In our (biased) opinion, just about everything that happens in Alaska is bigger and better than what can be found in the lower 48 states. But this magical winter park takes that opinion to a whole new level. If you do one thing this winter, the Ice Alaska event in Fairbanks needs to be that thing.
This place is just… EPIC! Simply put, there is no place like it in the world. It is positively enchanting and offers an experience that is so magically unique that you’re guaranteed to build memories that last a lifetime. Load up the kiddos and get ready to have the time of your life!
Founded in the late 1980s, the Ice Alaska event is a non-profit organization in Fairbanks that is home to the annual World Ice Art Championships. It’s one of the most anticipated things to do in winter in Alaska.
Facebook - Ice Alaska
This international ice sculpture competition attracts carvers, artists, volunteers and visitors from all around the world each year. The sculptures seem to get better and better each year, if that’s even possible.
Facebook - Ice Alaska
Located off Morion Drive, the event runs from late February all the way through March, and also features an epic winter park. This winter park is a wonderful, unique thing to do in Alaska that the children look forward to each year!
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During the daytime you’ll love playing around on all the lifelike carvings. The children’s park is filled with fun sculptures for them to explore.
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Then at night, those same carvings are totally transformed into a colorful outdoor playground that is unlike anything else in the world. Bring your camera, because this is one event you’ll want to make sure you have photos of!
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Get bundled up and get ready to play outside for hours on end. If you keep moving, you’ll keep the cold at bay, as most Alaskan children know!
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Walk in and out of all the different displays and feast your eyes on the most phenomenal details that you’ll ever see in your life. Every ice sculpture starts as a huge block of ice, and gets carved down into these amazing sculptures.
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Kids can’t get enough of this place, especially all the cute animal carvings that come to life right before their very eyes. These ice sculptures in Alaska bring out the magic of the wonderful land we live on.
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Adults tend to love this magical experience just as much as the kiddos - it’s that incredible! There’s so much fun to be had for everyone.
Flickr - Travis
The ice sculptures are so unique and enchanting, you’re sure to be blown away by the all the different themes. The colors really highlight the playfulness of some of the designs.
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We have a hard time getting past how intricate most of the designs are. How do they even do that? Incredible!
Flickr - Arthur T. LaBar
The massive igloos and ice buildings that are carved out will positively blow your mind. These are structures that you know took a team of artists days to create. They are stunning!
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The Kids Park section of the Ice Alaska experience is something that is guaranteed to be a hit with the little ones. Dress warmly for this one, because your kid will want to go down these ice slides again and again!
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Plus there is no quicker way to burn off all that extra energy than by running around at this magical park for hours when the temps are frigid outside.
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The big multi-lane slide even has a variety of changing colors that sparkle at night. Get ready for lots of ‘squeaks and squeals’ to come from the kids. Parents will love this quintessential ‘Only In Alaska’ photo-op.
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At nighttime, the entertainment gets taken up to a totally elevated level with magical colors and unlimited fun.
Facebook - Ice Alaska Watch in amazement as awe-inspiring fire and light twirlers put on an epic show for the crowd. The mesmerizing hula-hoopers are also quite incredible to watch! Because this event runs for so long, there’s plenty of time for your family to explore all that it has to offer. Make sure to head over to Ice Alaska’s website to check out admission prices and official dates for the upcoming season.
While you’re in the area, be sure to check out this one spot in Alaska that’s basically heaven on earth.
Facebook - Ice Alaska
Flickr - Travis
Flickr - Arthur T. LaBar
Facebook - Ice Alaska
Watch in amazement as awe-inspiring fire and light twirlers put on an epic show for the crowd. The mesmerizing hula-hoopers are also quite incredible to watch! Because this event runs for so long, there’s plenty of time for your family to explore all that it has to offer. Make sure to head over to Ice Alaska’s website to check out admission prices and official dates for the upcoming season.
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Address: World Ice Art Championships - Ice Alaska, 1800 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ice Alaska Event December 04, 2020 Megan McDonald How long has the Ice Alaska event been going on? The Ice Alaska event has been going on since 1990, so that means we are entering our 30th year of celebrating this phenomenal competition! It’s something that is looked forward to each and every year, and there are artists that come from all over the world to participate in this event. How many people go to this event every year? This event is so popular, that over it’s 5-6 week span it sees more than 45,000 visitors from all over the world. It’s a wonderful way for Fairbanks to see a large jump in revenue each year, and Ice Alaska spends over $600,000.00 each year pouring into the local community. It keeps Fairbanks thriving all winter long!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ice Alaska Event
December 04, 2020
Megan McDonald
How long has the Ice Alaska event been going on? The Ice Alaska event has been going on since 1990, so that means we are entering our 30th year of celebrating this phenomenal competition! It’s something that is looked forward to each and every year, and there are artists that come from all over the world to participate in this event. How many people go to this event every year? This event is so popular, that over it’s 5-6 week span it sees more than 45,000 visitors from all over the world. It’s a wonderful way for Fairbanks to see a large jump in revenue each year, and Ice Alaska spends over $600,000.00 each year pouring into the local community. It keeps Fairbanks thriving all winter long!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Ice Alaska event has been going on since 1990, so that means we are entering our 30th year of celebrating this phenomenal competition! It’s something that is looked forward to each and every year, and there are artists that come from all over the world to participate in this event.
How many people go to this event every year?
This event is so popular, that over it’s 5-6 week span it sees more than 45,000 visitors from all over the world. It’s a wonderful way for Fairbanks to see a large jump in revenue each year, and Ice Alaska spends over $600,000.00 each year pouring into the local community. It keeps Fairbanks thriving all winter long!