Icebox Days to include new 5k and 10k race course and Frosty Family Carnival

The 29th competition of the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run 5k and 10k races will take place on a new route through International Falls this year.

Icebox Days is scheduled for Jan. 14-17 with a variety of events taking place around the Falls. In addition to a changed race course, new events during the weekend will include a frosty family carnival, children’s indoor activities, an ice melt down and a chili competition. The beach party also will be in a new location this year and more locations for snow creations have been added.

The 5k race is scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Backus Community Center and ends at Rainy River Community College. The 10k race is scheduled to follow, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at RRCC. An awards ceremony for the runners is scheduled for noon and a runner’s reception is planned for 4-6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Riverfront Lounge.

The race course was changed to bring runners through the community and to encourage Falls residents and businesses to become more involved in cheering on the runners, according to Janine Burtness, administrative assistant at the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

Registration for the Gizzard Run is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Jan. 16 at RRCC during the spaghetti dinner, where a free-will offering will be accepted. Registration also begins at 8 a.m. the morning of the race at RRCC.

A frosty family carnival is planned for the afternoon of Jan. 17 at Kerry Park. Sled rides begin at noon, followed by turkey bowling at 1 p.m. and smoosh races at 2 p.m. Carnival games will begin at 3 p.m. Family skating will be open from 4-6 p.m. A bonfire will be set at 5 p.m. Hotdogs, hot chocolate, cookies and coffee will be offered during the afternoon. The Falls High School band plans to perform during the carnival.

Activities for children in kindergarten through sixth grade are also planned indoors at Backus. From 1-3 p.m., children can participate in activities that include robotics demonstrations, snowman arts and crafts, pets, puppets and scrapbooks.

During the indoor activities, a chili “throwdown” is also scheduled to take place at Backus. Local restaurants will compete with their best chili. The public can sample the different chili dishes for $5, which includes chili, toppings, crackers and beverages. Children attending the indoor activities eat for free.

Area businesses are also expecting to hold sales Jan. 16-17. People can also sign up for a drawings to receive $25 gift certificates at The Bootery, Ronnings, Sandy’s Place, Can-Am Freshwater Fisheries, Hardee’s, Borderland Jewelry and the Finery, Jug Liquor, the Outdoorsmen’s Headquarters, Snap Fitness, Iverne’s and the Sports Shop.

Icebox Days kicks off Jan. 14 with the Icebox Days melt down and snow creations. During the melt down, ice chunks from Rainy Lake will be placed in Shannon’s Square, where people can guess how long the chunks will take to melt. Snow creations will also be made by area students downtown, on Highway 53, at Backus and in Smokey Bear Park. The public can vote for their favorite snow creation at participating businesses during Icebox Days.

Activities during the evening of Jan. 15 include a spaghetti dinner for a fee from 5-7 p.m. at the RoadHouse Nite Club and business after hours from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Ranier Municipal Liquor Store. Bingo night is scheduled for 5:30-9:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall.

Events during Jan. 16 begin with a hot chocolate social the Good Samaritan Society at 2:30 p.m. A chicken and ribs dinner is planned for 5-7 p.m. at the RoadHouse for a fee. A night snowshoe hike in Voyageurs National Park is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. beginning at the Rainy Lake Visitors Center. Participants should provide their own headlamp. A bonfire and cider will follow the hike.

A concert by the Boundary Water Boys, of Ely, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Backus. Cost is $12 for adults, $8 for children 12 and under and $35 for a family. Tickets are available at Backus, City Drug and at the door.

A Texas Hold ’em Tournament is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 16 at the RoadHouse and a bridge tournament is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 16 at the Coffee Landing Metro.

Jan. 17 events include a dart tournament at noon at Rumors Up North, with a participation fee of $5. Registration begins at 11 a.m. A prime rib and chicken cordon blue dinner from 5-7 p.m. at the RoadHouse for a fee.

The “famous” beach party is scheduled for Jan. 17. Music by “Sweet Freedom” is planned for 8 p.m.-midnight at the Thunderbird Lodge. “Bad Influence” is also scheduled to play from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at Rumors Up North.