Manayunk’s Founders Philly Freeze Out Returns With Live Ice Carvings, a Winter Market, and a Chowder Crawl
Manayunk is turning up the chill—and the fun—this winter with the return of the Founders Philly Freeze Out & Chowder Crawl, taking over Main Street on January 31, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM. This cold-weather tradition brings together art, food, beer, and community for a full day of winter magic.
Presented by Founders Brewing, the Philly Freeze Out transforms Main Street Manayunk into a true winter wonderland. Visitors can bundle up and stroll past more than 25 stunning ice sculptures lining the corridor, each carved into intricate designs ranging from majestic animals to playful neighborhood-inspired creations. Throughout the day, guests can also catch live ice carving demonstrations by Ice sculpture Philly outside select restaurants and bars, watching massive blocks of ice turn into frozen works of art in real time.
Local restaurants and bars will be pouring Founders beer specials, while Main Street fills with festive energy thanks to lion dancing, a snowy igloo experience, giveaways, a Winter Market, and plenty of family-friendly activities. It’s an all-ages event designed for longtime Manayunk locals, day-trippers, and anyone looking for a reason to get out of the house in January.
Dozens of businesses along Main Street will host ice sculptures outside their storefronts, creating a walkable outdoor gallery of frozen art. Meanwhile, live carving demonstrations (carve times to be announced) will take place at popular neighborhood spots including Bayou & Cactus, JD McGillicuddy’s, Mia Ragazza, New Leaf, The Goat’s Beard, and The Tomato Shack Manayunk.
The Manayunk Chowder Crawl Returns
One of the most anticipated parts of the day is the Manayunk Chowder Crawl, which invites guests to warm up by sampling creative takes on winter’s ultimate comfort food. More than a dozen local restaurants will serve their own signature chowders, offering everything from traditional New England clam chowder to bold, globally inspired variations like Cajun shrimp, Mexican street corn, tom kah salmon, and smashburger chowder.
Chowder Crawl tickets are available on Eventbrite. Each ticket unlocks a flavorful crawl through Manayunk’s dining scene, making it the perfect excuse to explore new spots—or revisit old favorites—spoon in hand.
Participating in chowder crawl:
Bayou – Cajun Shrimp Chowder
Cactus Mexican Street Corn Chowder
Chabaa Thai Bistro
Manayunk Brewing Company
SOMO – Seafood Chowder
The Goat’s Beard – Smashburger Chowder
The Tomato Shack
Blondie
JD McGillicuddy’s
Lucky’s Last Chance
Mia Ragazza – Creamy Chicken & Rosemary
Ryan’s Pub – Seafood Chowder
Taqueria Amor
The Rook – New England Style Clam Chowder
