Sculptors to compete in this year’s Carmel Festival of Ice

Carmel, Indiana – During the weekend of January 20 to 22, 2019, the City of Carmel will host the sixth annual Festival of Ice, which is sponsored by Allied Solutions. During those three days, the top ice carvers from around the Midwest will gather in Carmel for three days of competitions and demonstrations.

The amazing Festival of Ice weekend will kick off on Friday in the Carmel Arts & Design District, where ice carvers will produce jaw-dropping works of art from four in the afternoon until seven in the evening. The following establishments on Main Street are where guests may observe the sculptures: Woody’s Library Restaurant, Agave Bar & Grill, Petos, Muldoon’s, The Pint Room, and Anthony’s Chop House.

On Saturday, the ice carving will be moved to Carter Green, where, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., specialists will begin the process of sculpting enormous ice masterpieces. During the Carmel Fire Department’s Chili Cook-Off, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., you will have the opportunity to vote for your favorite sculpture as well as chili.

The ice carvers will return on Sunday for the grand finale, which is a fast-paced “carve off” featuring head-to-head action on stage in the shape of a tournament-style competition. This is when the competition will really start to heat up. The victor will be chosen with the assistance of those present at the event.

The rink at The Ice at Carter Green will be open for skating during the entire weekend in conjunction with the Festival of Ice, so lace up your skates and take in the sculptures as you glide across the ice. Tickets for ice skating can be purchased in advance by going to TheIceAtCarterGreen.com.

“This weekend is a rare opportunity to witness the art of creating beauty from a simple block of ice. Many of these ice carvers got their start in the culinary field carving blocks of cheese or fruit and then expanded their talents to include ice,” said Nancy Heck, Director of Community Relations and Economic Development. “Carmel loves to celebrate the arts, whether it’s a summer day on Main Street or a winter day around the ice rink.”

Shannon Gerasimchik, Benjamen Goebel, Jim Houser, Stephan Koch, Dan Rebholz, and Matthew Stoddart are some of the professional sculptors who are participating in this year’s competition. They all compete in similar competitions throughout the Midwest each year.

Visit the website TheIceAtCarterGreen.com to learn more about the Festival, The Ice at Carter Green, and other activities that will be taking place in the near future.