Marietta Ice Festival carves a niche downtown
Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works carves out a design during an ice-sculpting demonstration Saturday afternoon on the front lawn of the Armory as part of the 10th annual Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Rhonda Meaux, left, of Beverly and Leslie Wharton, back visiting the area from California, look at a covered wagon ice sculpture sponsored by Campus Martius Museum Saturday during the Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Devola resident Rosann Westmeyer looks at the texture of an ice sculpture sponsored by Century 21 Full Service Realty Saturday afternoon during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau commissioned this ice sculpture commemorating local participation in this year鈥檚 celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Marietta resident John Lee takes a picture of an ice sculpture of a snail and mushroom in front of Clutch Collective on Front Street Saturday during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A bust of a dragon reading a book was the ice sculpture in front of J and M Books and Play on Front Street Saturday during the annual Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works sculpted a giant pizza cutter to go with The Original Pizza Place鈥檚 logo for the annual Marietta Ice Festival. It was displayed Saturday in front of the Second Street restaurant. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A dog, sponsored by SIPS Coffee Truck, was among the ice sculptures on the Armory front lawn Saturday during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
This frog was the ice sculpture outside JustAJar Design Press on Front Street Saturday during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works carves a large block of ice during an ice-sculpting demonstration Saturday afternoon on the front lawn of the Armory as part of the 10th annual Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works carves out a design during an ice-sculpting demonstration Saturday afternoon on the front lawn of the Armory as part of the 10th annual Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Rhonda Meaux, left, of Beverly and Leslie Wharton, back visiting the area from California, look at a covered wagon ice sculpture sponsored by Campus Martius Museum Saturday during the Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Devola resident Rosann Westmeyer looks at the texture of an ice sculpture sponsored by Century 21 Full Service Realty Saturday afternoon during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau commissioned this ice sculpture commemorating local participation in this year鈥檚 celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Marietta resident John Lee takes a picture of an ice sculpture of a snail and mushroom in front of Clutch Collective on Front Street Saturday during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A bust of a dragon reading a book was the ice sculpture in front of J and M Books and Play on Front Street Saturday during the annual Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works sculpted a giant pizza cutter to go with The Original Pizza Place鈥檚 logo for the annual Marietta Ice Festival. It was displayed Saturday in front of the Second Street restaurant. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A dog, sponsored by SIPS Coffee Truck, was among the ice sculptures on the Armory front lawn Saturday during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
This frog was the ice sculpture outside JustAJar Design Press on Front Street Saturday during the Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works carves a large block of ice during an ice-sculpting demonstration Saturday afternoon on the front lawn of the Armory as part of the 10th annual Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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MARIETTA - Asked for her assessment of how the latest Marietta Main Street event was going Saturday afternoon, Executive Director Jen Tinkler said something you probably won't hear from her very often.
"I wouldn't be upset if the sun went away," she said.
People were drawn downtown Saturday for the 10th annual Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival, featuring 21 ice sculptures at various businesses. Temperatures weren't much above freezing, but the thick cloud cover was penetrated frequently by bright rays of sunshine that made the otherwise clear ice fracture inside, said Tyson Whistler, the man responsible for all the sculptures.
"If we can just make sure the clouds stay, I don't mind the warm weather," he said.
The spectators didn't seem to mind cloudy sections of ice or small puddles forming next to, for example, a snail and a mushroom in front of Clutch Collective on Front Street.
"I just like the artisanship and the craftsmanship," Marietta resident John Lee said after snapping a picture of that particular sculpture.
Ali and Gary Sigler brought their kids from St. Marys.
"We don't have that many cool events like this," Ali Sigler said.
Five-year-old Parker Sigler was determined to check out all the ice sculptures on display.
"We've seen six of them. I'm keeping track," she said after giving the works she'd observed so far a thumbs up.
Despite the inconvenient sunlight, Tinkler said the event was going well, with the best turnout they'd ever seen.
"The momentum is just amazing," she said.
Each of the sculptures was sponsored by a different business or organization, who gave their ideas to Main Street to communicate to Whistler, with Whistler Ice Works. Many selected their logos but others opted for three-dimensional objects like a sitting dog (SIPS Coffee Truck), a massive pizza cutter (The Original Pizza Place) and a bust of a dragon reading a book (J and M Books and Play).
Whistler added another sculpture he crafted live on the Armory lawn, estimating it would take about four hours to complete. The live ones aren't usually as complicated, he said, but doing his work with so many people watching is stressful.
"I've done it a lot now, but working in the environment of your own tool shop" is different than moving that equipment to a public space, he said. "In the end, I do love it. I want to make sure that everybody's entertained."
The festival has been sponsored for the last four years by Glenwood, a local retirement community where Whistler works as a sous chef. Lesa Casto, sales counselor for Glenwood, said they like to support Whistler and the community. Even after residents retire and move to Glenwood, "they don't want to step out of being members of this community," she said.