GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Some professionally-carved ice sculptures grace the streets of downtown Grand Rapids, as long as the weather cooperates.
The annual Valent-ICE event kicked off today and runs through February. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. hosts it as part of the World of Winter festival of events that are taking place downtown through March 5. The ice sculptures will be on display through, at least, next Thursday. Or until the ice melts.
"They're going to last as long as they last," ice-sculpting artist Randy Finch said, noting that the sunlight may melt some quicker than others. "I know we've got great temperatures at night, so they'll get cold. And then during the day, it'll be nice and warm for the people. I would recommend getting down there this weekend to see them. But there will be some scattered throughout the weeks, as well."
He provides many of the sculptures that he carves out of blocks of ice with a saw.
"We have over 65 displays that are out now around the city, and then we're going to be adding three or four live ice-sculpting performances this weekend," said Finch, who is better known as the Ice Guru.
One of them will begin at noon Saturday on Rosa Parks Circle and last until 2 p.m. That will be near the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
"We're going to be doing a re-production of one of the sculptures from our television show on the Food Network," Finch said.
There will be four, 75-minute ice sculpture walking tours on Saturday at: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The start point is Rosa Parks Circle.
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[Photo courtesy: Randy Finch & Grand Rapids Garage Bar & Grill]