New Hampshire

Ice Castles is returning to North Woodstock, N.H.

Published

1 month ago

November 26, 2024

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Ice Castles is returning to North Woodstock, N.H.

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Tickets went on sale Tuesday.

Ice Castles in North Woodstock, N.H. Ice Castles

The gigantic frozen Ice Castles will return to North Woodstock, N.H. this winter, complete with slides, tunnels, thrones, and caverns.

This week, ice artisans will begin harvesting and placing up to 10,000 icicles a day to build the 20-foot-tall, 20-million pound attraction. The artists create the castles by fusing the icicles together and spraying them with water, and add color-changing LED lights that light up the night during the attraction’s evening hours.

“This breathtaking winter experience will attract thousands of visitors throughout the season,” wrote the company in a press release.

Visitors can also check out a tubing hill, sleigh rides through an illuminated wooded trail, a Magic Forest Light Walk, Winter Fairy Village, and more. An ice bar called the Polar Pub will serve guests winter-themed alcoholic beverages.

Ice Castles is slated to open in January, depending on weather conditions.

According to the company, advanced ticket dates are the dates the attraction is expected to be open based on historical experience in New Hampshire. However, the attraction could open sooner or stay open later, and additional dates will be added during construction of the site.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 26 on icecastles.com. The cost is $31 for ages 12 and up and $23 for ages 4-11 for peak times, and $20 for ages 12 and up and $15 for ages 4-11 for off-peak times.

Kristi Palma

Culture writer

Kristi Palma is a culture writer for Boston.com, focusing on New England travel. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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New Hampshire

In inaugural speech as N.H. governor, Kelly Ayotte aims for unifying message – The Boston Globe

Published

6 hours ago

January 9, 2025

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In inaugural speech as N.H. governor, Kelly Ayotte aims for unifying message – The Boston Globe

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte will deliver an inaugural speech Thursday in which she is expected to project a message of post-election unity.

Ayotte, a Republican, is expected to emphasize her desire to get to work for all Granite Staters regardless of party affiliation.

“You have my word that each and every day I will work on your behalf to do what’s best for all of us. For all of New Hampshire,” she’ll say, according to excerpts of her prepared remarks that her team shared with The Boston Globe.

Ayotte is expected to say New Hampshire needs to “get serious about housing production” in light of the current “crisis” around the constrained supply of homes. She’s expected to voice support for expanding the state’s Education Freedom Account program. And she’s planning to laud the budgetary approach state leaders have taken in recent years, including the elimination of the interest and dividends tax.

“New Hampshire is a wonderful, beautiful state,” she’ll say. “And protecting what makes us unique is so much more important than one person or one party. … I could not be more optimistic about our shared future.”

Inauguration Day ceremonies are slated to begin at 11:30 a.m., with a livestream available.
Do you know Kelly Ayotte’s background? Here are 10 facts, including a few you may have missed.
As she takes office, Ayotte’s allies and foes will be watching closely, including to see how her policy positions play out in these six areas.

The festivities around Ayotte taking office include a first inaugural ball on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, and a second inaugural ball on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Manchester. Tickets to both events are sold out, though a waitlist is available.

Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.

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New Hampshire

Why are the New Hampshire Ice Castles so blue?

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2025

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Why are the New Hampshire Ice Castles so blue? – CBS Boston

Watch CBS News

The Ice Castles in North Woodstock, New Hampshire are set to open this weekend, inviting visitors to enter a world of frosty enchantment. WBZ-TV’s Jacob Wycoff reports.

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire Ice Castles get unexpected boost from Mother Nature

Published

22 hours ago

January 8, 2025

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New Hampshire Ice Castles get unexpected boost from Mother Nature

NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH – The Ice Castles in North Woodstock, New Hampshire, are set to open this weekend, inviting visitors to enter a world of frosty enchantment.

Why are the Ice Castles blue?

With towering ice walls, sparkling tunnels and glowing sculptures, the Ice Castles are a true winter masterpiece. As crews put the finishing touches on the attraction ahead of Friday’s opening, this year marks one of the attraction’s earliest starts on record.

What makes New Hampshire’s Ice Castles unique is their distinct blue hue, a result of the pristine water sourced from nearby rivers. This natural element enhances the beauty of the castle, which gleams a cool blue under daylight. But it’s after dark when the castles truly transform, illuminated by thousands of LED lights embedded in the ice, creating a magical, glowing spectacle.

At night, LED lights embedded in the ice turn New Hampshire’s Ice Castles into a glowing spectacle.

CBS Boston

What does it take to build the Ice Castles?

Crafting this frozen wonder is no easy feat. The process begins as early as October, with a dedicated team of artists and builders meticulously constructing the castles by hand. They use millions of icicles grown and frozen on-site, working tirelessly to bring the vision to life.

“Mother Nature is 100% the main architect,” said Luke Ely, assistant manager for Ice Castles New Hampshire. “We pretty much do a dance with her the entire season to get what we have today.”

This year’s early-season cold weather provided an unexpected boost, allowing the team to get ahead of schedule for Friday’s opening.

Reflecting on the allure of ice, Ely added, “You don’t see it in this medium too much. Most of the time, winter is kind of like looked at as a harsh, negative, just-get-through-it kind of time time, and ice is the main factor in all that. And being able to do something with it that’s more beautiful and graceful, I thing, draws a lot folks.”

The Ice Castles in New Hampshire aim to remain open through April, weather permitting. Visitors are encouraged to experience this seasonal wonder before Mother Nature decides to reclaim her icy masterpiece.

Jacob Wycoff

Jacob Wycoff is a meteorologist at WBZ-TV and will contribute to weekend morning newscasts. Jacob is a member of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.

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