The parking lot where the Chautauqua Belle is empty. There would have been an ice castle or a snow castle if temperatures permitted. Instead, a wooden castle will be lit Friday night. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE — There may be little to no snow, but the 2023 Mayville Winter Festival will still take place this weekend.

In past years, the community constructed an ice castle as part of the festival. When the lake’s ice was too thin, a snow castle was constructed in its place. There was an attempt to do that this year, but the warmer temperatures made even a snow castle impossible.

“The DPW had to remove the ruins of the castle. They pulled the snow away,” said Mayville Mayor Rick Syper Tuesday. “During the Jamestown parade, the chamber had a wooden (castle) that they put on a trailer. They’re going to bring that trailer to the festival.”

Friday at 6 p.m. will be the lighting of the castle in Lakeside Park, near the Chautauqua Belle.

At 6:30 p.m. will be the passing of the Crowns from 2022 King and Queen to the 2023 King and Queen. The Mayville Winter Festival announced on Facebook that Mr. and Mrs. Andrew and Elizabeth “Betsy” Freay are this year’s king and queen.

“Thank you Andy and Betsy for all you both do in our community. We are very grateful for you and we are very excited to be handing the crowns over to you both for the 2023 festival,” the organization wrote.

The festival continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food vendors and fire pits set up all weekend in Lakeside Park.

According to the schedule, Saturday starting at 10 a.m. and throughout the day will be wood carving demonstrations and raffle by Vince the Tree Guy.

The Beer and Wine Tent, which will open Saturday and be open all weekend, will have live music from 5-8 p.m. by the band Interstate Daydream, which the lead singer is from Mayville.

At noon will be a polar plunge. Individuals who wish to participate can sign up Saturday morning. One of those who will be participating is Mayor Syper. “I got talked into going into the lake. This is going to be my first one,” he said during Tuesday’s village board meeting.

There will be horse carriage rides after the plunge.

According to the schedule, at 3:30 p.m. will be a pet parade with prizes.

From 3-5 p.m. will be a chili cookoff. Participants are asked to bring at least one crockpot size of chili (six to seven quarts), which will be placed in different container. Day of registrations will be accepted until 1 p.m. Saturday.

There will be fireworks Saturday evening at 8 p.m.

On Sunday at 8:30 a.m. will be a volleyball tournament. “It’s brand new,” explained Soren Gilkinson, Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce president. “It will be outside.”

At 10 a.m. will be a 5k run. Cost is $15 per person. There’s already 50 participants signed up.

Syper invites everyone to come out and check out the festival. “Friday there might be some snow coming, so that will whiten it up for the grand opening. I think it’s going to be a great time,” he said.

Gilkinson agreed. “It’s always a great time. It’s a free event. You just have to pay to park and that’s all,” she said.

In terms of recent history, there was an ice castle in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2022, the castle was a mixture of snow and ice. There was no festival in 2021 due to COVID-19.