PERRYSBURG – There’s no room for
the amateurs at the next Winterfest.The event’s organizers have learned that Perrysburg’s festival will host
the national championship event of the National Ice Carvers Association, so feel free to expect more out of
the ice carvings to be featured there in February.The yearly event centered around filling the downtown area
with ice carvings and their artists will be a little different in 2014. Usually, the field is split between
amateurs and NICA professionals. This year, however, the pros are expected to make up the full
show."They are the best of the best. They will only be here because they scored enough (at other
events) through the year," said Rick Thielen, executive director of Downtown Perrysburg Inc., which
organizes Winterfest.Slated Feb. 21-23, Winterfest is expected to bring in more people and possibly some
national media attention because of the signature NICA event, Thiesen said.They say you never get anywhere
without at least a little luck, and that’s true in this case, too. Thielen said another unidentified city
was in line to host the championship event until those plans fell through."We kind of stepped into this
through the back door, but it’s going to be great for our event."We’re obviously pretty pumped about
this whole national championship thing."Chad Hartson, a carver with Ice Creations, of Napoleon, took
the lead on lobbying to bring the championship event to Perrysburg, Thielen said.

A group of 28 professionals will compete for the title by carving
one ice block in two hours on the first day, and another two blocks in four hours on Saturday. Sculptures
will be available for viewing all weekend beginning at 5 p.m. Feb. 21, with competition winners being
announced at 8 p.m. during a ticketed wine tasting event on Feb. 22. A people’s choice award will be voted
upon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 23, the final day of Winterfest.Community members won’t have to serve
only as spectators this time, as a community ice wall to be built near the Commodore Perry monument at
Louisiana Avenue and Front Street will allow festival-goers to purchase their own personalized ice blocks
for $20. Custom ice creations will also be made for around 60 sponsors featuring brand art or special
requests that will line Louisiana Avenue.About $6,000 is expected to be up for grabs when the professional
carvers take to the streets. To freeze out the competition and win, they’ll have to blend artistic value and
craftsmanship, equal parts of the evaluations, said Thielen, who expects the event to be bigger than
ever.Over the years, Thielen said he’s seen detailed creations that vary wildly. Last year’s people’s choice
winner depicted an eagle snatching a trout from a stream, and he recalled other nature themes including a
praying mantis and trees with owls inside."They’re very artistic, very creative," Thielen said.
"For them, the sky’s the limit.The Winterfest schedule is filled out by family and social events.For
more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.perrysburgwinterfest.com.