It is Tuesday, February 2025. It’s fun being back in Fairbanks awaiting the opening of the Ice Alaska park at the local fairgrounds. The ice carving competition begins with the horn announcing the beginning of the Multi Block competition the morning of Valentine’s Day, February 14th. It’s fun being back and saying hello to artists who have competed for years. Dean DeMaris and Steve Brice have been carving for Ice Alaska since 1990. Brittany, from Washington State, has overseen lighting for five years. This year Brendyn and Ava are joining us from California for the first time.
Between twenty and 30 volunteers are here for boot camp, a precursor, if you will, of the park in its finished glory. There are slides for both kids and adults, an interactive sculptures area to play in, the ice stage, the logo wall and games such as checkers and cornhole. One of the biggest and hardest jobs is the actual harvesting of the ice from a quarry with water so pure the ice is referred to as arctic diamonds. The ice has to then be transferred to the carving sites. The “office” for boot camp is a building on the fairgrounds called “Gasser”, formally known as Badger Hall. It is always filled with tools, cords, light, coffee, water and food, people and conversation.
The park opens the 14th and Multi Block competition begins at 8:00am. It ends when the horn blows to signal for all artists to drop their tools at 10pm on the 19th. Awards night will be on the 20th at 8pm on the stage built by the boot campers.
Hope to see a lot of you and for those who have traveled from afar, like I have, welcome back to our beloved Fairbanks.