It takes a village to put on a spectacle as big as IceFest, according to local organizers.

In addition to the main attractions of around 75 sponsored sculptures and the ice carving competition Saturday afternoon, there are plenty of other activities that have sprung up around the biannual festival to keep the anticipated crowd of 25,000 people occupied.

Last year, the event was themed “Great Books on Ice,” so organizers approached Vickie Ryan of the Mad Anthony Writer’s Conference, another of Hamilton’s regular events held in April, to see if she would organize a book fair to complement the festival.

It worked out so well that BookFest at IceFest has come back for a second year, with over 60 titles, author signings and three free workshops for writers: “Idea to Book,” “Writers Groups” and “Character Basics.”

“It’s a good way to promote our spring conference and adds another activity to IceFest so that there is something for everyone,” Ryan said. “And it promotes the art of writing and celebrates the world of books, which is a part of the Mad Anthony mission.”

All BookFest at IceFest events take place on the second floor of Ryan’s Tavern.

The Lane Library has been involved in IceFest, sponsoring the children’s area, from the beginning, said spokesperson Carrie Mancuso.

“We see ourselves as a community center and IceFest is something that helps bring the community together,” she said.

This year, the library is partnering with Miami University Hamilton to bring a story time and a respite from the cold, she said. And for the first time, the Bookmobile will be parked near the children’s area on Court Street and open for business.

“We’re able to bring the whole library experience to the event,” Mancuso said. “It’s a very natural and positive partnership.”

Sherry Armstead, owner of Art Off Symmes on High Street, is once again organizing ArtFest at IceFest, bringing 33 artists to the Government Services Center to display and sell their work for the third time.

“We have artists in all media, coming from as far away as Columbus and Indianapolis,” she said. “Most of the people who have been here are coming back because it’s an off-season event for them and attracts a good crowd.”

Some of the local artists who participate have a national reputation, Armstead said, including wood-turner Tom Stahl, ceramicist John Beasley and painter Bonita Goldberg.

The Hamilton YMCA is involved by organizing sled races, and more than 1,200 area school children will participate in the soap carving contest, the finalists exhibited in the windows of the Rentschler Building at Second and High streets, according to Sue Samoviski of the City of Sculpture.

“We also get excellent cooperation from the City of Hamilton,” Samoviski said. “We don’t get any money from them and we work very carefully to make sure we don’t incur expenses for the city, but we do get a lot of support and have several city officials sitting on the organizing committee.”