Carving out their place at the Carnival

With the opening of the 61st annual Vernon Winter Carnival just over a week away, Ryan Cook and his Vancouver crew of ice carvers began stacking 165 blocks of ice, each weighing 300 pounds, along a roadway in Polson Park being transformed into a drive-thru ice park for the wild west-themed carnival.

“The drive-thru ice park will feature ice sculptures and wild west displays lining the roadway through Polson Park. Cars will drive through and enjoy not only the sights, but an audio story to go along with the visuals, — kind of like a theme park ride,” says Vicki Proulx, Vernon Winter Carnival’s executive director.

Those wishing to participate in the event must have a vehicle as per COVID19 health orders. The park will be open to drive through four times daily: 10:30noon, 1-2:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. from Feb 5-14. The 6-7:30 p.m. drivethru will feature the ice and displays lit up, adding to the beauty of the park.

Tickets are $10 per vehicle and can be purchased at vernonwintercarnival.com or in store at the Vernon Winter Carnival office.

Cook is owner of Saw Valley Carvings. A carver for only eight years, he has been featured in the HGTV and Netflix USA series Carver Kings and spends all year travelling and carving all over Canada and the world doing wood, ice, clay, fruit and vegetable carvings.

Cook and his crew of three will create eight large ice carvings with a western theme, including Woody from Toy Story and a huge train.

WAYNE EMDE/Special to The Daily Courier Carver Ryan Cook trims the end of one of nine 300-pound blocks of ice that will be transformed into a carving of Woody and his horse from the Toy Story movies.