Iceworm Festival Schedule

The Cordova Iceworm Festival began as a way to spread cheer during the heart of winter in the 1960s, but has since grown into an event that attracts people from all over. This year’s festival runs from Jan. 28 through Feb. 4.

Schedule and promotions

Throughout the festival

• Iceworm Themed Challenges Along Haystack Trail: Get outside during Iceworm Festival to visit Haystack Trail, Mile 19 Copper River Highway, for an Agents of Discovery Iceworm-themed mission and discover shiny new challenges along the hike. Haystack Trail Mission exists year-round, but Iceworm challenges are featured for a limited time, so make sure to check it out soon.
• Copper Valley Telephone Deals + Promotions: Stop into the store for a chance to win deals and prizes with Spin the Wheel / Plinko, plus get a kid’s superhero cape to wear all week long to Super Iceworm events! New and existing customers may upgrade or add a phone line and receive basic unlimited data for 6 months free!
• Jan. 24 – Feb. 4: Bidarki Iceworm Basketball Classic
• Jan.16 – Jan. 28: Bidarki Iceworm Volleyball Classic

Friday, Jan. 27

• 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Journaling: Become a super hero at bullet journaling at Tribal Family Services Building. Fire up your creativity with spontaneous art, wild writing, and inventive thinking.
• 6 – 7 p.m. Basketball: Bidarki Iceworm Classic Basketball at Cordova High School

Saturday, Jan. 28

• 9:30 – 11 a.m. Basketball: Basketball Classic at Bidarki, round robin tournament
• 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Youth basketball camp: Professional basketball players and professional dunkers are coming to Cordova to put on a basketball camp for our youth. The kids camp will be for Kindergarten to 8th graders, divided into three separate sessions — 10 to 11 a.m. for kindergarten to 2nd graders, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for 3^rd to 5th graders, and 1 to 2 p.m. for 6th to 8th graders.
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Shopping: The Iceworm Store will be open on Main Street. Come get your Iceworm ears, and this year’s commemorative pin!
• Noon beer mile: Run four ¼ miles, drink four beers. Best time wins! All racers must be 21 years or older. Please plan a safe and legal transportation to and from the event!
• 1:40 – 4 p.m. Basketball: Iceworm Basketball Classic at Bidarki, round robin tournament
• 5 p.m. Photo and art show: Contributions due at the Copper River Gallery/Cordova Center Museum! Printed photos and art, frames optional.
• 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Daddy Daughter Dance at the Homeport: A special evening for dads and daughters! Free Admission! Light refreshments and cake by Diane Ujoika, photo area, dancing and fun! (Also in lieu of a father, girls may be accompanied by a grandfather, uncle, or other family friend).
• 6 p.m. Dinner: Prime rib dinner special at the Powder House

Sunday, Jan. 29

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• Cake Competition: Last day to make a creation and send in photos for the Iceworm Cake Competition to icewormfestival@gmail.com! 
• 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Paper Airplane Contest and games at Cordova High School: The Paper Airplane contest we all know and love, with added fun. Featuring carnival games by CCMC, a photo booth with Baby Iceworm by Tara Brannon Photography, and the Baby Iceworm Birthday Party. Come celebrate Baby Iceworm’s birthday. Enjoy cake and ice cream along with a fish pond filled with fun prizes and our annual coloring contest. There are three groups for the coloring contest. Group one is Kindergarten through 2nd grade, group two is 3rd through 4th grade, and group three is 5th through 6th grade. For each group the prizes are $30 cash, $20 cash, and $10 cash.
• 2 p.m. Cribbage Tournament at the Alaskan: Cribbage tournament! Double elimination. Sign up at 2 p.m., tournament starts at 2:30 p.m.
• 2 p.m. Chili Cook-off: At the Powder House
• 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Board game night at Copper River Brewing: Some games will be provided, but bring your own if you can! A night for community members to teach each other new games and play with friends and strangers alike!
• 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Yoga at the Science Center: Beat the “Sunday Scaries” with sunset yoga at the Science Center. Aviva will be leading Iceworm-themed yoga in the atrium of our new building on Jan. 29 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Don’t have a yoga mat? Don’t worry. Let us know and we will try to have a few extra on hand. A $5-$10 donation is encouraged to compensate for the instructor’s time.

Monday, Jan. 30

• 6 a.m. Radio clues: Clues air on both stations at the top of the hour. Check KLAM-AM1450’s Facebook page for clues posted 24 hours after they air. More details at www.icewormfestival.com/tailhunt.
• 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Sea Squirts: Time for pre-school fun! January’s Sea Squirt theme is ice worms. The hour-long program starts with story time and then jumps into super hands-on activities that will be sure to get your tot thinking like a scientist. This program will be at the Science Center on Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Sea Squirts is free to the public and is geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds. Caregivers must attend.
• 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Shopping: The Iceworm Store will be open on Main Street. Come get your Iceworm ears, and this year’s commemorative pin!
•  7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Trivia at the Reluctant Fishermen: Prince William Sound Science Center will be bringing science-themed trivia nights to the latter part of every month at the Reluctant Fishermen! This month’s category is “Incredible Ice Worms.” Come down to the Reluctant Fisherman on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7p.m. with your thinking cap — winning team will receive a prize on behalf of the Reluctant Fishermen!
• 7 p.m. Concert: Laura Cortese will be live in concert at the Northstar Theater. Pencil in Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards and let this music sweep you up, carrying you away from everyday worries and into the arms of its cathartic embrace. Tickets available at the door only. $20 general admission, $10 student.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

• 6 a.m. Radio clues: Clues air on both stations at the top of the hour. Check KLAM-AM1450’s Facebook page for clues posted 24 hours after they air. More details at www.icewormfestival.com/tailhunt.
• 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Shopping: The Iceworm Store will be open on Main Street. Come get your Iceworm ears, and this year’s commemorative pin!
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Trivia at Copper River Brewing: Trivia about superheroes, the Iceworm Festival, and more!
• 7 p.m. Ping pong: Ping pong doubles tournament at the Powder House.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

• 6 a.m. Radio clues: Clues air on both stations at the top of the hour. Check KLAM-AM1450’s Facebook page for clues posted 24 hours after they air. More details at www.icewormfestival.com/tailhunt.
• 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Shopping: The Iceworm Store will be open on Main Street. Come get your Iceworm ears, and this year’s commemorative pin!
• 6 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Basketball: Bidarki Iceworm Classic Basketball at Cordova High School
• 5 p.m. Smoked Salmon Appetizer: Cook-off at the Powder House

Thursday, Feb. 2

• 6 a.m. Radio clues: Clues air on both stations at the top of the hour. Check KLAM-AM1450’s Facebook page for clues posted 24 hours after they air. More details at www.icewormfestival.com/tailhunt.
• 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Shopping: The Iceworm Store will be open on Main Street. Come get your Iceworm ears, and this year’s commemorative pin!
• 5 p.m – 7 p.m. Photo and art show: Opening premier at the Cordova Center Copper River Gallery. Cast your vote in several categories! Show on display all month, winners announced Feb. 19.
• 5:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. Basketball: Bidarki Iceworm Classic Basketball at Cordova High School.
• 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Super Potato Bar: Plus 50% off Accessories at Copper Valley Wireless.
• 7 p.m. Ping pong: Ping pong doubles tournament at the Powder House.

Friday, Feb. 3

• 6 a.m. Radio clues: Clues air on both stations at the top of the hour. Check KLAM-AM1450’s Facebook page for clues posted 24 hours after they air. More details at www.icewormfestival.com/tailhunt.
• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Photo and art show: Opening premier at the Cordova Center Copper River Gallery. Cast your vote in several categories! Show on display all month, winners announced Feb. 19.
• 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Glorious Glaciers at the Prince William Science Center: Looking for fun on your Friday half-day? Join us for Fun Friday! We will dive into glaciers and ice worms! Explore how glaciers move through homemade slime, learn about the secret lives of ice worms, and make a craft to take home. The event runs on Feb. 3 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the new Science Center building. Intended audience is kids in grades kindergarten through 4^th graders and their caregivers.
• 5 p.m Oyster Shuck & Suck Contest: At the Powder House
• 5 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. Basketball: Bidarki Iceworm Classic Basketball at CHS
• 6 p.m. Iceworm Variety Show at the Cordova Center: Its back! Join us for an evening of music and entertainment honoring the Miss Iceworm Coronation and Citizen of the Year Award.
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Steak night: At the Moose Lodge
• 6:30 p.m. Dell Wickham Memorial 9 ball pool tournament at the Alaskan: 6:30 p.m. registration. Tournament starts at 7 p.m. $10 to play!
• 7 p.m. Finest Legs competition at the Powder House: Judges needed.
• 10 p.m. Superhero-Theme Party: At The Reluctant. 

Saturday, Feb. 4

• 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. Breakfast at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church: Sourdough pancakes, potatoes with reindeer sausage, eggs, and fresh baked muffins. $15/Plate. FALAFEL $15/Plate.
• 8 a.m. Flag Raising at the Cordova Public Safety Building: Girl Scout Troop 148.
• 8:15 a.m. South Harbor: Prayer and reading at the Fishermen’s Memorial.
• 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hot Cocoa bar: At Copper Valley Wireless and other promotions.
• 10 a.m. Survival Suit Races at the South Harbor: They’re BACK! Bystanders will not be allowed on the airplane float to view due to the poor shape of the dock, but folks can watch from the catwalk, the 3 stage dock, or from the comfort of their home, as this event will be live streamed via or YouTube and Facebook!
• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Photo Show at the Cordova Center Copper River Gallery: Cast your vote for photos in several categories! Show on display all month. Winners announced Feb.19.
• 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Basketball: Bidarki Iceworm Classic Basketball at Cordova High School.
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Shopping: The Iceworm Store will be open on Main Street. Come get your Iceworm ears, and this year’s commemorative pin!
• 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. New beer release at Copper River Brewing: Iceworm Double IPA, Homebrew Competition, Iceworm Root Beer Floats, and Food Special! The brewery will open at 11 am with a new beer release of the Iceworm Double IPA, Root Beer floats, and a food special! Hang out here before and after the parade and warm up with a hot cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Drop off homebrews anytime that day. Judging for the homebrew competition will start at 6 p.m. It’s free to compete in the Homebrew competition!
• 11:30 a.m. Food: Street food vendors on Main Street. Baked goods and hot chocolate made by the junior high cheerleaders; crepes, empanadas, alfajores, and drinks by Paoola Vargas; Mexican tostadas by Yaritza Mejias; Pastor Steve’s burgers and bot dogs.
• 1 p.m. Parade: Treasure chest ticket winners drawn!
• 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Iceworm Bazaar at the Cordova Center: Featuring Nancy O’Hare and her crocheted creations, “It’s Cordova” art by Shulammite Reece, Emma Hamberger’s baked bread, and more.
• 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Ice cream social: At The Pioneer.
• 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Basketball: Bidarki Iceworm Classic Basketball at Cordova High School.
• 3 p.m. Brownie bake-off at Steens Gifts: Previous brownie entries have included coconut butterscotch brownies, outrageous brownies, nutty brownies, and strawberry cream brownies! YUM! Call Lynne at 907-424-8327 if you would like to participate. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners.
• 5 p.m. Lumpa, Pancit, & Chicken Adobo Dinner: At the Powder House.
• 5 p.m. 7 p.m. Disco skiing: Come ride the rope tow, grab a glow stick, and ski with music and friends under the lights! Snack Shack will be open for food and refreshments!
• 6 p.m. Home brew competition: Judging begins at Copper River Brewing.
• 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m Teen Night at the Bidarki Recreation Center: Age group: 7th to 12th graders welcome. Free event, but willing to accept donations for future events! Drink and snacks provided. Encouraged to wear bright or white clothing.
• 8 p.m. Fireworks Extravaganza: Brought to you by Mike Bowen of Lantis Fireworks, and our 2023 Iceworm Sponsors!
• 9 p.m. Smack Box Entertainment: Smack Box Entertainment presents The Jephries with Wash Your Hands, Foot E. The Clown and Brother Buffalo, live at The Alaskan.

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