Joe's Pond Committee's Ice Out

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Created on Tuesday, 10 February 2026 14:28

Written by Paige Lenahan

Joe's Pond Ice Out Contest is one of the biggest Ice Out's in Vermont.This year marks the 36th year of the Joe's Pond Ice Out Contest.

The Ice Out Contest was orinigally a game played between a group of friends, starting in the early 1980's. It was said to be something fun to do during the cold Vermont months.

"It started long before that with a group of men that got together at Hastings store, they were having coffee one day, probably mulitple days," explained Michelle Walker, a member of the Joe's Pond Ice Out Committee, "They were trying to figure out if they could guess when the ice went out on Joe's Pond. And if you're going to guess that, how do you do it?"

This group decided to create device that could tell them exactly what time the ice went out each year. This device consisted of a cinder block connected to a wooden pallet with a flag attached. It was connected to a clock on the shore, which has a break away switch. Since then, the device design has stayed the same. In 2013, the pallet was moved to a different spot on the pond and the clock was replaced with a weather-proof one. 

"When the block falls through the ice, it disconnects the clock, which is just a break away switch," says Walker, "So we know exactly what time the ice goes out."

The first year of the contest was in 1988, only a couple hundred tickets were sold at $1 a piece. Two years later, the contest sold over 1,500 tickets and continued to grow to almost 12,000 tickets each year. In 2024, the committe sold over 15,000 tickets, which was a huge deal until ticket sales went over 16,000 in 2025. Ticket prices continue to be $1, with the hope that everyone who wants to enter, can. The committee does not feel it is necessary to raise the price due to that and the amount of enteries they receive. 

Proceeds from ticket sales are split evenly between the contest winner and the committe.

"We take the money off the top for expenses, and then we give half to the winner," explains Walker, "And the remaining money goes into the treasury for the Joe's Pond association."

There are about 250 members of the Joe's Pond association which meet three times throughout the summer. During these meetings, they decide what the best use is for the money. They focus on keeping the pond as clean and safe as possible. Additonally, they try to make sure that campers will enjoy their times spent there. 

Tickets for the Joe's Pond Ice Out Contest are avalible at a varitey of local stores and on the Joe's Pond website.