Elite ice carvers battle elements (nice weather) ahead of Cripple Creek Ice Festival
CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) – With highs in Cripple Creek reaching near 50 today, the competitors in the 16th-annual Ice Festival were forced to start their work in the middle of the night to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.
From Feb. 14-22, historic Cripple Creek will transform Bennett Avenue into a stunning open-air gallery of ice. The free annual festival brings together elite ice carvers from across the country for live ice carving competitions, large-scale sculpture displays, and interactive activities for visitors of all ages.
Carving groups started their work early Thursday morning, placing and carving as quickly as they could before the sun could spoil the rest of their workday.
"It used to be cold! And it was very different, our techniques," Cool Hand Ice carver Joaquin Botello said.
Throughout the nine-day event, attendees view intricately carved sculptures on display across the road. But while the artwork remains up during the week, the busiest days of the festival fall on the weekends.
Every Saturday, elite speed carvers will compete to take home a $1,000 cash prize, while also competing to win the "People's Choice Award." Head-to-head carving challenges are scheduled for Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Cripple Creek Ice Festival is free to attend and entirely outdoors. Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and plan ahead for mountain weather conditions.
To view the festival's full schedule, click here.
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