Scranton Small Business Relief Fund Established to Host Inaugural Scranton Ice Festival

A small group of community-minded volunteers in partnership with First Friday Scranton, Scranton Tomorrow, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and the Scranton Area Community Foundation, have joined together to host the inaugural Scranton Ice Festival, which will be held on Friday, February 5, through Sunday, February 7, 2021 in Downtown Scranton. 

The Scranton Ice Festival will feature a number of ice sculptures in front of businesses  in downtown Scranton including various businesses located on Adams Avenue, North Washington Avenue, Penn Avenue, Linden Street, and Wyoming Avenue. Family-friendly activities are also planned. Some of these activities include ice sculpting demonstrations, musical acts, and more. The event coincides with First Friday. The Scranton Ice Festival aims to bring people to downtown Scranton to support small businesses after a challenging year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This free and largely outdoor festival will be an opportunity for the community to safely patronize local businesses and generate charitable support for the Scranton Small Business Relief Fund at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, which will help small business owners and employees experiencing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic. Any and all remaining proceeds from this nonprofit event and its sponsorships will go towards this charitable fund. Contributions will be tax deductible.

Small businesses and those interested in getting involved in the Scranton Ice Festival can email scrantonicefest@gmail.com.

“The Scranton Small Business Relief Fund at the Scranton Area Community Foundation was established by community members, who really want to make a difference in the lives of small business owners and employees experiencing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic,” Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO Laura Ducceschi stated. “The Scranton Ice Festival aims to be a novel charitable event to bring the community together safely during these challenging times while bringing awareness to the small businesses in the area,” she added.

“We want to encourage everyone to use this upcoming First Friday event to show the small business people of downtown Scranton—your friends and neighbors—that you support them during these challenging times,” stated Robert Durkin, President of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

For questions about the Scranton Ice Festival, please email scrantonicefest@gmail.com.