The Ice Magic Festival is held in January at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Teams of professional carvers come from around the world to participate in the competition. Some of them have creative names, like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre team.
The teams have a limited amount of time to carve their masterpieces out of huge blocks of ice weighing 300 pounds a piece. Each year the competition has a different theme. This years theme was the Rhythm of Nature in the Canadian Rockies.
The carvers created a variety of wildlife sculptures. The detail created in the ice is amazing. The buffalo had intricately carved curls to depict it’s fur. It was so perfect it looked like a large piece of Waterford crystal.
There are several events held during the 3 days of the Ice Magic Festival. There is a one hour, one block carving competition that is very exciting to watch. As well there are interpretive ice carving demonstrations. Inside the hotel they have wine tasting events, musical and theatrical performances for the whole family.
Sonny the dog is the mascot for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. He was out enjoying the Ice Magic Festival. He was smart and wore appropriate clothing for his outing. Weather permitting the sculptures will be on display into March.
In addition to the activities up at the lake the village of Lake Louise has the Little Chippers Festival. It is held at Samson Mall. The kids get to have a chance to learn the art and science of ice carving first hand, and take part in a host of fun family events.
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