IceFest21 A Trip Around The World

Hello friends! This is my post to share some of my ice sculpture photos from Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville IceFest21 event with the theme A Trip Around The World. As I type this, Toronto is still in lockdown. The IceFest21 is a nice change of scenery without traveling out of town.

From Canada to the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Japan, and Australia. Bon voyage!

The Canadian Rockies.
The Canadian Rockies.
New York City Taxi, USA.
New York City Taxi, USA.
Chichen Itza, Mexico.
Chichen Itza, Mexico.
Palm Trees and Beach Photo Op, Caribbean.
Palm Trees and Beach Photo Op, Caribbean.
Big Ben in London, The United Kingdom.
Big Ben in London, The United Kingdom.
Gondola in Venice, Italy.
Gondola in Venice, Italy.
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia.
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.
Pagoda in Japan.
Pagoda in Japan.
Opera House in Sydney, Australia.
Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

I hope to see you again at the Weekend Coffee Share link-up on Friday.

#IceFest21, #Lens-Artist, #Lovin’Life, #WeeklySmile, #WordlessWednesday.

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71 thoughts on “IceFest21 A Trip Around The World

  1. Jill Weatherholt March 17, 2021 / 8:27 am

    These are great, Natalie! And I don’t even tolerate the cold weather. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 8:59 am

      You’re welcome, Jill. Normally, the IceFest is in February when it’s cold. This year the organizers delayed the event to mid-March when it’s warmer, and some of the ice sculptures suffered a “meltdown” 🙂

      Like

  2. Betty March 17, 2021 / 9:12 am

    These are fabulous! How long did the carvers have to make these. We have an ice festival here in St. Charles, MO every January. The artists are allowed 2 hours. We went a couple years ago, and I wrote a post about it. I really like the “around the world” theme. Thanks for your post!

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 9:25 am

      Betty, The ice carvers had Friday morning to create their sculptures. The public viewing started on Friday at noon and the sculptures were on display until end of Sunday. Thank you for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Bear March 17, 2021 / 9:13 am

    I love seeing photos of the Toronto Ice Fest every year. they are always so neat to see. Thanks for sharing them. It’s fun to watch them being carved, too.

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 9:28 am

      You’re welcome, Bear. The ice carving process is amazing to watch. I’ve been going to the Toronto IceFest for a few years now. It’s normally in February when the weather is cold. This year it was in mid-March when it’s cool but not cold. Some of the ice sculptures melted or fallen apart by Sunday.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Bear March 17, 2021 / 10:27 am

        I noticed that some were already melting. But, that’s what pics are for… to preserve.

        Like

  4. Annika Perry March 17, 2021 / 9:27 am

    Wonderful creative ingenuity and imagination! Thank you for sharing with us here, Natalie! How long do they last for?

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 9:32 am

      You’re welcome, Annika. The annual IceFest event is on from Friday to Sunday. In previous years, it was in February in the dead of winter so the ice sculptures lasted long after the 3-day event was over. This year, the event was on in mid-March when the daytime high temperatures were above freezing point. By Sunday, some of the ice sculptures have melted or fallen apart.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Joanne March 17, 2021 / 10:47 am

    Those are so neat! One of the local towns often holds a fire and ice festival complete with lots and lots of ice sculptures for Valentine’s day and I was bummed that they weren’t holding it this year. We never go to the actual festival but I love walking around a few days later and seeing all the sculptures.

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 10:58 am

      February is a good cold month for ice sculpture display. I was glad that the IceFest was on this year even though the organizers delayed it from February to March and they spread out the sculptures on multiple streets for safe physical distancing, as opposed to in one park as in previous years.

      Like

  6. csuhpat1 March 17, 2021 / 11:36 am

    Wow, that is so very amazing. Love it. Very nice.

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 1:25 pm

      Glad you liked the ice sculptures. Thank you for stopping by.

      Like

  7. Ally Bean March 17, 2021 / 12:38 pm

    The palm trees in ice are trippy. No pun intended.

    Like

  8. Washe Koda March 17, 2021 / 4:17 pm

    😎 cool- Thanks for sharing. I have missed the ST Paul, Minnesota ‘Winter Carnival’ the last forty five years 😉

    Like

  9. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com March 17, 2021 / 5:27 pm

    I guess when we can’t travel like we want, these sculptures give us a “taste” of what we are missing. I prefer my destinations to be warmer, though 🙂

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 5:35 pm

      Janis, I also prefer warmer destinations so I can travel light 🙂 I was glad the IceFest was on this year and the ice sculptures were spread out on several streets for safe physical distancing.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 7:16 pm

      Anne, Yes, the ice carvers and their ice sculptures are amazing. They make winter more fun.

      Like

  10. Laurie March 17, 2021 / 7:22 pm

    Beautiful ice sculptures, Natalie! We have an Ice Festival in our town too, usually in February. This year, we had a scaled-down version – no food trucks, chili cook-off, or games for the children, just the ice sculptures. We strolled around town viewing them. It was still fun!

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 7:30 pm

      Glad you liked these ice sculptures, Laurie. They do make winter more fun. This year, the IceFest organizers postponed the event from February to March and displayed the ice sculptures on multiple streets for safer physical distancing, instead of in one park as in previous years.

      Like

  11. Lydia C. Lee March 17, 2021 / 7:44 pm

    I love the Bikini – that’sa hilarious! And we made it! Yay!

    Like

    • Natalie March 17, 2021 / 7:50 pm

      There was another Caribbean palm tree ice sculpture but the bikini one is more fun.

      Like

  12. Min Write of the Middle March 17, 2021 / 8:25 pm

    Those are incredible and fabulous to see Australia represented there! Living in tropical Queensland, Australia – I can’t imagine how cold it must be there for those ice sculptures to remain ice!

    Like

    • Natalie March 18, 2021 / 9:00 am

      Min, I’m glad you liked the ice sculptures. This year, the IceFest organizers postponed the event from February to mid-March. February is usually cold here so the sculptures are rock solid and last longer. Mid-March is milder with daytime high temperatures above freezing point. Some of the ice sculptures have melted or fallen apart by the last day of the IceFest event.

      Like

  13. dprastka March 17, 2021 / 10:13 pm

    These are so BEAUTIFUL!! They all made me SMILE! I bet they were even better to see in person! ❤️😀

    Like

    • Natalie March 18, 2021 / 9:02 am

      Diana, It was fantastic to see the ice sculptures in person. I’m glad they made you smile!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Natalie March 18, 2021 / 9:03 am

      Donna, I’m glad the IceFest event was on this year and I have these photos to share with you.

      Like

    • Natalie March 20, 2021 / 5:27 pm

      The IceFest21 theme was great since we have something to look forward to.

      Like

  14. Wandering Dawgs March 21, 2021 / 6:35 am

    Natalie, these ice sculptures are fantastic! They couldn’t have picked a better theme for the IceFest21! How fun to take a trip around the world without leaving town!

    Like

    • Natalie March 21, 2021 / 8:18 am

      Beth, It was fun to see the ice sculptures and yes, the theme was an excellent choice for 2021.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Tina Schell March 21, 2021 / 4:09 pm

    LOL for the “meltdown” Natalie but these are fantastic! My favorite was the clever beach scene which included the red bikini, that was great! Actually they all were – so glad you brought them to us.

    Like

    • Natalie March 21, 2021 / 5:54 pm

      Thank you, Tina, for your visit and comment. It was fun to see the ice sculptures at IceFest21. I bet the one with the red bikini has made many people smile.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Forestwood March 21, 2021 / 9:46 pm

    Such skill. I can’t imagine working on something while it is slowly melting. Fun to see the Sydney Opera house featuring here. I do like the Venetian man with the Gondola the best though! Thanks for sharing.

    Like

    • Natalie March 22, 2021 / 9:42 am

      The Venetian man in his gondola was a beautiful ice sculpture. The IceFest is normally in February when it’s very cold here so no ice melting at all. This year the organizers postponed the event to March. That weekend the weather was milder and the ice melt over the weekend. Thank you, Amanda, for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Forestwood March 22, 2021 / 4:56 pm

        So the ice sculptures last only a few days before they melt?

        Like

        • Natalie March 22, 2021 / 5:16 pm

          This year due to the mild weather, on the 3rd and last day of the event, some of the sculptures fell apart or not in their best shape. Previous years, when the event was in February, the sculptures stayed rock solid and would last longer than the 3-day event.

          Liked by 1 person

  17. Leya March 22, 2021 / 11:53 am

    Super choice, Natalie! And I so loved the bikini and the beach – clever!

    Like

    • Natalie March 22, 2021 / 2:22 pm

      Thank you, Leya, for your visit and comment. Gotta have beach fun when we’re in the Caribbean 🙂

      Like

  18. OnceUponaTimeHappilyEverAfter.com March 23, 2021 / 9:54 am

    I have never seen an intricate ice sculpture in person. Maybe something casually carved for a convention or dinner but nothing like these pieces. Would enjoy watching them being created. Truly an art form.

    Like

    • Natalie March 23, 2021 / 10:10 am

      The IceFest has been amazing year after year. It’s an event that I look forward to every winter here. The ice carvers work from an image on paper or their mobile and carve the ice blocks into beautiful art forms.

      Like

  19. pattimoed March 23, 2021 / 11:37 am

    What a great idea for highlighting the IceFest for your post! I enjoyed this Natalie. I haven’t been back to Toronto in many years, but I’d love to go back.

    Like

    • Natalie March 23, 2021 / 1:04 pm

      Thank you, Patti, for your visit and comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my post. I hope you re-visit Toronto when it’s safe to travel again. The city has changed a lot over the years.

      Like

    • Natalie March 23, 2021 / 1:04 pm

      Thank you, John, for your visit and comment. I greatly appreciate it.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Marsha March 31, 2021 / 12:42 am

    The ice sculptures are amazing. The police car might have been my favorite, but they were all outstanding. It must be really cold there! 🙂

    Like

    • Natalie March 31, 2021 / 8:02 am

      I’m glad you liked these ice sculptures, Marsha. When the Icefest event was on March 12-14, 2021 it wasn’t that cold for us (above freezing point). By the third day of the event, some ice sculptures melted or fallen apart. Before COVID-19 pandemic, the IceFest was on in February when it’s usually the coldest month here and the ice sculptures stayed rock solid throughout the event and longer.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Marsha March 31, 2021 / 12:51 pm

        Hopefully they can go back to normal next year. How sad that they fell apart. I know photographers come from around the world to see and photograph them. What amazing talent people have. 🙂

        Like

  21. Natasha April 1, 2021 / 8:37 am

    These are genius, Natalie.

    Thanks for sharing these precious gems with me on #WordlessWednesday and yes, a very welcome aboard #WW ❤

    Look forward to witnessing more marvel unfold from your side in the coming weeks. 🙂 No pressure though. ❤

    Have a fabulous, restful week ahead.

    Like

    • Natalie April 1, 2021 / 8:45 am

      Thank you, Natasha, for your visit and comment, and for hosting WW. I’m glad you liked these ice sculptures. I hope to join WW again soon 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend ahead!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Dr Sock April 7, 2021 / 1:00 pm

    Beautiful! Our equivalent here is the Parksville sand sculpture competition. Last summer it was cancelled and I guess we’ll have to wait and see if they’ll be able to hold it this summer.

    Jude

    Like

    • Natalie April 7, 2021 / 4:55 pm

      I hope Parksville sand sculpture competition returns this summer. The IceFest21 in Toronto was delayed from February to March. I was glad to see it took place. It was a mood booster to see something beautiful outdoors and an annual event continued despite the lockdown.

      Like

  23. ponzoblogs May 24, 2021 / 5:59 pm

    Sadly because Covid I can’t Travel anymore for my blog that I just started. Feels really sad that I have to wait before planning a new travel journey 😦

    Like

    • Natalie May 24, 2021 / 10:00 pm

      Thank you for your visit and comment. I think you can start researching and planning while waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted. Good luck with your blog.

      Like

  24. Len Kagami July 17, 2021 / 11:08 pm

    So pretty! But the one with the pink bikini is the most eye-catching 😀

    Like

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