There exists a symbiotic relationship between Fire & Ice and the Lititz Lions Club's chili cook-off that helps explain the origins of one of Lancaster County's most popular winter festivals and provides perspective on what it is today. Behind every great event there is an extensive support system going about its business.

"It's an interesting story," said Lititz Borough Police Chief Kerry Nye, who helps organize the Lions Club's chili cook-off. "What happened was this Lititz council of women went to a town ... to see a winter festival, and they had a chili cook-off. When they brought the idea back to Lititz, they kept the chili cook-off. I'm not sure how many people know that story."

So, the chili cook-off became the fire and the 70 ice sculptures placed strategically around Lititz's downtown business district represented the ice portion of the proposition.

Sponsored by Venture Lititz and Lititz Borough, this year's 18th edition of the popular Fire & Ice festival will be presented over eight days and two weekends, from Thursday, Feb. 15, to Monday, Feb. 19, and from Friday, Feb. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 25. Highlighting the winter carnival will be a winter funderland, a maker's market, art in the park and real fire shows.

Fire & Ice will also feature live music, food trucks and street vendors.

"All of our events have different importance," said Venture Lititz executive director Emily Allen. "Fire & Ice is our biggest event. ... We bring in so many people to downtown Lititz. We want people to put this event on their calendars for next year."

"It comes back to bringing people from the outside to the businesses in Lititz at a time when tourism is slow," said Nye. "It's about bringing business to the merchants downtown."

The chili cook-off's annual contribution to Fire & Ice will be served up by the Lititz Lions Club on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Warwick High School gymnasium, a mere two blocks from the general flow of the winter festival. There's also a kids' carnival held in conjunction with the chili cook-off.

"I hope that it's a big part of Fire & Ice," said Nye. "It's an integral part, but it's not the whole thing, either. Venture Lititz and the Lititz Lions Club are both trying to raise money for their causes. The Lions Club does a lot for the community. This is a way to make money to give back to the community."

The Lititz Lions Club's chili cook-off pits 10 professional and amateur chefs and their favorite chili recipes against one another in a competition decided by discerning tasters. Determined by a vote of the consumers, a prize is awarded to the victorious chili chef.

Last year, more than 750 people attended the Lititz Lions Club's chili cook-off.

"A lot of the chefs are from restaurants in town," said Nye. "They love the event, and it gets the word out about their businesses. It's a big commitment. It's expensive to make 12 to 15 gallons of chili."

For a complete schedule and for more information about Fire & Ice, go to http://www.lititzpa.com/event/fire-ice-festival.