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York Ice Trail is returning for 2025 – Here are all the sculptures

The magical York Ice Trail. Photograph: Make It York

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A weekend of frosty fun is coming – as York Ice Trail returns for 2025.

The popular family-friendly festival will once again see York’s historic streets transformed into an icy wonderland, when it returns on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February.

For 2025, the theme is ‘Origins’ – with 31 stunning ice sculptures showcasing York’s rich heritage, celebratory moments, and creatures that lived long ago.

Organised by Make It York, the trail’s sparkling statues are crafted by ice sculpture specialists Icebox.  

And the first sculpture has been revealed! It depicts a glimpse into York’s iconic history – with a Roman shield, Viking helmet, chocolate bar, ghostly figure, frosty train and Yorkshire Rose telling the unique story of York in a frozen tableau.

The theme for York Ice Trail 2025 is ‘Origins’. Photograph: Daniel Easton

As in previous years, Middletons Hotel will be transformed into a icy showcase, this year featuring four ice sculptures on the theme of ‘The Sweeter Side of Life’.

And York BID have journeyed back 2.4 million years to the Ice Age with five sculptures of extinct animals.

YorkMix will also have a sculpture on Parliament Street again, alongside the iconic YorkMix bus. Don’t miss our Prehistoric Mixie Monster – get ready to discover what Mixie would have looked like millions of years ago…

Visitors can also experience the thrill of live ice carving demonstrations at St Sampson’s Square, where expert sculptors from Icebox will transform raw blocks of ice into works of art before your eyes. 

Greg Pittard, managing director at Icebox, said: “Our team of talented artisans worked closely with Make It York and partners to craft custom ice sculptures that reflect their unique vision, making this York Ice Trail an exceptional one that guests will talk about for years to come.”

Sarah Loftus, managing director of Make It York, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the local businesses whose support makes the York Ice Trail possible.

“Their contributions are essential to bringing this beloved event to life, and we couldn’t do it without them.”

Take a look at the full list of sculptures for York Ice Trail 2025 below!

For more information about York Ice Trail, check out the Visit York website.

Full list of sculptures for York Ice Trail 2025

  1. Ice Ice Baby (Neon Selfie Point), Parliament Street – Provided by Make It York 
  2. Reawakening The Stories Of The Past, Parliament Street – Provided by Murton Park 
  3. Minster To Metropolis, Parliament Street – Provided by Grand Central  
  4. House Of Mouse, Church Street – Provided by Mr Chippy and City Cruises  
  5. York’s Chocolate Story-Book, King’s Square – Provided by York’s Chocolate Story  
  6. Ouroboros, Shambles – Provided by The Society Of Alchemists 
  7. Prehistoric Mixie Monster, Parliament Street – Provided by YorkMix 
  8. Woolly Mammoth, Fossgate – Provided by York BID 
  9. The Former Airspeed Factory, Piccadilly – Provided by SPARK: York (open from 12pm)
  10. Woolly Rhino, Tower Street – Provided by York BID 
  11. Coppergate Centre – 40 Years Old, Coppergate Centre – Provided by Coppergate Centre 
  12. Ate O’Clock Is 8!, High Ousegate – Provided by Ate O’Clock 
  13. From Needle & Thread, Peter Lane – Provided by Gillies Fabrics 
  14. The Ice Wall, Middletons Hotel – Provided by Make It York    
  15. The Chocolate Orange, Middletons Hotel – Provided by Icebox  
  16. City Of Treats, Middletons Hotel – Provided by Middletons Hotel 
  17. Sweet Like Chocolate, Middletons Hotel – Provided by Middletons Hotel  
  18. Glyptondon, Micklegate – Provided by York BID 
  19. Milner York: Ringing New Beginnings, The Milner York – Provided by The Milner York (formally The Principal York) 
  20. A Grand Journey, Station Rise – Provided by The Grand, York  
  21. Giant Ground Sloth, Tanner’s Moat – Provided by York BID 
  22. The Hobbits, Lendal – Provided by The Judge’s Lodging 
  23. Star Carr Stone Age Headdress, Museum Gardens – Provided by York Museums Trust  
  24. Where It All Began, Exhibition Square – Provided by North York Moors National Park 
  25. 50 Years Of Railway Legends, High Petergate – Provided by National Railway Museum 
  26. At The Cutting Edge, Minster Yard (Minster Stoneyard) – Provided by York Minster  
  27. Dodo, Goodramgate – Provided by York BID 
  28. York Daffodil, Low Petergate – Provided by Bradley’s Jewellers, York 
  29. Soak In Yorkshire, Blake Street – Provided by Yorkshire Soap Company  
  30. No Longboat? No Problem, St Helen’s Square – Provided by York Park & Ride  
  31. Bettys Craft Bakery, Davygate – Provided by Bettys 
  32. Live Ice Carving From 12pm, St Sampson’s Square – Provided by Make It York