BREWER – A new winter festival, the Brewer Family Winter Fest, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, on the waterfront and at Doyle Field.

An ice-sculpting event is part of the program and Steve Griffith off the University of New Hampshire will create three ice sculptures in front of the Muddy Rudder. Drew Sachs, the city’s director for economic development, said Griffith will set up at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, and work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 making sculptures 10 to 15 feet tall.

Griffith will use 20 blocks of ice to create three sculptures that are waterfront- and Brewer-related, explained Donna Thornton, chairwoman of the Penobscot Landing advisory committee.

“We’re very excited about that,” she said.

At Doyle Field there will be a contest for “snow creations” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with materials provided.

“You’re only limited by your imagination,” Thornton said.

Contestants may be individuals or teams of up to 10 members. Each team must have at least one member under age 18. For teams of more than five members, half must be under age 18.

“We’re trying to make it a family event,” Sachs said.

Judging for the snow creations contest will be at 3 p.m., but Thornton said people may watch from 9 a.m. on and come and go as they like.

Sachs said the judging will be based on “artistic merit, originality and effort, but age of the contestants will also be considered.” First prize is $500; second, $250; third, $100; and two honorable mentions of $50 each.

All snow creations participants will be entered in a raffle, with several prizes. The big one will be an Xbox video game.

A bonfire is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. at Doyle Field, weather permitting.

Local businesses and organizations are funding the festival. Thornton said nearly $6,000 has been raised.

“We’ve had a great response from the business community,” she said.

The Muddy Rudder will offer coffee and hot chocolate, and Dunkin’ Donuts will be provided at the Brewer Auditorium.

Sachs said the Muddy Rudder has agreed to illuminate the ice sculptures at night for up to several weeks, depending on temperature and weather conditions.

The festival is starting small, Thornton said, but organizers hope to expand in future years, with the festival becoming sanctioned by the National Ice Competition Association as an official ice-sculpting event. One of the goals of the festival is to generate interest in the waterfront, Thornton said.

“This is one way we can encourage people to come down to the river,” she said.

Preregistration is required for the snow creations event, with only the first 35 teams guaranteed a place. Registration forms are available at the Brewer Auditorium.

For information about Steve Griffith and his ice sculptures, visit the Web at valleyice.com. For information about the winter festival, call Brewer Parks and Recreation at 989-5199, or visit the Web at brewerme.org.