Just when you thought there was a lull in the excitement, Downtown Goshen Inc. gives you another great reason to gather and celebrate with friends and family! The legendary Fire and Ice Festival, this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., delivers thrilling family-friendly fun and kicks off yet another exciting season of dynamic and fun First Friday events.
Fire dancers light the night sky, professional ice carvers work throughout the day to sculpt and transform 300-pound blocks of ice into works of art, and Downtown Goshen businesses and eating and drinking establishments serve up warm specials, hot deals, and seasonal offerings.
Ice carvers, their work sponsored by Downtown Goshen businesses and community organizations, start early in the day—and in view of interested and amazed downtown onlookers—to bring their magnificent ice sculptures and streetscape art to life in time for the evening’s festivities.
Children are encouraged to come royally dressed between 5 and 9 p.m. to have their picture taken while sitting on the Ice Throne or Ice Sleigh, and—thanks to Elkhart County community service hub, Acts of Service—First Friday revelers can roast a free marshmallow over one of the toasty outdoor fires.
Don’t miss the Fire and Ice Festival, join us this Friday in Downtown Goshen!
2026 Fire and Ice Festival Event Schedule
- Noon – 2 p.m.: Live carvings at First State Bank, Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer, & Buckingham, and Interra Credit Union
- 2 – 4: Live carving at Shirley’s Popcorn, I M SHE, and ADEC
- 5 – 7: Live carvings at Common Spirits, Goshen Theater, Maple City Market, Garden City Church, The Fold, and The Electric Brew
- 5 – 6: Wonderflow Hoop Co.
- 6: Clark Lewis Juggling
- 6:55: Wonderflow Hoop Co.
- 7:25: Clark Lewis Juggling
- 8:10: Wonderflow Hoop Co.
In addition to marvelous works of art and sensational entertainment, the Fire and Ice Festival includes activities, great food and drink options, and specials and promotions with participating downtown businesses and merchants.
Member food trucks on site include Tropicana Ice Cream and Wiener Shack, and the Shirley’s Popcorn food truck—spotlighting its Afterburner flavor—brings the heat for First Friday revelers, who are invited to cool off with free ice cream at the Symasis tent.
Found, at 208 South Main Street, offers 20% off all scarves and New Zealand possum wool gloves, and Woldruff’s Footwear and Apparel—129 S. Main—offers 25% off all shoes, apparel, and HOBO handbags (in stock only). Woldruff’s also offers an additional 25% off all clearance items. At the Catitude Cafe, 210 S. Main, cat lovers who purchase one cat lounge session at regular price receive a session of equal length at 50% off.
Kids can have their pictures taken on top of the Ice Throne on the corner of West Washington and Main next to the Christmas Tree, and the Ice Sleigh on the corner of West Lincoln and Main, and Garden City Church, 134 S. Main, presents a family movie night with complimentary hot cocoa and a youth craft station.
Live ice carving locations and sponsors at the Fire and Ice Festival
- First State Bank, 201 N. Main
- Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham, 130 N. Main
- City of Goshen – Ice Sleigh, NW corner of Main and Lincoln
- SURF Internet, at Shirleys Popcorn, 106 N. Main
- Pumpkinvine Trail Coalition, at Common Spirits, 111 East Lincoln
- Interra Credit Union, 300 W. Lincoln
- Catsnip Etc., at ADEC, 114 E. Lincoln
- Goshen College, at I M SHE, 121 S. Main
- Goshen Health, at JoJo’s Pretzels, 136 S. Main
- Miller Poultry – Ice Throne, SW corner of Main and Washington
- Electric Brew, 118 E. Washington
- Elkhart County CVB, at Goshen Theater, 216 S. Main
- The Fold, 219 S. Main
- Maple City Market, 314 S. Main
Pre-carved ice sculptures can be viewed between 5 and 9 p.m. at sponsor locations
- The Spohn, 109 E. Lincoln
- Woldruff’s Footwear, 129 S. Main
- Goshen Brewing Company, 315 W. Washington
- Biebs and Ash, 133 S. Main
- JoJo’s Pretzels, 136 S. Main
- Community Foundation of Elkhart County, SE Corner of Main and Washington
- Ignition Music Garage, 120 E. Washington
- Menno Travel, 203 S. Main
- Yard Shark Lawn Care, at Catitude Cafe, 210 S. Main
- Fables Books, 215 S. Main
- Kruggel Lawton, 220 S. Main #150
- Robert Adam Construction, at Elephant Bar, 227 S. Main
- Goshen Chamber of Commerce, 232 S. Main
The Fire and Ice Festival is free and open to the public. Find additional event details for January First Fridays at DowntownGoshen.org, or view the full Fire and Ice Festival event map.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for 2026
The credit for our overall First Fridays success, going all the way back to 2007, is due to our amazing member and sponsor organizations, and we encourage local businesses and organizations to get involved. Sponsorship opportunities are available throughout 2026, and event sponsorships are more crucial than ever to keeping First Fridays free and fun for the whole community.
There is no greater feeling than bringing this much joy every month to so many people, and there is no doubt that the entire community greatly appreciates all of our sponsors who bring events like our upcoming Fire and Ice Festival to life!
Those interested in general sponsorship for the 2026 season can learn more at https://downtowngoshen.org/sponsor/.
The First Fridays Fire and Ice Festival, this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Goshen, presents family-friendly fun and activities, thrilling performances, and real-time ice carvers transforming giant, 300-pound blocks of ice into time-bound streetscape art. Fire dancers light the night sky, and Downtown Goshen businesses and eating and drinking establishments serve up warm specials, hot deals, and sizzling seasonal offerings.