Because Holland does ice. Really really well. Well, sometimes.

There was recently an ice sculpting competition in downtown Holland(, Michigan - for my international friends!) Since this is the coldest, windiest, snowy-ice-blowing-in-your-face city I've ever lived in, an ice sculpting competition seemed to fit perfectly onto the scene. I decided it didn’t matter if it was single digits outside – I was going to experience some local community fun. (And bring my camera - I've been looking for something to photograph now that monkeys don't reside outside my door!)

I was glad I went. I was equally glad for a shop where I could get out of the cold, and for this lovely fireplace outside where I could warm my fingers! ;)

(I’m starting to think I need one of these in my home…)

I've never seen anyone "sculpting" ice before, especially with a chain saw... so it was interesting to catch a glimpse of the artists at work. Olaf was even making his way onto the scene!

 

 

 

I never knew ice sculpting required so many tools!

Apparently there were two competitions on two days... the first, the "compulsory competition," seemed to have to do with the local business they were placed in front of. There were some fun ones, including an icy-hot apple pie just out of the, uh, oven!

The freestyle competition was going on while we were there, and some teams had finished a bit earlier than others.

 

 

It was fun to learn about the process of ice sculpting, and to pick up on some Holland "history" as well. Apparently the first year they held this competition, they decided to put the blocks of ice straight on the sidewalks for sculpting so that traffic could continue as usual. The only problem is, someone forgot that the sidewalks in downtown Holland are HEATED! Apparently, like Olaf, ice and heat don’t mix... and the sculptures took nose dives onto the closely parked cars rather quickly. They’ve since moved the competition to the streets, or at least added boards under the ice blocks on the sidewalks, making parking a bit trickier… but the ice sculpting oh so much more successful.

Thankful for fun new experiences with even more amazing people!