ICED COFFEE … The ice sculpture for Red Rambler in Wauseon is pictured here. The sculpture was completed by Ryan Roth from Ice Creations. PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
The Wauseon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local businesses, the City of Wauseon, and the Wauseon Beautification Team, held a live ice sculpting event on Saturday, December 11th. The event lasted all day from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
In total, 32 businesses participated in the event to have Sculptures by Ice Creations from Napoleon come out to each business to hold the live ice sculpting.
According to the Wauseon Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director Bill Drummer, the event started out with interest from ten businesses.
An invitation was sent out and soon more and more sent a response that they were interested. It grew from ten to twenty and ultimately where it ended up at 32.
More businesses even expressed interest as well but, due to the time constraints for the day, the number was kept at 32. This goes to show the amount of community spirt and Christmas cheer the businesses have and the want to share with their fellow community members.
“What an overwhelming response. Everyone is following them around and it is really nice,” said Bill Drummer. Ice Creations had four different sculptors out working on the ice in order to fit all 32 businesses in before the end of the day.
Normally the sculptures are done in one location, but to help business create more foot traffic, the sculptors were able to do their work in front of the stores.
Throughout the day people stopped by the businesses to see the work that was being done with the ice. Customers going in and out of the businesses also stopped and watched the work being done in front of the buildings.
After the ice was done flying and the carving was finished, each sculpture looked amazing and was expertly done. The weather even started to cooperate in the afternoon and brought temperatures down so that the ice would not melt.
Responses from business owners and onlookers was that of amazement and awe for what can be done with a simple block of ice. It is definitely something that you don’t see every day.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com
