The Single Block competition is finished. The judging has been completed and the Awards Ceremony will be held at 8:00PM tonight. The sun is shining again after the all-day snow we had yesterday and volunteers have been busy blowing the snow off the Single Blocks all morning so they literally glisten when the sun shines through them. The colored lights tonight will really show off their magic.
A visitor was overheard today observing that there are sculptures everywhere! And that is one of the things I love best about the venue here at the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds. The Enchanted Forest with its picture perfect, snow-covered White Spruce and Birch trees, is worthy of any fairy tale. And now that all the sculptures are finished and on display, the woods are full of ice. All sizes of ice carvings stand together. I can think of several sites nestled together, a Double Block in the center surrounded by Single Blocks with a Multi Block right across the path. If you use your imagination, you can imagine Hansel and Gretel or The Snow Queen wandering through here.
If you log onto IceAlaska.org you can vote online for the People’s Choice Award, or if you come to the park to see the carvings you can also cast your vote for the People’s Choice.
And speaking of coming to the park, please consider volunteering. Ice Alaska is always in need of volunteers. If you want to stay warm, you can work in the ticket booth or in the gift shop. If you like wandering among the sculptures, you can volunteer for security. Again, go to IceAlaska.org and fill out a volunteer form indicating which field you prefer to work. It is worth it. The volunteers at Ice Alaska are a big family and everyone is great to work with. I live in South Carolina and have been volunteering here in Fairbanks, my adopted city, for seven years. Unfortunately, and with great sadness, I will be leaving Fairbanks soon, but I will return next year. I wouldn’t miss it.
See you at the Award Ceremony tonight. I have my favorites. Come ahead of the ceremony and pick out yours.
