ITHACA, N.Y. — Winter weather has settled upon Ithaca just in time for the 10th annual Ice Festival, which kicked off in downtown Ithaca Thursday.

Chainsaws and flying flecks of ice were the center attraction for spectators Friday night, as world renowned ice sculptors shaped blocks of ice into masterpiece dragons, snowmen, guitars and more.

If you missed the festivities Friday, there’s still a chance to catch the action Saturday.

Carvers will get three hours to make a sculpture from 9 a.m. to noon, and they will square off again from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., cutting into the largest blocks for the Two-Block Showpiece Challenge.

The 7th annual Chowder Competition also kicks off at noon on the Commons, where local restaurants will vie for the coveted title of Chowder Cook-Off Champion. Participating restaurants are in the Commons, along Aurora and Cayuga streets and in the Dewitt Mall.

For more information about the festival and Saturdays schedule, click here. 

All photos in this gallery by Sam Scott/The Ithaca Voice.

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Jolene Almendarez is Managing Editor at The Ithaca Voice. She can be reached at jalmendarez@ithacavoice.com; you can learn more about her at the links in the top right of this box.