Icetival taking shape at The Forks ahead of kick-off in 10 days

WINNIPEG — In 10 days Winnipeggers will finally get their chance to walk through the Great Ice Show at The Forks.

More than 40 sculptors have been working in the frigid temperatures to get ready ahead of the Jan 25 opening night.

A 12-metre high Manitoba Legislature Building and 6-metre high dinosaurs made of ice will be some of the central attractions at the Great Ice Show coming to the Forks’ National Historic Site in 2016.

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“We have several 10-foot tall sculptures left,” said Andy Zhao, one of the event’s planners and general manager of the Hilton Hotel by the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. “Also the tallest building there… we still have about 10 feet left and the carving work to do, which is the golden boy.”

READ MORE: Icetival sculptures start to come to life

Zhao said the frigid temperatures have been welcomed by his team as they were having trouble a few weeks ago when Winnipeg was failing to live up to its nickname, Winterpeg.

“The warm weather would keep our ice blocks very small it would be very thin,” Zhao said. “Now because we have a couple weeks consistent cold weather…. now our ice blocks come very big and are saving our time (sic).”

The team has been able to build the majority of its ice bar in about a weeks time and will have the menu set by next week.

WATCH: Crews getting ready for Icetival

“The ice bar will have lots of surprises on the menu there,” he said. “The food is being done by WOW Hospitality.”

The ice bar will fit about 40 people maximum and is about 1,000 square feet in size.

“Beside the ice bar we are going to have a tent which is 40 x 40 ft,” he said.

The group is also is talks with The Forks to include a fireworks show each Friday and Saturday night.

The event will run from Jan. 25 to Feb. 28.

Tickets can be purchased online.