World Ice Carving Championship 2022

Last year he heard about the ice carving that was on display in Fairbanks but for one reason or another we never made our way downtown to see it. I am not sure they even held the competition as it may have been canceled due to COVID-19. This year, we finally made our way down and in a way I was glad we waited as the temperature was much more hospitable at the end of the display season than it would have been if we had gone early on.

We went down after work on a Wednesday as the kids were on Spring Break and a late night would not have been too detrimental to their sleep. We arrived around 7 pm and stayed until 930 pm. We just advanced the clock due to daylight savings to this gave us some extra light in the evening which also meant we had to stay longer to see the carvings at night.

The park had sleds we were able to barrow and use and the kids spent the first 1.5-2 hours just playing. The long ice slide was the favorite.

Upon arrival the temperature was around 20 degrees but it quickly started to fall and it left me wishing I had brought more upper layers or better gloves.

Here is a few of a sled ride that entered into a path on a steep embankment to direct people back towards the way they came in a trajectory shaped like J. I loved the wall built of ice.

Hazel was so kind to ride with Camille over and over. Camille would squeal and laugh each time which was a delight.

Charlotte learned about mini golf and air hockey for the first time via ice replicas. Watching her try to putt was funny and painful. She just could not figure out how to keep her lower body still and allow the upper body to swing like a pendulum. All in good time.

Hazel was enjoying some ice art and then decided to reach out and touch (push?) on the ice cube sending it to the ground. When I tried to put it back up I was surprised (should not have been) at how heavy it was. We left it on the ground...

More sliding fun.

After we spent a few minutes in warming hut, returning the sleds, and sharing a cup of hot chocolate, we went to look at the ice sculptures. On the way in we saw these really neat snow carvings.

Then we enjoyed the many different ice sculptures. I will just put them up and let you enjoy them as well.