In 2016, the City hosted its first Ice Festival in December with great success! Visitors came from all around during the weekend to view the spectacular works of art. What developed was our annual Ice Festival, a family-friendly event for all ages. This year, the City is delighted to host the Wisconsin State Ice Carving Championship as part of the 2020 Ice Festival on Saturday, December 12!
Over a dozen ice blocks will be placed throughout Wehmhoff Square Park. Each sculpture will be carved from a 300-pound block of ice that has been frozen in a special process to ensure that the blocks are crystal clear. The blocks are ten inches thick, twenty inches wide and stand forty inches tall on a wooden stand. The live sculpture carving, a favorite viewing attraction, showcases ice carvers using hand tools as they transform the massive blocks of ice into an array of giant masterpieces. When the competition is concluded, the sculptures are illuminated from underneath, which is a spectacular sight to see for days!
This event is free to the public and it is only made possible with the support of our community sponsors. Please take time to visit our sponsors below! The carvings will be completed by 4:00 pm on December 12. Come see them at your convenience for the next few days (weather pending)!
In an effort to keep our citizens and visitors safe with this event during the pandemic, the City will be implementing safety guidelines, including having the ice carving competition only, a one-way route around the park, sanitation stations and CDC guideline signage throughout the park. Please note, all other activities that are typically held during this event have been cancelled this year, such as the horse and wagon rides, s'mores and reindeer. This year will include the ice carving only. We apologize for this inconvenience, but want to ensure the safety of our citizens and guests during this unprecedented time. |
