Tyson Whistler carves a dragon in an ice block during the live demonstration at the Marietta Ice Festival in January 2024. This year’s festival is Saturday, where volunteers hope to have the sculptures up by noon. (File photo)

The ninth annual Glenwood Community Ice Festival hosted by Marietta Main Street will be held Saturday in downtown Marietta where the sidewalks will have an icy sparkle.

The festival attracts thousands of visitors to see 19 ice sculptures on display throughout the historic commercial district.

Each sculpture is the work of Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works. Whistler, who begins the process long before the sculptures are revealed, said he’s excited about this year’s designs.

“This is the ninth year of putting ice sculptures on the streets of historic downtown Marietta,” he said. “This year, there will be new designs and a nice combination of 3D style, logo style and photo op cutout style sculptures.”

Volunteers from Main Street will work with Whistler to set the sculptures in place by noon Saturday. A live sculpture carving by Whistler will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Armory on Front Street.

Onlookers admire an ice sculpture at the January 2024 Ice Festival in Marietta. The festival, sponsored by The Glenwood Community and hosted by Marietta Main Street, is Saturday and features the ice work by Tyson Whistler at various businesses in downtown Marietta. (File photo)

Each sculpture begins as a 300-pound ice block Whistler began freezing in October. Whistler uses templates, freehand carving and special tools to create a piece of art either of a single block or multiple pieces joined together.

Sponsoring the festival is a pleasure, Linda Dailey, senior executive director of The Glenwood Community, said.

“We are thrilled to once again sponsor the Marietta Ice Festival, an event that brings so much joy and creativity to our community. Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works, who provides the stunning ice displays, is a valued employee of The Glenwood Community,” she said. “Supporting Tyson and our community is something we are truly passionate about, and we look forward to being part of this wonderful tradition each year.”

Downtown businesses and nonprofits are sponsoring the sculptures and the owners work with Whistler to come up with designs.

Businesses sponsoring the sculptures are on Front Street, Putnam Street, Second Street and Tiber Way. A map can be found on the Marietta Main Street Facebook page and printed maps will be available at the Convention and Visitors Bureau table on the Armory lawn.

The sculpture sponsored by the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau at the January 2024 Ice Festival. The festival returns on Saturday in Marietta. (File photo)

Wit & Whimzy and Clutch Collective on Front Street are partnering to sponsor a sculpture.

“The Marietta Ice Festival is one of my favorite local events,” said Sarah Arnold, owner of Clutch Collective. “Tyson is an incredible local artist and we are so fortunate that he sets aside time each year to create original artwork for this event. Photos do not do his work justice. The sculptures are best enjoyed in person and made all the more special by the fact that they are temporary installations.”

On Putnam Street, Peoples Bank Theatre is again hosting a Whistler creation.

“We here at Peoples Bank Theatre have always felt it is very important to be a part of the Ice Festival because winter can feel so drab and Tyson Whistler’s work brings joy and smiles to people,” Miranda Duty, general manager of the theater, said. “Even when the sun doesn’t shine directly on Marietta, the community experiences warmth and brightness with such actions that bring us all together.”

New this year is an after-party concert hosted by Marietta Main Street at the Adelphia on Second Street. The fundraiser, a Beatles tribute, will feature local bands and singers performing songs by The Beatles.

The doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. with seating first-come, first-served. Presale tickets are $12 and tickets on the day of the show are $15, limited to ages 18 and older.

Participating performers include Jake Dunn & The Blackbirds, Tulips, Joshua Lee & The Nice Dream, Hominid, Evie Schaffer, OYO and Soph Stevens.

For more information, go to mariettamainstreet.org or the Marietta Main Street Facebook page.

Marietta Main Street also sponsors First Fridays, Build Up Marietta building and business improvement grant program, downtown beautification, public art, Harmar Village, small business support and Hometown Holidays, among others.