In the first weekend of February, Jelgava will once again immerse itself in the atmosphere of a winter fairy tale — on February 7 and 8, the 27th International Ice Sculpture Festival will take place here. For two days, the city will become the center of ice art and entertainment for the whole family.
World-renowned ice sculpture masters will present their artistic interpretation of the theme "The Power of Illusions." In addition to the exhibition of ice sculptures, guests can look forward to a rich entertainment program: sculptor duels, science shows, performances by illusionists, ice attractions and slides, theatrical performances for children, as well as concerts by popular Latvian artists.
Sculptors from 12 Countries Will Participate in the Festival
The festival participants were selected in advance — the jury chose the best sketches as part of the international competition. This year, interest in the festival was particularly high: over 40 applications were submitted, from which 20 sculptors from 12 countries were selected — Argentina, Indonesia, Poland, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Spain, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
In their works, the masters will invite viewers to immerse themselves in a space of illusions, where the boundary between the real and the imagined becomes almost imperceptible. The themes of the sculptures will touch on the interaction of humans with modern technologies, natural illusions of light and form, as well as the diversity of perceptions of beauty, happiness, and the inner world.
The main locations of the festival will be Pasta Island, the open concert venue Mītava, and the ice rink. Here, individual and team ice sculptures will be displayed, and the main events of the cultural program will take place on two stages.
Jānis Čakste Boulevard, which previously was part of the paid area, will this year become a freely accessible festive territory. Here, visitors will be able to see ice photo sculptures, enjoy rides and carousels, and visit a winter "hospitality zone" with treats, hot and cold drinks, and handmade crafts. In the evening, the festive atmosphere will be enhanced by a laser show, which will be visible from different points of the festival area.
Festival hours: from 11:00 to 22:00.
