitby and the surrounding villages to imagine what their town could become in the future.

Children will need to bring their A4 designs to Hetty & Betty from November 15.

The designs will be displayed in shops along Baxtergate and beyond, and the public will vote for their favourites.

The top ten shortlisted by the public will then go to the judging panel, who will decide the winner, with the winning design will be turned into a real-life ice sculpture, which will be unveiled at the opening of the trail.

Each of the nine sculptures will have its own charity partner, helping to raise awareness of organisations working in and around Whitby.

Charity partners include Whitby Museum, Captain Cook Museum, St Catherine’s Hospice, Mind (Whitby), Whitby Lit Fest, Whitby Street Angels and the RNLI.

The charity partner for the children’s sculpture is the Whitby Lobster Hatchery and the evening fire show charity partner is WHISH.

The partnerships focus on raising awareness and introducing visitors to the organisations and the work they do.

The charity for the alternative sculpture will be announced separately.

Lois Kirtlan, owner of Hetty & Betty, is leading the festival in collaboration with Pssst Marketing, alongside local businesses and community partners.

The festival forms one part of the wider Baxtergate and Beyond project, which has received £89,353 from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Our high streets are where our communities come together.

"That’s why I’m backing creative ideas from the people who know their area best through my High Street Fund.

“By supporting the Whitby Fire and Ice Festival, we're bringing winter magic to our coast with ice trails and spectacular fire performances to give small businesses a vital seasonal boost when they need it most."

Lois said: “Whitby has so many layers of heritage and culture, and the ice trail is a fantastic way of telling those stories.

"The children’s competition looks to the future and it will be a incredible experience for a budding artist to see their design come to life as a sculpture.

“The festival is part of the wider Baxtergate and Beyond project, and as a Baxtergate business owner, I’m passionate about helping the street thrive.

"We want to give all businesses a winter boost as we all know how difficult winter can be for the small independents in Whitby.

"We’re hoping that businesses and residents get behind the festival and help us create something really special.”

Each sculpture will be sponsored by Whitby area businesses and sponsorships start at £30 so even the smallest businesses can get involved.

Businesses are being encouraged to take part in other ways too, such as themed window displays, special themed food and drink offerings, and collaborative activities.

The Whitby Fire and Ice Festival will take place on Saturday January 23.

The trail opens to the public at 10.30am.

The event is free to attend, with an optional paid blacksmithing experience available.

Visit: www.whitbyfireandice.org.uk for more.

Further announcements about the programme, sculpture locations, and participating businesses to follow.