One the world’s preeminent ice carving competitions returns Friday to Fairbanks. Ice Alaska’s World Ice Art Championships opens at noon on Feb. 14 at the Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds.

The World Ice Art Championships are set to begin on Friday, and workers and volunteers are busy preparing for opening day.

Every year, a band of artists transforms one of its frozen 10,000 lakes into an art gallery, Maggie Vespa introduces us to ...