Icy cold fun
Knickerbocker Ice Festival at Rockland Lake State Park is this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 29 and 30, beginning at 11 a.m. each day Rockland Lake The fifth annual Knickerbocker Ice Festival, celebrating Rockland Lake’s history as the 19th century world’s ice-harvesting epicenter, will take place Jan. 29 and 30 at Rockland Lake State Park in Rockland County. Organizers said this event, designed as a tribute to local history and art, has become the largest special event in Rockland County. Festival times on Saturday are 11 a.m. to dark; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Activities include: The creation of eight block Knickerbocker Ice Sculptures by internationally recognized sculptors, including a People’s Choice vote by midday Saturday Touring the ruins of Knickerbocker Ice House #3 and see festival co-founder Robert Patalano’s 40 block sculpture “Blessing Our Sacred Waters,” his largest yet. Crawl inside an authentic igloo and take part in the KIDZ Ice Park Music and dancing Warming stations, by the bonfire, and a Knick’s Canteen food court See artists and their work on sale at the “Artists in the Parks” exhibit Visit the ruins of the 19 Century Knickerbocker Ice Company and learn how the “pros” harvested ice See the history of Rockland Lake pictorially preserved in blocks of ice in the Knickerbocker Ice Gallery See the “New York” art of famous Nyack-born painter Edward Hopper frozen in ice in a tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Edward Hopper House Art Center Visit www.knickerbockericefestival.com for more information.
The Competing Sculptors
Earl Covington was the fan favorite at the 2010 Knickerbocker Ice Festival. An Emmy-award winning ice carver who, in 1997, earned second place at the World Ice Art Championships.
Bill Covitz was the Grand Champion at the 2004 National Ice Carving Association’s Nationals, placing first on both days of the two-day competition. In 2006, he placed second at the World Ice Art Championships. In 2009, he placed second in the National Ice Carving Nationals.
Gary Costa has worked with ice since 1979. He has been in many area competitions, and he specializes in custom work, logos and symbols.
John Hedbavny is a 1999 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.. He has been ice carving full-time for about a decade.