Each year, downtown Rochester holds its annual Fire and Ice festival, where artists display their skills in the form of ice-sculptures. The event was held from Jan. 22-24, including fun events for all ages. This year’s theme was “literary characters,” which was sure to conjure up some creative works of art.

1. Sculptures were displayed outside many of the shops downtown, creating a whimsical display that matched this year’s theme: literary characters. Some of the works of art included classic characters like Darth Vader, Peter Pan, The Cat in the Hat and many more. These sculptures were sure to impress the viewers.

2. Some artists even showed the crowds their skills live as people passed from block to block. Although it is unclear what the sculpture is here, these artists were hard at work, creating one beautiful piece of ice. The sculptures downtown stayed pretty solid for the most part, but these temporary masterpieces are only up for a limited time!

3. The open fires in between buildings provided a nice warming-place for those frigid hands and feet. There were even s’more packages available for purchase for those who wanted a warm treat, or just a break from the frigid cold.

4. Snow tubing proved to be a favorite, especially for the kids. The snow was a little run-down by Sunday, but it was still a huge hit. Whether people were racing or just having fun, there were plenty of people having a great time with this attraction.

5. People attending the festival may have seen a little white tent by Rochester Mills, and heard barking coming from inside . . . it was the pet adoptions! There were a few dogs still available on Sunday afternoon, and these pups were looking for a home. Even if those attending weren’t looking for a new pet, these animals were adorable nonetheless.