If anyone had doubts about moving the Ice Trail from December, they were well and truly quashed today.
The event turned an ordinary February Saturday into a festival. Thousands of people came in to York city centre eager to see the 50 amazing sculptures dotted around the city.
There was plenty to do, too, from chipping out chocolate bars from their frozen prison to helping to carve the Parliament Street centrepiece.
The Hero Camp offered more fun at Middletons Hotel.
The sculptures themselves – from a roaring T Rex to a stunning Millennium Falcon – were better than ever, thanks to the creative geniuses at Glacial Arts.
Crowds watched the artists live carve a Phoenix and then set it alight. And there was even lion dancing, to celebrate Chinese New Year.
And Lion Dancing too? Happy New Year ?? although as a Dragon, I look down on Pigs #YorkIceTrail19 #York pic.twitter.com/XkmrCooO4M
— Andrew McQuinn (@anDmcLive) February 2, 2019
All in all, the York Ice Trail – organised by Visit York and sponsored by the York BID – was a brrrilliant success.
If you didn’t get to see them all, don’t worry. Here’s all 50 – taken by you.
Ice Gallery
1. Griffin – Blake Street
Make It York
2. Skipper – St Leonard’s Place
York Theatre Royal
3. JackJack – Gillygate
The York BID
4. Cookie Monster – St Maurice’s Road
Doubletree Hilton York
Meet our very own #DoubleTree Cookie Monster! We love him ❤️?#York #YorkIceTrail19 pic.twitter.com/KuXbQ2Gj9A
— DoubleTree by Hilton York (@DoubleTreeYork) February 2, 2019
5. Ice Train – High Petergate
National Railway Museum
6. The Heart Of Yorkshire – Minster Piazza`
York Minster
7. Roary The Lion – Goodramgate
The York BID
8. Angel – Swinegate
Lucia Bar
9. Squirt Surfing The Wave – Little Stonegate
Turtle Bay
10. Jordan’s Pegasus
Kennedys
11. Wheelbarrow of Flowers – Stonegate
The Botanist
12. #Bettys100 – St Helen’s Square
Bettys
It's been rather a chilly week – but that does mean our York Ice Trail sculpture should last a little longer! You can find it outside our York branch today until 6pm, along with 50 other sculptures across the city. #YorkIceTrail19 #bettys100 pic.twitter.com/aO2daKzcpi
— Bettys (@Bettys) February 2, 2019
13. Your Carriage Awaits – Davygate
First Group
#YorkIceTrail19 and our @FirstYork carriage clearly a roaring success. #York pic.twitter.com/wPZvpNqabF
— Marc Bichtemann (@MarcBichtemann) February 2, 2019
14. York Pass Challenge – Parliament Street
Visit York
15. Pillories – Parliament Street
York Dungeon
16. H Is For Hungate – Parliament Street
Hungate York Regeneration
17. Floral Butterfly – Parliament Street
Bloom
18. Shakespeare – Parliament Street
Lunchbox Productions
19. Shuffleboard – Parliament Street
York Ice Trail
20. Carving Wall – Parliament Street
York Ice Trail
21. Chocolate Challenge – Parliament Street
York Ice Trail
22. Wishing You Well – Parliament Street
York Teaching Hospital Charity
23. UFO – Parliament Street
York TalkTalk UFO
24. Niffler – Shambles Market
Shambles Market
25. Sorting Hat – Shambles
Hunters
26. Cheshire Cat – Piccadilly
Spark:York
27. Unicorn – Walmgate
The York BID
Don’t miss the Walmgate unicorn! #YorkIceTrail19 pic.twitter.com/FUU6LfUjWC
— The York BID (@theyorkbid) February 2, 2019
28. Dragon’s Head – Tower Street
York Ice Trail
Every tower needs a dragon. #CliffordsTower #yorkicetrail19 #York @VisitYork pic.twitter.com/10Tqi8Bj6Z
— David Gwillam (@climbdg5) February 2, 2019
29. Mermaid – Castlegate
The York BID
30. A Secret Unmasked – Coppergate Centre
Fenwick
31. Dragon Hatchling – Coppergate Centre
Coppergate Centre
32. Migo – Coppergate Centre
Coppergate Centre
33. DoYouThinkTheySaurus – Coppergate Centre
Eboracum Security
34. Groot – Skeldergate
Middletons Hotel
35. Iron Man – Skeldergate
Middletons Hotel
Just completed #YorkIceTrail19 some brilliant sculptures this year! @york @Yorkshiredays @Things2DoInYork pic.twitter.com/cDqbzckZAO
— Rob Maxfield (@robmaxuk) February 2, 2019
36. Everyman Cinema Challenge – Skeldergate
Middletons Hotel
37. Viking Helmet – Micklegate
The York Bid
38. Magical Chalice – Station Road
Principal Hotel
39. The Grand – Station Rise
The Grand Hotel
Come and visit us if you’re doing the #YorkIceTrail19 today, we have complimentary brownies and hot chocolates to warm you up! @VisitYork #York #OnlyInYork pic.twitter.com/KTQhFcyJDp
— The Cookery School @ The Grand York (@cookeryschoolTG) February 2, 2019
40. Millennium Falcon – Rougier Street
The York BID
Ticked off no.40 #YorkIceTrail19 #MayTheIceBeWithYou @VisitYork @theyorkbid pic.twitter.com/qjpQROqGfF
— Minster FM Breakfast (@BenMinsterFM) February 2, 2019
41 & 42. Pirate Face & Ship’s Wheel – Lendal Bridge
City Cruises York
Why are pirates called pirates? Because they arrrrrrrrrr.
Check out our two sculptures on the @VisitYork #yorkicetrail19, we have an Instagram competition and you could win a 1 hour red boat hire! pic.twitter.com/CGSRyoyhjQ
— citycruisesyork (@citycruisesyork) February 2, 2019
43. The Judge’s Gavel – Lendal
Judges Lodging
44. Seahorse – Spurriergate
Stormfront
45. Azuma Train – Coney Street
LNER
Are you on the hunt for @VisitYork's icy creations at the #YorkIceTrail19 today? Sends us a selfie with the #LNERAzuma sculpture and you could win a #FirstClass return trip.
Don't forget to use the hashtag #LNERAzuma in your post. T&Cs: https://t.co/XihWdz9txR pic.twitter.com/8bI1Ec55JE
— London North Eastern Railway (@LNER) February 2, 2019
46. Zeus – Coney Street
Shepherd Group
47. Dionysus – Coney Street
The Ivy York
Fantastic afternoon following the #YorkIceTrail19. Fantastic way to rejuvenate the high street and enjoy the wonderful sights of #york pic.twitter.com/ir3yTl6HM8
— Tracey Steele (@tracey4222) February 2, 2019
48. Cathay Aircraft – St Helen’s Square
Cathay Pacific
#cathayicetrail #YorkIceTrail19 Sophie a big fan of the ice plane! pic.twitter.com/zsaAOJm0Va
— Graeme Sherlock (@GraemeSherlock) February 2, 2019
49. Year Of The Pig – St Helen’s Square
Manchester Airport
We're at #YorkIceTrail19 today, celebrating #ChineseNewYear with our special @cathaypacificUK ice sculptures ❄️ Don't forget to share your photos with us using #CathayIceTrail to be in with a chance of winning a £1000 @cathaypacificUK holiday voucher! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/nAj5nGiI9Z
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) February 2, 2019
50. Phoenix – St Helen’s Square
Visit York
After two and a half of live carving, the Phoenix is set alight ? ❄️ #YorkIceTrail19 #OnlyInYork pic.twitter.com/8ApTTlsmpT
— Visit Y❄rk (@VisitYork) February 2, 2019