The expression “you snooze, you lose” is definitely true when it comes to Kennebunkport’s biggest holiday party, Fire & Ice at The Nonantum Resort. All 3,000 tickets for the two nights – Dec. 8 and 9 – sold out. In October.

“I bought tickets in August,” said Kate St. Peter of Saco. “This is my third time. I can’t stop coming back. It’s an unbelievable event, the best in southern Maine.”

“It’s just festive. I love it,” said Sarah Rivest of South Portland.

“I would come again, for sure,” said Jennifer Pomerleau of Arundel.

“I was expecting Will Farrell ice skating,” joked Kyle Beliveau of Westbrook.

There were no Will Farrell sightings, but Fire & Ice guests raved about watching ice sculptor Ed Jarrett at work. They praised the food, especially the pulled pork sandwiches by Ned’s Bakes & BBQ; The Carmine Terracciano Band, featuring Tony Boffa; the super-sized bonfire and all the smaller, cozy fire circles surrounded by Adirondack chairs.

“And all the drink options – the whiskey bar, the Shipyard beer tent, the ice luge,” said Colin Phelan of Saco.

“It’s a great party, a great mix of people,” said Jim Mahaney of Wells.

“This event appeals to all ages, 21 to probably 81,” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, the resort’s general manager. “Fire & Ice has become a tradition for couples, families and friends. We never would have thought this event would grow to this size of popularity in seven years.”

In fact, The Nonantum received a Maine Governor’s Award for Tourism Leadership and Growth for its efforts to expand the second weekend of Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude. The second weekend – Fire & Ice weekend – is now just as popular as the first.

Fire & Ice is also a community fundraiser, with $5,000 going to both the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and to Kennebunkport Emergency Medical Services.

“This year we have trained all our staff in CPR and first-aid,” said Jean Ginn Marvin, Nonantum’s innkeeper. “We almost had a little boy drown in our pool this summer. Luckily Tom Macisso, our activities co-director, performed CPR, and by the time the ambulance arrived, the boy was breathing again.”

Inspired by this incident, the $5,000 for Kennebunkport EMS will act as seed money for a program to teach CPR and first aid to hotel and restaurant employees throughout the Kennebunks.

“We are very hopeful other hotels and restaurants will follow our lead and train their staffs,” Ginn Marvin said. “And our hope is that this program will spread statewide.”

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer from Scarborough. She can be reached at amyparadysz@gmail.com.

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