(Photo by Alyssa Richardson)

The city of Warsaw hosted the annual Fire And Ice First Friday. Though temperatures were frigid, sculptors set out to create dazzling works of art sponsored by area businesses.

A total of 30 sculptures were commissioned for this year’s event and were sculpted throughout the day by four sculptors from the Michiana Ice Carvers. Some of the most celebrated pieces during the event included an intricate Cubs monument sculpture sponsored by BMacs as well as a large hand pouring a drink into a mug, which was sponsored by Mad Anthony’s.

This year a total of 14,300 pounds of ice was carved for the event.  Again this year, each completed sculpture was fitted with colored pod lights to set them off during the evening hours.

This sculpture, a hand pouring a drink into a mug was featured by Mad Anthony’s and was a crowd favorite throughout the evening.
(Photo by Alyssa Richardson

This year’s centerpiece was a replica of of the Miller Foundation Helicopter sponsored by Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller. A special thank you has been extended to the Miller family for sponsoring February’s First Friday. The sculpture, which took five blocks of ice to create, can be seen on the corner of Center and Buffalo streets in front of the court house.

Other evening events included the annual 4-H Leader’s chili supper fundraiser and a snowman making contest. Free hot cocoa was offered to guests throughout the evening by various organizations throughout the downtown.