Those sparkling ice sculptures are back.
It’s the return of the hugely popular Ice Trail weekend (December 10 and 11) and this year there are 35 icy works of art to see.
Once again they have been created by those clever people at Glacial Art. Lots of organisations across the city have commissioned a sculpture – and some are offering prizes this weekend too.
Here’s all the information you need to know about what’s where and when.
Where to see the sculptures
2. Ice Bar – The Principal York, Station Road
3. Ice Chef – Grand Hotel & Spa, Station Rise
4. Dobby – York Explore Library, Museum Street
5. Cinderella’s Slipper, York Theatre Royal (Benenden)
6. Penguin – Entrance To Gillygate
7. Judge’s Head – Judges’ Lodging, Lendal
8. Mystery Plays – York Minster Piazza
9. Polar Bear – Make It York, Blake Street
10. Swan – St Helen’s Square (Swarovski)
11. Chocolate Orange Tree – St Helen’s Square (David Wilson Homes)
12. Watering Can – The Botanist, Stonegate
13. Ice Luge – Kennedy’s, Little Stonegate
14. Turtle – Turtle Bay, Little Stonegate
15. Pig – Lucia Wine Bar, Swinegate
16. Interactive Elf – Azendi, Low Petergate
17. Diamond Ring in a Diamond – Bradley’s Jewellers, Low Petergate
18. Interactive Rudolf – Goodramgate
19. Cow, Monkbar Hotel
21. Moon Face – King’s Square (Premier Inn)
22. Spaceman And Spacechild, St Sampson’s Square (TalkTalk Ultra Fibre Optic)
23. Ice Skates – Parliament Street (The Ice Factor)
24.Ice Palace – Shambles Entrance (Hunters)
25. Market Stall – Shambles Market
26. Elsa – Stormfront, Spurriergate
27. Angel Wings – Coppergate Centre
28. Aladdin Lamp – Coppergate Centre
29. Nutcracker – Fenwick
30. Marilyn Monroe – Dog & Bone Vintage, Castlegate
31. Gregory The Mouse – Rear of Fairfax House (York Civic Trust)
32. Troll – Fossgate
33. Father Christmas – Walmgate
34. Christmas Trees – King’s Staith
35. Stained Glass Window – Micklegate (York Conservation Trust)
Visitors will get to explore more of the city this year as Gillygate, Fossgate, Walmgate, Goodramgate and King’s Staith have all been added to the trail.
There will be a chance to marvel at exactly how the icy statues are created with this year’s live carving sessions. The demonstrations take place at St Helen’s Square on both Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.
The trail also includes the chance to enjoy a drink at the Principal York Hotel’s ice bar, located at their Chapter House Bar Terrace.
A chef and an impressive figure from York Minster
Chill out with prizes
You could win an Apple iPad mini 2 by taking a selfie as a UFO astronaut on St Sampson’s Square then collecting a ‘chill to reveal’ card thanks to sponsor TalkTalk.
There is also the chance to win a precious gemstone outside Bradley’s jewellers by guessing the value of a platinum and sapphire diamond ring.
An ice sculpture of a chocolate orange tree will be displayed in St Helen’s Square courtesy of The Chocolate Works by David Wilson Homes.
That company is will be offering a £1,000 interiors voucher on reservations at The Chocolate Works housing development by quoting the reference ‘ice’ before 31st January 2017.
A swan and Mr Moonface
Glacial Art artists have been working on York’s statues for the last three months.
Creative director Matt Foster said:
We have hand carved over eight tonnes of ice to spread the magic all across the city. It is the biggest event of its kind in the UK and the beautiful city of York gives us the perfect background to show off some of our best work.