Master ice sculptures, a wine walk, barrel room feasts, sleigh rides and fireworks are just some of the features at this year’s festival.

Chelan, Washington – While most people are rushing to locate Christmas tree ornaments and find the perfect holiday gift, a few Lake Chelan residents are gearing up for the season’s biggest event in the Chelan Valley. Preparations are underway for Lake Chelan’s annual transformation into a winter wonderland during 2010 Winterfest: Fire & Ice at the Lake. This three-day festival takes place on Martin Luther King Weekend, January 15-17. During this weekend Chelan bustles with a flurry of Winterfest activities—visitors will sip, stroll, and savor their way through the Chelan Valley.

Guests to Winterfest will marvel at an outdoor gallery of ice sculptures brought to life over the course of two days by talented Northwest sculptors. Beginning Friday afternoon through Saturday evening, downtown Chelan will be buzzing with five teams each of two sculptors who will each create massive art pieces. “It’s amazing watching the sculptors at work. We bring in artists from all over the region, and it creates great energy. This year, we’ll have four life-size ice sculptures—each weighing in at 2,400 pounds,” said Chamber Executive Director Mike Steele.

A Winterfest tradition, visitors can enjoy sleigh rides through Historic Downtown Chelan, making their way to Chelan’s Don Morse Park, which will be turned into a winter playground with ice skating and other snow games. After a day in the snow, visitors can head back to downtown Chelan to the Winterfest Ice Bar featuring live music throughout the day or warm up with a bowl of homemade chili and hot drinks around the fire pit. The weekend festivities will conclude with the annual “Fire and Ice” themed torchlight parade and a fireworks show on Saturday evening.

Wine enthusiasts will delight in the weekend’s wine events including a Winterfest wine walk on Saturday, and three exceptional barrel room feasts with local winemakers throughout the weekend. Saturday’s wine walk offers visitors the chance to wander around charming historical downtown Chelan while tasting spectacular local wines and mouth-watering food from local chefs. Participants can watch the snow fly as talented sculptors bring their ice masterpieces to life. Barrel room feasts feature three local wineries—Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards, Vin du Lac, and Nefarious Cellars. Each wine event provides an exclusive look into the winemaker’s process. Celebrated local chefs will provide a unique menu tailored to compliment each winery’s offerings. Guests can finish off the weekend with a very special Champagne Brunch in the Karma Cave on Sunday morning.

For ticket information as well as a complete schedule of Winterfest events, please visit www.LakeChelanWinterfest.com.