Winter Fun at ICE
including a variety of rakes, chisels,
picks and trowels.
Building ICE
The temperature in the room
hovers around nine degrees, so
carvers wear warm boots, coats,
hats and gloves (You should, too,
although Gaylord provides oversized
parkas). They grapple through
four-hour shifts with a warm-up
break outside, but the Chinese are
rugged. Harbin temperatures average
only two degrees in the winter and
sometimes plummet to -36F. No
wonder these men enjoy Florida’s
balmy weather.
Frosty and Friends
All scenes and characters are
constructed entirely from ice,
even popular interactive slides. No
wooden supports or iron beams are
used. The only scene to be repeated,
since this event began, remains the
magnificent life si e nativity,
created from sparkling crystal-clear
cubes. One artist, chosen by fellow
sculptors, receives the honor of
carving the largest angel.
Visiting Gaylord Palms and ICE is
a winter wonderland for Floridians,
especially children. Kids love riding
down the huge ice slides. This year,
a new tubing hill will be added. The
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