Chilly morning brings ideal temperatures to Carved in Ice
Although the temperature never dropped below freezing during day one of Carved in Ice, overnight temperatures led to a good environment for day two of the fest on Saturday, Feb. 21.
On day two of the 10th annual Butler AM Rotary Club event brought hundreds of people to Diamond Park, to not only see dozens of ice sculptures carved by Glacial Ice Works, but to watch ice blocks go from huge chunks to a finished sculpture.
Jared McAlister, the owner and operator of Glacial Ice Works, carved a block of ice into the Abominable Snowman, and said that intricate designs like the one he was about to attempt just require patience and a steady hand.
“It’s what we do,” he said before revving up his saw.
The Butler AM Rotary Club added even more activity to the event this year, introducing a story time hosted by Penn Christian Academy, and a drawing in which painted snowflakes would be raffled off.
But the real draw of the event was the smorgasbord of ice sculptures stationed around Diamond Park. Companies and organizations paid for sculptures ahead of time, which were carved and brought to the event by Glacial Ice Works, where they will remain until they melt. In addition to the designs like rubber ducks, the Butler County Courthouse and the Liberty Bell, the ice slide was back at the fest, as well as the ice throne, both of which could be used by people in the park.
Dena Fitzpatrick, the chairwoman of Carved in Ice for the Rotary club, said that even though the event is in its 10th year, there were still people experiencing it for the first time this weekend. There are also people who don’t miss the event, which is what helps make the event grow each year.
“There’s a lot of people last night who said they had never experienced it before,” Fitzpatrick said. “We try to involve all our community partners.”
One of the first-timers was Levi Shwallon, of Saxonburg. The young man came to the event as an outing planned by the William C. Graham Order of Squires, and said he enjoyed one particular sculpture more than the others.
“I like the Abominable snowman,” Levi said.
Austin Kaufman also came to the event with the Squires, although he said he has been to it many times before.
“I like the doughnut one,” Austin said. “Because, doughnut.”
On the warmer side of the event was the chili cook-off, which has been a mainstay of Carved in Ice.
Brenda Cole, the chairwoman for the chili cook-off, said nine restaurants provided chili for the contest, and people could pay $5 to sample them all and vote on their favorite one.
The contest had a voters’ choice award as well as an award for judges’ choice — a new element of this year’s chili cook-off. Cole said the competition is friendly between the restaurants, but each one attempts to outdo the others.
“Each of the vendors gets really involved and it’s really fun,” she said.
In addition to Carved in Ice being a fun event to help get rid of the winter blues, it is also a fundraiser for the Rotary club and its giving fund. According to Fitzpatrick, the fundraising goal for this year’s event was $20,000, all of which is put toward causes supported by the club.
“We try to always give back; the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program, the Butler library,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s all through sponsorships and vendor fees.”
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Letty Kerr rides the ice slide during the second day of Carved In Ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Attendees of the second day of Carved In Ice check out ice sculptures in Diamond Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A carver with Glacial Ice Works carves an ice sculpture during the second day of Carved In Ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Attendees of the second day of Carved In Ice check out ice sculptures in Diamond Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Attendees of the second day of Carved In Ice check out ice sculptures in Diamond Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Attendees of the second day of Carved In Ice check out ice sculptures in Diamond Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Theo Griffon records one of the ice sculptures in Diamond Plaza during the second day of Carved In Ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Ice sculptures fill the City of Butler's Diamond Plaza during the second day of Carved In Ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Ice sculptures fill the City of Butler's Diamond Plaza during the second day of Carved In Ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Scott Turnstall, left, with 11th Frame Bar and Grille serves chili during the chilli cook off on the second day of Carved In Ice Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Alysha Zurzolo with the Monroe Hotel serves chili during the chili cook-off on the second day of Carved In Ice Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
