Ice-sculpting invitational carves into downtown Holland

Ice-sculpting invitational carves into downtown Holland

The Collegiate Ice Carving Invitational draws about 2,000 people to downtown Holland. Photo via fb.com

Some of the nation’s best collegiate ice sculptors will carve their way through downtown Holland this weekend.

Five student teams, including one team from Grand Rapids Community College, will compete Friday and Saturday in the Collegiate Ice Carving Invitational by the National Ice Carving Association.

The city is expecting 2,000 attendees, possibly more, thanks to the warmer temperatures that have been projected for this weekend, said Kara de Alvare, marketing coordinator for Downtown Holland.

On Friday night, teams will compete in the compulsory sculpting competition, which is a two-hour competition where teams are given design patterns for buffet table ice sculptures to carve, from 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, students will have the opportunity to let their creativity flow during the four hour freestyle sculpting competition, from 12:30-4:30 p.m.

The freestyle competition usually involves larger pieces that are more detailed than the sculptures created during the compulsory competition, de Alvare said.

In addition to being able to watch the sculptors at work, attendees can also enjoy several interactive sculptures that have been commissioned by local businesses and will be on display during the two-day competition.

Crown Motors will have a giant ice jeep parked in front of AlpenRose Restaurant & Café for visitors to take photos with. There will also be free giveaway drawings for photo takers.

Once again, sculptors will be carving kids’ names into small blocks of ice that they can then take with them.