Every year the Intro to 2D Art class taught by Jesse Martin at Westview High School is invited to submit designs for that year’s Ice Festival Pin. The students begin designing in early October and 26 designs were submitted in total. The Ice Festival Committee chose the design of Peyton Hargrove, an 8th grader from Shipshewana, as the winner, with 8th grader Grace Yoder of Wolcottville, in second place, and 9th grader Jillian Bontrager of Shipshewana in third. All three winners received an envelope with gift certificates to JoJo’s Pretzels and Kitchen Cupboard coffee shop, and a coin for the carousel at Davis Mercantile.
This year’s new pin will be available for $15 after December 1, 2023 at the Shipshewana Visitor’s Center and at Kitchen Cupboard coffee house in the Davis Mercantile. Pins make you eligible for all kinds of deals and discounts from Shipshewana restaurants and merchants throughout the entire month of January.
Ice Festival Committee member and LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sonya Nash said “We applaud the creativity of the Westview students who entered this annual competition. The 2024 winning design is fun and festive and something that will delight collectors from all over the Midwest. We encourage people to purchase their pin early to maximize their shopping discounts throughout January 2024.”
The Shipshewana Ice Festival is an annual event in January when ice carvers are invited to turn large sponsored blocks of ice into icy masterpieces. 2024 marks the 17th year of the Ice Festival, and the 16th year of a student-designed pin. Ice Festival Chairman Levi King said “This is our 17th Ice Festival here in Shipshewana, and it is so much fun to have a local student at Westview design the pin every year. There are only three hundred pins made each year, so they are limited special edition.”
The Shipshewana Ice Festival is only one of the many fabulous events and getaway opportunities this holiday and winter season. For more info check out our EVENTS page or call the Visit Shipshewana/LaGrange County Visitor’s Center at (800)254-8090.
