FAQ
- How and why did the event begin?
- How did the art of ice carving start?
- How did the art of ice carving spread?
- Who carves the ice statues at the Plymouth Ice Sculpture Spectacular?
- Who presents the event?
- Who funds the event?
- How much does it cost to present the event?
- Who benefits from the event?
- Who comes to the event?
- Special Highlights?
- How can I help
How and why did the event begin?
Scott Lorenz, the son of the owner of the Plymouth Mayflower Hotel, came up with the idea after visiting a similar event in Japan. The event was established to fill a void in the post holiday retail slow down. Hotel, restaurant, and retail business takes a noise dive immediately after the very hectic holiday season. The concept was to create an event that was so unique that it would draw large numbers of people to Plymouth (750,000 in 1999) in the hope that they would also shop and eat. Needless to say, with an average annual attendance of over 500,000, and a total attendance of over 9,500,000 people, the event has exceeded even the most wildest expectations of the creators.
How did the art of ice carving start?
As the story goes, once upon a time a czarina in Russia was enamored with a local man who was in love with a woman from his village. As was the custom of the day the man went to the czarina to get her permission to wed the woman he loved. The czarina was not pleased by the request, and decided to show her displeasure by agreeing to let the couple wed only if they would spend their wedding night in a castle made of ice. She was sure this would cool their passion for each other, and/or ruin their wedding night. Much to her surprise love won out and the couple agreed to her condition. The czarina had her army cut blocks of ice from Lake Bicall, and build a house of ice complete with furnishings including tables, chairs and a bed for the newlyweds. The couple was married, spent their wedding night in the house of ice, and lived happily ever after. However, word spread about the strange house of ice, and eventually people from all over Russia and Europe visited the site to gaze at the first ice castle. It was so popular that it was recreated as a tourist attraction for many years to come.
How did the art of ice carving spread?
Hearing about the unusual use of ice from countrymen who had traveled to Russia to see the famous ice castle, a French chef developed the idea of carving serving bowls of ice to keep perishable foods from spoiling and to decorate the table of the king. This idea may have been a necessity, because at the time, spoiled food or illness from a dinner could cost the chef his head in a guillotine. The French carried the art with them to the Orient, and today the Japanese are the finest and most prolific carvers in the world.
Who carves the ice statues at the Plymouth Ice Sculpture Spectacular?
Professional ice carvers, chefs, culinary instructors, and culinary art students from the area and across the country, as well as a team from Japan, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Switzerland carve the displays. The professional chef carvers, amateur carvers and student carvers all compete in the team and individual carving competitions. Thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships are awarded annually at the Plymouth Ice Spectacular. The event is sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation, and ranks equally with their annual national championship competition.
Who presents the event?
The Plymouth Ice Spectacular is owned and operated by the Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular Incorporated, a non - profit (501 (c) 3) corporation, administered by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Who funds the event?
The event is funded by donations; corporate sponsorships and various fund raisers. All the monies collected go to the presentation of the event.
How much does it cost to present the event?
In excess of $125,000.00 in hard dollars, and services are needed each year to maintain the high caliber of the event.
Who benefits from the event?
The entire business community of Plymouth benefits from the presentation of the Ice Spectacular. This event has become the single busiest retail and restaurant week of the year. Many businesses in the community rely heavily on the business it generates to make ends meet in the two to three slow months that follow the holiday season. The event also creates numerous jobs for young people in the community, and most importantly garners over $1,000,000.00 annually in local, regional, national, and international publicity for the City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township area.
Most importantly the culinary art students at the metropolitan area community colleges and trade high schools who need to acquire ice-carving skills to enhance their education greatly benefit from the Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular. They have an opportunity to carve in one of the most prestigious events in the country, and the money that is donated to their club is used to purchase blocks of ice for them to practice on and the expensive tools necessary to do the job correctly. Lastly, the students who compete in the competitions benefit from the experience and the instruction that is given to them by the educators and professional carvers before, during, and after each event.
Who comes to the event?
Parents, grandparents, teenagers and children of all ages. The Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular is world renown as one of the finest and most entertaining free family winter events available.
Special Highlights?
The most visited exhibit at the Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular is the –Fantasyland” for children. Each year the area is themed with special attention to entertaining, and educating the children who will visit the Fantasyland.
Each evening the larger major sculptures are bathed in colored lighting, and the festival takes on a whole different, and sometime romantic ambience. There will be numerous competitions, exhibitions, and demonstrations, throughout the weekend featuring professional, amateur, and student participants.
How can I help?
If you are interested in assisting in a –Spectacular” way it would be through a donation. The Ice Spectacular would also benefit greatly if you would help spread the word throughout the community that this event is self perpetuating and that funds are needed to keep it going. This event is not a cash drain on the governmental infrastructure; rather it is a cash positive generator that brings jobs and money into the community.