The 15th annual Cripple Creek Ice Festival kicks off this weekend, lining the city’s main street with two dozen ice carvers sculpting frozen masterpieces.

The five teams of sculptors are at work and, with hundreds of ice blocks at the ready, they’ll continue carving through Feb. 25. Visitors can stop by to watch the ice carvers work anytime, but special festivities will be held on the weekends.

“It’s just so beloved by so many people,” said Klaryssa Murray, the city’s destination marketing coordinator.

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“We have a lot of support from people who have been coming to the event for the duration of its existence.”

On Saturdays, carvers will go head to head in three competitions at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Carvers will be randomly selected to participate in the challenges for a $1,000 cash prize. There will also be food and retail vendors throughout the festival on weekends, as well as a fun ice slide for kids.

“Those are a ton of fun; we’re bringing in a bleachers, so more seating for people to just come in and watch,” Murray said about the Saturday competitions.

“It’s a really, really good time. They are on a time limit, so you’re not there for too long waiting for them to finish.”

As for the main sculptures on Bennett Avenue, teams will be able to choose what they want to make. This year’s festival will feature several returning teams, including The Bear Spot, SNICE, Cool Hand Ice and Ice Farm, which won last year, as well as the Ice Castles. The pieces on Bennett Avenue will be competing for a $5,000 grand prize, which visitors can vote on at the festival.

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“They’re all going to be carver’s choice, and the reason we do that is so we can let all of the carvers carve something that’s within their skill set. It allows the sculptures to be maybe a little more intricate,” she said.

“It allows for there to be a sculpture for everybody. Everybody can enjoy something rather than it being a specific theme.”

This will be the second year the festival is returning after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of the festival, Murray said, has everyone in better spirits.

“We’re able to return the festival after being gone for two years, there was so much positivity around it,” she said.

“It’s a really important piece of our culture here in Cripple Creek. I think it will remain that way for a very, very long time.”