New Hampshire’s Ice Castles in North Woodstock are officially open for the season, turning hundreds of thousands of hand-placed icicles into glowing archways, caves, slides, and tunnels lit up with colorful LEDs. 

➡️ Read the full story: Planning a visit to NH’s Ice Castles? Here’s what to know

Here’s what’s inside today’s newsletter:

⚙️ 5 informative and fun manufacturing tours 

📢 Question of the week: What do you think of an ICE detention center potentially coming to Merrimack?

📅 Top events for your calendar

By Stacy Milbouer

⚙️ Frye’s Measure Mill
2 Frye Road, Wilton
The last water-powered mill in New Hampshire, producing traditional wooden Shaker and colonial boxes using 19th-century machinery. Visitors can explore the historic mill, museum spaces, and gift shop, and may see craftspeople at work.

⚙️Ben’s Sugar Shack Maple Tours
8 Webster Highway, Temple
A seasonal maple sugaring tour where visitors learn how sap becomes syrup, ride a wagon to a working sugar shack, sample maple products, and visit the Maple Station Market for treats like maple ice cream and lattes.

⚙️Live Free Distillery
1000 E. Industrial Park Drive #4, Manchester
A small-batch distillery offering tours that showcase handcrafted stills, barrel aging, and the production of whiskey, moonshine, vodka, rum, and honey whiskey.

⚙️Van Otis Chocolates
341 Elm St., Manchester
A historic chocolate shop offering guided tours and classes where visitors can watch chocolatiers make truffles and fudge, then dip and sample their own chocolate treats.

⚙️ Huckins Farms
52 Magoon Road, New Hampton
 A family-run micro-dairy offering farm tours that walk visitors through raw milk and cheese production, with opportunities to meet (and even milk) the cows and explore the scenic 200-year-old farm.

Protestors recently gathered in Merrimack to speak out against a rumored ICE detention center.

The Washington Post reported that Merrimack is one of 23 sites nationwide under consideration for new ICE detention facilities. ICE, also known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is reportedly looking to convert industrial warehouses into detention centers.

So this week’s question is…

What do you think of an ICE detention center potentially coming to Merrimack?

Here’s what you’re saying…

“I’m against ICE detention centers ANYWHERE!” — M.A. Chamberlin

“Just what I’ve always wanted—a concentration camp in New Hampshire.” — Joyce Hurd

🍷 Winter Wine Festival
New Castle — Jan. 23 to Feb. 15
A monthlong wine festival at Wentworth by the Sea featuring multi-course Grand Vintner’s Dinners, large-scale tastings, flight nights, and a Bubbles & Jazz Brunch, with winery representatives and curated pours from around the world.
More info

⛸️ S’more Ice Skating Party
Lebanon — Friday, Jan. 23
An evening of ice skating paired with s’mores and winter treats, designed as a family-friendly outdoor event.
More info

❄️ Concord Winter Festival
Concord — Saturday, Jan. 24
A downtown winter celebration featuring outdoor activities, local food and drink, and ice carving demonstrations and competitions in front of the Statehouse.
More info

🎤 MLK Day Keynote: Lift Every Voice
Jaffrey — Sunday, Jan. 25 
A keynote address by Dr. André de Quadros, professor of music at Boston University and international human rights activist. The talk explores the power of music in healing, reconciliation, and peace building, drawing from global experiences and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The Program starts at 2 p.m. Free reservations required.
More info

🧊 Jackson Snow Sculpting Competition
Jackson — Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 
A White Mountains tradition where professional carvers transform massive blocks of snow into detailed sculptures in the Mt. Washington Valley.
More info

🌕 Full Moon Fiesta
Lebanon — Saturday, Jan. 31
A winter community celebration tied to the full moon, featuring seasonal activities and outdoor fun in downtown Lebanon.
More info

⛄ Keene Ice & Snow Festival
Keene — Saturday, Feb. 7
An annual winter festival with ice sculptures, seasonal activities, and community events throughout downtown Keene.
More info

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from Stacy Milbouer and USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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