Monday, January 25, 2010

Knickerbocker Ice Festival - 2010




Before it was a State Park, Rockland Lake was where ice was harvested with tools like this,


and kept in iceboxes like this.




The Knickerbocker Ice Festival remembers our frozen history by bringing in ice sculptors, crafters, artists, musicians and brewers of hot chocolate for an annual event in January. 

Sculptures this year featured wooly mammouth and saber tooth tiger.






A sculptor told us about the difficulty of carving when the sun is shining and the ice is melting.




This year a group from Coupe Dance Studio led a Lanape Social Dance with live drumming around the huge bonfire.





My kids spent most of their time there skidding around on a big frozen puddle, proving that the best playgrounds are those unconciously planned by mother nature. 

Not to say that they didn't enjoy the igloo!



Last Year's Ice Fest Post:
Knickerbocker Ice Festival and Pigaroons (2009)

12 comments:

Ronda Laveen said...

Thanks for such a great share. I have always loved ice sculpture-beautiful.

sam said...

Looks like a lot of fun. The size of that bonfire is impressive!

LazyMom said...

And that ice sculptor was too cute--right?

Joanne said...

What beautiful sculptures, how delicate the work must be working in ice. Did you have the same 55 degree weather today that we had here? If so, I fear your ice sculptures are history :(

TALON said...

It's amazing the detail they carve out of ice! Very talented sculptors!

The kids looked like they had a blast. I love how it's the simple things that bring them the most joy.

tina said...

What fun! And you didn't have to build the igloo yourself. A bonus:) Beautiful ice sculptures. They look like glass.

Pix E. said...

Nice ice!

Ash said...

They are simply awesome.... talents has no limits....nor boundaries...

Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Skeeter said...

My parents have an old ice box but it is made from wood so a bit older then the one in your pic. They use it as a night stand in the guest bedroom! Maybe one day I will call it mine...

The baby sprout grown around the neck is a wonderful idea for children to become involved with gardening and nurturing as well. We did the seed in the paper cup thing while in school...

I would like to plant invasive bamboo between us and the neighbors ugly yard but the Saint will not let me. He says it would be so obvious that we are trying to hide their ugly. I say if they cared, they would clean up the mess. hee hee....

patti said...

WOW! Thanks for sharing an "ice" of your life!!!!

Amazing!!!

Patti

Carol said...

I love snow igloos!! It has been too long but my son enjoyed them years ago! Terrific festive winter event! I have never known how one could bear the cold of sculpting in ice... but then I have never tried. The bonfire looks warm and fun especially with drumming going on!! Great post! ;>)

Wendy McDonagh-Valentine said...

My husband took the boys to the ice festival last year but wasn't able to this year due to our schedule that weekend. A couple of people told us it wasn't as good as last year. I guess it's difficult when the temps are above normal. I'm glad you had a good time. Hopefully, next year will work out for us. Thanks for the wonderful pics!! :)

~ Wendy
http:/Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/