Photo: Plymouth History Center
Fire & Ice began in 1989, a year after Parkers Lake Playfield opened to the public. The Plymouth Parks & Recreation Department wanted to provide an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the magic of winter in Plymouth. The intention was to have fun winter activities for all ages and to put a seasonal twist on some favorite summer pastimes.
Fire & Ice has featured a variety of activities including artistic fire performances, bonfires with s’mores, dog sled demonstrations, goofy hat contests, horse and train rides, ice fishing, ice sculptures, ice skating races and more.
The weather can be challenging when holding a winter event, and the event has been cancelled six times in 36 years for a variety of weather-related issues. Following cancellations in recent years due to poor ice conditions, the annual event moved from Parkers Lake to Plymouth Creek Playfield in 2025.
Ryan Barland is the historic site coordinator for the City of Plymouth. Discover more at history.plymouthmn.gov.
