Main Street in St. Charles held its 22nd annual Fete de Glace Ice Festival on Jan. 27. Fete de Glace is a free, outdoor ice carving festival. It is held each year on the last Saturday of January from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During this festival, families are able to watch sculptures transform blocks of ice into beautiful pieces of art

“My favorite part about the festival is all the families it brings,” Sharlotte Worthington, a member of the festival committee, said. “It’s like a day for the whole community to come down to Main street to shop and spend time with family.”

During the festival, a large variety of sculptures are carved such as a dragon, the moon and even an under the sea scene. Each carver uses a tool of their choice to create their masterpieces.

“My favorite piece I’ve carved was of two eagles fighting over a fish,” ice artist Joe Modica said. “It ended up winning 1st place in a carvers class competition in 2012.”

As part of the competition, sculptures are able to join two different categories. The team carvers category which receives five blocks of ice or the single carvers category which receives one.

“It’s a very unique skill and only a few people do ice carvings, so it’s something everyone can appreciate,” Worthington said.

The first place winner for the team category was Russell/Gohe for their astounding sculpture “Trouble in Paradise” and the beautiful “Dragon” by Naomi Hamamura for the single category.