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 Event Program |Photos | Ice Sculpture Winners

51st ANNUAL ICE CARNIVAL
JANUARY 16th & 17th, 2010
 

The Livingston Manor Rotary Ice Carnival has been a tradition for close to five decades.  Weather permitting, the carnival has taken place on the weekend of the third Sunday of January for the past 51 years.  This year’s event is scheduled for January 16^th & 17th, 2010.  The annual event takes place in a setting directly out of a Norman Rockwell painting.  Children and adults of all ages belly-flop and silhouette on the smooth ice rink with a background of the Catskill mountain foothills, churches, Victorian houses and beautiful native blue spruces.  The organization of the event involves every member of the LM Rotary Club as there is a committee structure that runs the event (see committee list).  The organizing of the event involves more than 150 individuals and cooperation and collaboration between numerous entities within the Livingston Manor vicinity including the Town of Rockland Highway Department, the LM Fire Companies, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Patrol, the New York State Police Troop F, The LM Volunteer Ambulance Corp, the Livingston Manor Central School Student Council, Rolling V Bus Company (shuttle busses), Price Rite RV Center,  Internet Solutions, Sullivan County Visitor’s Association, Sullivan County Democrat, Times Herald Record, Catskill Shopper, River Reporter, local radio stations, and Cable 6 News.  All events at the carnival are free as local businesses are solicited to fund the event.  This year we anticipate raising close to $8,000 which includes being partially funded by grants from the Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation, the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, the Sullivan County Youth Bureau, and the Town of Rockland as well as sponsorships from numerous local businesses and community members.  

Events of the Ice Carnival weekend include a snow sculpture contest on Saturday morning between grades 9-12 from the local school.  Community residents and businesses also are encouraged to participate by making snow sculptures in front of their stores and on their front yards.  Prominent VIPS from the community and media judge the snow sculpture contest.  On Saturday evening a dance for the youngsters is held and the new Ice Carnival King & Queen are crowned.  On Sunday, events shift to Rotary Park where there are professional and amateur skating exhibitions by national and world-renowned figure skaters as well as local youngsters. Past Olympic Medalists and National Champions Elaine Zayak, Jo Jo Starbuck, Arik & Akop, Charles and Beata, Dmitri Gromov, Emily Hughes and Rohene Ward have been featured skaters in past years.  Amateur skaters of all ages who train at Kutsher's Country Club, Ice Time Skating Rink in Newburgh and other skating venues in the Tri-State area provide entertainment delighting crowds of over 2000 with outstanding performances. 

There are races for kids and adults alike, with Olympic type gold, silver & bronze medals awarded to the winners.  Dogsledders mush around the ball field throughout the day and a horse drawn sleigh is also available for riding.  Snow shoeing is available for those who want to venture off around the scenic park.  Hot dogs and hot chocolate are provided to all of the children to fill bellies and warm hands.  All events at the carnival are free as local businesses are solicited as major sponsors for the event.

The First Annual Livingston Manor Rotary Ice Carnival was held on January 18, 1959 at Scudder’s Pond. The carnival consisted of racing events limited to the local children.  A few years later the event was moved to the Livingston Manor Central School grounds.  Rotary Park has been the location of the ice rink and annual ice carnival since 1986 with the same traditions continuing under the chairmanship of Gary Siegel.  Figure skating lessons and a hockey instructional program were added as part of the youth programs the Livingston Manor Rotary provides.  The skating lessons are sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and open to all Livingston Manor residents ages 5 to 16.