The 56th annual Cordova Iceworm Festival officially kicks off this weekend, with events lined up from Jan. 28 through Feb. 5. This year’s theme is Ghosts of Iceworm Past.
The cabin fever reliever mid-winter festival was created in 1961 to give Cordova’s residents something fun to look forward to the first weekend of February, when days are dark and the weather can challenge even the toughest Alaskans.
And, yes, Iceworms are real: Iceworms are the only annelid worms known to spend their entire lives in glaciers.
This year’s Iceworm Festival Committee, a group of hearty volunteers, is led by Ria Beedle, president; Kelsey Appleton, vice-president, Shannon Jones, treasurer, Jessica Arasmith, secretary, and Anya Honkola and Emma Merritt, directors.
Beedle said the committee and local volunteers have already put in hundreds of hours planning, organizing, and fundraising for this year’s event.
“In the months leading up to the festival, the Iceworm Committee eats, sleeps, and breathes Iceworm, to continue this hallmark Cordovan event,” Beedle said. “Mere weeks after last year’s festival, the committee reviewed the event, and started planning for this year.”
Photo by Cinthia Gibbens-Stimson/The Cordova Times
The festival’s kickoff event is a food fair on Jan. 28, at the Little Chapel, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival’s mascot, Baby Iceworm, will be there to pose for photos with hungry attendees.
Traditional events continue, such as the Bidarki Classic volleyball, basketball and dodgeball tournaments; the variety show, the crowning of the Miss Iceworm Queen, the presentation of the Cordova Citizen of the Year award, the Iceworm Tail Hunt, and the Iceworm Parade.
“The theme this year is Ghosts of Iceworm Past, and we look forward to the float submissions for the parade,” Beedle said. “The Iceworm Tail Hunt clues will be broadcast on the local radio station starting on Jan. 30, and the (day’s) clues will be posted to Facebook the next day.”
Local volunteers are the backbone of the festival.
“What’s truly remarkable, are the local businesses and volunteers who provide the bulk of the resources and funds to facilitate an event of this magnitude,” Beedle said. “To put on the annual extravaganza, over 60 volunteers will set up chairs, sell tickets, gather donations, judge floats, set up races, host dinners, make announcements, and cook breakfast. Why do we do this? We do it for each other,” she said.
“The Iceworm Festival is more than just shaking off the winter blues. It’s about coming together, no matter what comes at us, or between us. It is a celebration of the past, an inspiration for the future, and a testament to all Cordovans who make living in this little town worthwhile.”
Several new events are being introduced this year, including a PowHow Luau and SPAM recipe contest at the Powder House on Feb. 1.
The Powder House, known by locals as “Iceworm Central,” is gearing up for the luau, in addition to their regular annual events, like the Oyster Shuck and Suck competition and a chili cook-off.
“It’s a chance to get a taste of sunshine in the middle of winter,” said Robin Kacsh, manager of the pub and restaurant.
“The luau is a new Iceworm event this year, complete with a Tiki bar, beach decorations and several drink special,” she said. “We’re hoping folks will come out in their Hawaiian garb, get in the groove, and enjoy a Kalua pork dinner complete with Hawaiian mac salad and all the fixings.
“This is also the night that the Spam recipe contest, a first during the Iceworm Festival, will be taking place and we’re encouraging people to think up, and cook up, their best Spam recipes and enter the competition. We’ve got a great prize, but it’s a secret! You’ve got to join in the fun to see what it is.”
The Hawaiian dinner is $15.95 a person. Most of the competitions at the Powder House during the festival are free, except for the Oyster Shuck and Suck contest, which costs $13 to enter, to cover the cost of the oysters, Kacsh said.
“The shuck and suck is crazy! It gets loud and rowdy, and everyone is laughing and having a great time. It starts immediately after the parade on Saturday, so once everyone gets here, we’ll start the contest to see who can shuck and suck the fastest!” Kacsh said. “There’s a lot of great prizes. It’s exciting and fast paced, and if you’re just watching, you must decide if you want a good view of the craziness, or you don’t mind getting wet! Sometimes, things go flying!”
During past Iceworm festivals, Kacsh said they’ve gone through at least 150 oysters during the contest.
“This is what it’s all about. Iceworm is so much fun and we love doing this for everyone,” Kacsh said. “There’s multiple events here and all over town – come out during Iceworm and enjoy all you can!”
Another event new to the festival roster will be a mixer held at the Reluctant Fisherman Inn on Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. That event is sponsored by the Denali Brewing Company. “This offers a chance for festival-goers to end the Iceworm weekend with drinks, friends, and a great view of the fireworks show,” Beedle said.
Additionally, the Reluctant will offer free seafood appetizers on several nights during the festival weekend.
While Cordova’s festival is known to be quirky and unique, there’s really something to do for just about everyone.
The paper airplane contest is back for another year, thanks to G.C.I. Communications, on Jan. 29. There’s also a ping pong tournament, photo show and contest, poker competitions, an historical Iceworm Festival display at the museum, a homebrew contest at the Cordova Moose Lodge, a sourdough pancake feed at St. Joseph’s church, a birthday party for Baby Iceworm, free ice-cream at the Pioneer Hall, Per Nolan’s karaoke at the Anchor, and a professional fireworks display on the evening of Feb. 4.
Along with all the fun, the festival is good for the economy.
While no exact numbers of out-of-towners arriving for the festival has been recorded, Cathy Long, executive director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, said it isn’t unusual to have a boost in our town’s economy this time of year.
“Although the Iceworm Festival is a highlight for us locals, it has a certain appeal to visitors too,” Long said. “Being such a unique event, it seems to have a strange draw for people looking for a fun, authentic, hometown festival. Even apart from the visitors, most businesses open this time of year report an uptick in sales due to, if nothing else, folks getting out of their houses and into stores. Iceworm comes at a great time of year to provide shoulder season sales and a nice off-peak boost for local Cordova businesses.”
A list of dates and times for all 2017 festival events is in The Cordova Times and on Facebook. Printed schedules will be available at local merchants.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to help during the celebration should email the Iceworm Festival Committee at icewormfestival@gmail.com.
Photo by Cinthia Gibbens-Stimson/The Cordova Times
Cordova Iceworm Festival 2017 Schedule
Saturday, January 28th
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Food Fair & Photos with the NEW Baby Iceworm @ Little Chapel
Sunday, January 29th
1-4 p.m. Iceworm Paper Airplane Contest at Bidarki – sponsored by GCI
5 p.m. Doubles Ping Pong Paddle Battle at the Powder House. Register/warmup 4 p.m.
Monday, January 30th
5:30-6 p.m. Dodgeball Tournament game #1 at Bidarki
6-6:30 p.m. Dodgeball Tournament game #2 at Bidarki
7 p.m. Singles Ping Pong Paddle Battle at the Powder House. Register/warmup 6 p.m.
7 p.m. Poker Night at the Anchor
Tuesday, January 31st
*Deadline for Iceworm Photo Show submissions at the City Museum
5:30-6:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #1 at Bidarki
6:30-7:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #2 at Bidarki
7 p.m. Poker Night at the Anchor
7:30-8:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #3 at Bidarki
8:30-9:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #4 at Bidarki
9:30-10:30 p.m. Basketball Tournament game #1 at Mt. Eccles
Wednesday, February 1st
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Iceworm Photo Show and Historic Iceworm Display at the City Museum
4:30-6 p.m. FREE Seafood Appetizers at the Reluctant Fisherman
5p.m. SPAM cook-off! PowHow Luau with Kalua Pork Dinner Special at the Powder House
5:30-6:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #5 at Bidarki
6 p.m. 9-Ball Tournament at the Moose Lodge – entrance fee
6:30-7:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #6 at Bidarki
7:30-8:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #7 at Bidarki
8:30-9:30 p.m. Basketball Tournament game #2 at Mt. Eccles
Thursday, February 2nd
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Iceworm Photo Show and Historic Iceworm Display at the City Museum
4:30-6 p.m. FREE Seafood Appetizers at the Reluctant Fisherman
5 p.m. Chili Cook-Off at the Powder House. Tasting and judging 5:30-6:30 p.m.
5:30-6:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #8 at Bidarki
6 p.m. Cribbage Tournament at the Moose Lodge – entrance fee
6:30-7:30 p.m. Volleyball Tournament game #9 at Bidarki
7:30-8 p.m. Dodgeball Tournament game #3 at Bidarki
8-8:30 p.m. Dodgeball Tournament game #4 at Bidarki
8:30-9 p.m. Dodgeball Tournament game #5 at Bidarki
Friday, February 3rd
4:30-6 p.m. FREE Seafood Appetizers at the Reluctant Fisherman
5 p.m. Halibut Olympia Dinner Special at the Powder House
5 p.m. Homebrew Contest and Steak Night at the Moose Lodge
5:30-6:30 p.m. Basketball Tournament game #3 at Mt. Eccles
7 p.m. Iceworm Variety Show – sponsored by CTC/CWC
Crowning of Miss Iceworm – sponsored by Bootslyn & David Roemhildt
Iceworm Citizen of the Year – sponsored by The Cordova Times
Saturday, February 4th
7-11 a.m. Sourdoughs and Breakfast at St Joseph’s
9:30 a.m. Fishermen’s Memorial Dedication and Prayer – sponsored by CDFU
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Iceworm Photo Show and Historic Iceworm Display at the City Museum
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cake Competition at the Cordova Center
10-4 p.m. Arts and Crafts Fair at the old library – sponsored by the Fiber Arts Guild
10:30 a.m. Survival Suit Races on G Float, South Harbor (across from AC)
1 p.m. Iceworm Parade on Main Street
Immediately following the parade
• Treasure Chest – sponsored by Alaska Airlines
• Oyster Shuck and Suck at the Powder House, Prime Rib Dinner Special to follow
• Iceworm Birthday Party at the Elementary School – sponsored by CTC/CWC
• Ice Cream Feed at the Pioneer Igloo
2-3 p.m. Dodgeball Championship game at Bidarki
3-4:30 p.m. Volleyball Championship game at Bidarki
4:30-6 p.m. FREE Seafood Appetizers at the Reluctant Fisherman
5-6 p.m. Basketball Championship game at Mt. Eccles
5-9 p.m. Dell Wickham 9-Ball Tournament at the COHO – pre register/$20 fee
7 p.m. Music & Beer at the Reluctant Fisherman – sponsored by Denali Brewing Co.
8 p.m. Fireworks Extravaganza at the South Harbor Fill – sponsored by Trident Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Copper River Seafoods (Various locations for viewing)
8:30 p.m. Per-aoke at the Anchor
Sunday, February 5th
2 p.m. Wall of Guns & Super Bowl Potluck at the Powder House – sponsored by CDV FNRA
2:30 p.m. Super Bowl LI Patriots vs Falcons FOX & FOX Sports GO (various locations)
