Tyson Whistler begins carving a new sculpture at the 2025 Glenwood Community Ice Festival on the Armory lawn. (File photo)

Downtown Marietta sidewalks will glisten with frozen art with the return of the Glenwood Community Marietta Ice Festival on Saturday.

Hosted by Marietta Main Street and sponsored by the Glenwood Community, the annual event is expected to draw thousands of visitors to admire 20 ice sculptures on display throughout the historic commercial district.

All the sculptures are the work of Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works, and each is sponsored by a downtown business or nonprofit organization. The businesses work with Whistler to decide on the designs, and he begins the process long before the sculptures are revealed.

Each sculpture begins as a 300 pound block of ice, and Whistler began freezing his blocks in October. Using a combination of templates, freehand carving, and a variety of special tools, he creates his artistic pieces as either a single carved block or multiple pieces that will be joined together.

One of the highlights of the Ice Festival is the live carving that Whistler will do on the Armory lawn, allowing the public to watch his process as one of his creative ideas becomes a finished sculpture. The live ice carving at the Armory will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Whistler said he really enjoys the live aspect of the Festival.

“What originally started as a First Friday Fire and Ice night in 2017 is going into its 10th year now known as the Marietta Ice Festival. This winter has me reflecting on the love our community shows for each other year in and year out. The 21 sculptures going out Saturday will be the largest amount of sculptures displayed at one time. The support this event gets is amazing and I am looking forward to turning our Marietta into a fun and unique afternoon-evening full of sculptures for all to see while popping in and out of downtown shops and restaurants,” he said.

Main Street volunteers will spend the morning working with Whistler to set the sculptures in place by noon. Some of the sculptures will be located on the Armory lawn, including those sponsored by Century 21, SIPS Coffee Truck, Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marietta College, Huntington Bank and Campus Martius Museum.

Additional businesses sponsoring sculptures are located 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 CVB table on the Armory lawn.

Those locations include Advantage Real Estate, American Flags and Poles, Clutch Collective with Wit and Whimzy, Derailed Distillery, Edward Jones, First City Records, JustaJar Design Press, J and M Books and Play, Lafayette Hotel, Marietta Community Foundation, Peoples Bank, Peoples Bank Theatre, The Galley and The Original Pizza Place. Each piece of icy art will be enhanced with lights.

Jason McCrady, owner of J and M Books and Play Marietta, explained why he is looking forward to his first downtown Ice Festival.

“At this time of year it might be hard to find something fun to do. We are excited for the ice festival and another opportunity for people to get out and see all of the sculptures and the small businesses that sponsor them.”

On Front Street, Wit and Whimzy and Clutch Collective are partnering to sponsor a sculpture “Now in its tenth year, the Marietta Ice Festival has become a favorite winter event,” said Sarah Arnold, owner of Clutch Collective. “We love seeing Tyson’s unique artwork displayed throughout downtown for all to enjoy, it’s such a unique exhibit of public art!”

For the second year, Marietta Main Street is hosting an “after party” concert at The Adelphia on Second Street. The fundraiser is a celebration of 90’s music, featuring local bands and singers performing songs from the era. The doors open at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. Presale tickets are $12, and day of sale tickets will be $15, limited to ages 18 and up. Tickets can be purchased on The Adelphia’s website; seating is first come first served and may be limited. Participating performers include Joshua Lee and The Nice Dream, OYO, Todd Burge, Every Moment Of and The Levi Westfall Band.

In addition to the ice festival, visitors can enjoy shopping and dining at one of the shops, boutiques and restaurants in downtown Marietta. For more information, visit mariettamainstreet.org or the Marietta Main Street Facebook page.