Bundle Up And Bring Your Camera For The World Ice Art Championships In Fairbanks, Alaska
The World Ice Art Championships in Alaska takes place in the northern city of Fairbanks each year. Drawing artists from all across the globe, this event is an incredible month long event highlighting over 100 talented sculptors. Over 48,000 people visit this incredible ice show every year! This is one winter event that you’ll want to make sure you put in your calendar.
Ever year, Fairbanks hosts the annual World Ice Art Championships.
This incredible event draws in sculptors and spectators from all over the world. Visitors from over 28 countries come to enjoy this unique show each and every year. In fact, visitors have been increasing over the years as the event grows in popularity.
The ice carving event has been running since April of 1990.
The tradition started when Fairbanks used to host Winter Carnivals in the 1930's. In the 1990's this event only lasted a week, and now it runs for over an entire month! These ice sculptures in Alaska are a must see, for locals and tourists alike. It’s a wonderful and fun event to enjoy during the colder, dark winter months.
Ice for the event is harvested in large blocks for the carvers to use.
The event organizers are now using a new spot and private property owner for harvesting the ice. The ice is so clear it has been referred to as the "Arctic Diamond." This ice is so amazing, the non-profit Ice Alaska actually sells the ice overseas to help fund some of this wonderful event.
The championships are divided into three divisions: Single Block Classic, Double Block Classic, and the Multi-Block Classic.
The largest event is the Single Block Classic, where a single artist carves a 1,720 pound block of ice into a sculpture in just 48 hours! The Double Block Classic gives twice the ice to a team of two, who have only 72 hours until to complete their sculpture. Winter in Alaska is no hardship to these talented artists spending days outside in the freezing cold temperatures.
The Multi-Block Classic has a team of four carvers compete.
These sculptors turn nine blocks, roughly around 15,490 pounds of ice, into something beautiful in only 132 hours. Only during the Multi-Block Classic is heavy machinery allowed to be used. To think of the expertise needed to manage these huge blocks of ice is mind boggling.
During the event, many schools in the Fairbanks area take day trips to experience this awesome event.
There's actually a children's park where kids can play on sculptures designed just for them! The Kid’s Park is one of the most looked forward to aspects of the entire event. Children wait all year long to play at this fantastic park. The entire event brings in around $600,000 annually to the local economy.
Every year the event runs for four weeks, from the middle of February to the middle of March.
For specific dates, and to learn more about ticket prices, visit Ice Alaska's website here. When you have your dates and your tickets, be sure to put this in your calendar! This is one uniquely Alaskan event that you don’t want to miss this year.
Have you ever visited the World Ice Art Championships in Alaska? What did you think? Will you be headed to Fairbanks to see it this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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Address: World Ice Art Championships - Ice Alaska, 1800 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
World Ice Art Championships in Alaska
December 23, 2020
Megan McDonald
Is there a lot of winter tourism in Alaska?
Absolutely! In fact, Fairbanks, where the World Ice Art Championships take place, is considered the best winter tourist destination for those seeking to explore Alaska during our coldest season. Your odds of seeing the famed aurora borealis are high, and dog sledding, cross country skiing, and more are all available to enjoy during the winter months.
Is there a hot springs in Alaska?
Yes! Right outside of Fairbanks is the popular Chena Hot Springs Resort. Home to a resort with hotel rooms, a thriving hot spring that’s incredibly popular in the winter months, and fun activities like hanging out an in ice museum, skiing the local trails, and watching the northern lights from the springs, there is plenty of fun to be had during the cold months in Interior Alaska.
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Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
