Joe DiMartino of DiMartino Ice Sculptures puts the finishing touches on an ice dragon, one of the larger creations attracting visitors Friday evening at this year's Carved in Ice Festival at Diamond Park. Below, Laura McIntyre of NexTier Bank smiles through an ice flower at the festival's first of two days Friday.

Ice sculptures glinted, dressed in colored lights, as people passed by the creations in Diamond Park on Friday evening.

“I am thrilled with the turnout tonight,” said organizer Dena Martinez, vice president of NexTier Bank.

“I am so excited about the lights on the ice. The darker it gets the better they look,” she said.

Friday night's “Lights on the Ice” kicked off the city's two-day Carved in Ice Festival.

Kendra McCardle, 12, of Butler passed by the hot beverage tent, where people were selling warmth in the form of coffee and cocoa.She said her favorite sculpture was the castle.“I think it's neat, and the artists are talented,” Kendra said.Orion Lambermont, 9, and his brother, Thomas, 6, both of Butler, stopped to take a picture through a carved hole in one of the sculptures.“My favorite sculpture was the dollar sign,” Orion said.Thomas pointed to the dog with scarf carving as his favorite.

Orion said he liked the creativity of the artists.“It's really intriguing that they made all these sculptures,” he said.People also had the opportunity to enjoy live music, which was played in the Butler County Symphony Association's lobby nearby and piped out to the park.Nate Grossman, a freshman in the Butler Golden Tornado Big Band, carried around his instrument in its case as he wandered around the park after their show. “It was different from what we're used to,” he said about playing inside for a crowd outside. “It was a new experience for all of us.”Nate said he was pleased to hear that everyone enjoyed the band's show, and he felt good about the way the group played.“People were peeking in the window to see who was playing,” he said. “It was a good performance from all of us.”

The Carved in Ice Festival continues Saturday with a family-fun day, featuring children's activities.All the funds benefit the Butler AM Rotary charities.Scott Taggert, who owns property in Butler with his wife, Kristine, said he was excited to see how the dragon turned out.The dragon was one of the bigger sculptures that artists were actively working on as people watched Friday.“It's nice to bring everyone to the Diamond,” he said.Kristine Taggert said she liked the sculpture of a mug of beer with snow used to represent the foam.“It's nice to have an event during the winter time,” she said.Scott Taggert said an event that helps the community like this one is what Butler is all about. “It keeps on getting better and better,” he said.

Olivia Hartley, 3, of Renfrew slides to her dad, Tom, at the Carved in Ice Festival at Diamond Park on Friday evening.

Laura McIntyre, NexTier Bank poses behind an ice sculpture at the 2020 Butler Ice Festival at Diamond Park in Butler on February 21, 2020.

All the lighted ice sculptures glow around Diamond Park on Friday, the first day of this year's two-day Carved in Ice Festival.