Northstar hosting ice sculpture competition

The second annual Carve Tahoe international snow sculpture event returns to Northstar Jan. 28-Feb. 2.

Three-member teams from Canada, Finland/Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, California/Netherlands, Tahoe/Truckee and Wisconsin will participate in the competition, creating sculptures from 20-ton blocks of snow using only hand tools, snow and water.

Snow sculpture events celebrate the science of working with an ever-changing medium to create intricate art with massive scale.

Free to all attendees, Carve Tahoe sculptures will be on display at and around the Village at Northstar. The best nights to view the sculptures are when they are nearing completion, Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

The sculptures will be illuminated with multicolored lights. Judging is Feb. 1.