First sculpture unveiled ahead of York Ice Trail 2022

Last month, it was announced that York Ice Trail 2022 would transport visitors and residents ‘Around the World’ with the theme of this year’s sculptures. With almost one month to go until over 40 spectacular ice sculptures line York’s streets, the first from this year’s trail has been unveiled.

Make It York’s ‘Around the World’ ice sculpture, featuring a hot air balloon and famous landmarks, landed in York’s historic The Shambles this morning. Photographed by Charlotte Graham, this is the first ice sculpture to be revealed from this year’s trail. Visitors will have the chance to see the sculpture for themselves when it lands on Blake Street, near the Visitor Information Centre, on 5th and 6th March.

York Ice Trail is set to be a magical weekend, with four ice sculptures to find at Middletons Hotel, who are transforming their grounds into a wonderland. There’s plenty to keep the family entertained, from giant playing cards and pink flamingos out on the Cottage Lawn to ‘Drink Me’ cocktails, specially curated by York Gin. Guests will also be able to tuck into a decadent Alice in Wonderland themed Afternoon Tea and admire the Thwaites Shire Horses, dressed in all their finery for the special event.

Sculptures not to be missed this year include main sponsors of York Ice Trail, First York’s Park & Ride Bus. Plus, York BID have sponsored seven sculptures this year - one for every continent of the world. City of York Council’s ‘The York Skyline’ will show off the city’s sights in the ice and the Rugby League World Cup Trophy will be carved out of ice to celebrate York hosting eight matches at the tournament in autumn.

There’ll also be live ice carving at St Sampson’s Square with Icebox, who create the ice sculptures. Plus, there’ll be opportunities to have a go at ice carving yourself on the graffiti wall in Parliament Street.

The hugely popular event, which saw 31,000 people participating in 2020’s ‘Fantastical Fiction and Fairy Tales’ trail, was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. This year’s event was initially set to take place in February. The precautionary decision was taken in January to postpone this year’s York Ice Trail to 5th and 6th March due to rising Covid-19 cases and based on guidance from the city’s Safety Advisory Group, Public Health and City of York Council.

This March, families and friends will have the opportunity to travel through York’s streets and find over 40 ice sculptures designed and sponsored by local businesses in York.

York Ice Trail is a Make It York event, with main sponsors First York.

Sarah Loftus, Managing Director at Make It York, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing back the much-loved York Ice Trail event for 2022, and although slightly later than planned, it will be worth the wait! After a couple of years where many of us haven’t been able to travel too far, this year’s theme will bring sculptures inspired from ‘around the world’ to the streets of York. There are over 40 ice sculptures to find this year, which have all been kindly sponsored by local businesses.”

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of the Council, said: “York Ice Trail was, I’m sure, missed by many last year, so it’s excellent to see the much-loved event return once again in March for residents, families and visitors to enjoy safely.

“Our city is well known and loved for its vibrant businesses, so many of whom have joined the festivities this year, with an impressive 40 sculptures set to bring some extra magic to the city. With so many sculptures and ways to get involved, this year’s festival promises to be another unmissable event.”

John Godfrey, Head of Marketing at First York, said: “We’ve been a supporter of the Ice Trail for three years with our own sculpture and know what anticipation and interest the event creates. This builds on our commitment to help people enjoy the leisure and social life York is famous for and look forward to seeing thousands of visitors makes the trip to marvel at the attractions around the city.”

For more information, visit York Ice Trail | Visit York and watch this year’s York Ice Trail promotional video here. #YorkIceTrail

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Foster, Communications Manager at Make It York

Comms@makeityork.com

Notes to Editors

York Ice Trail 2022 is taking place on 5th and 6th March, from 10am. #YorkIceTrail

York Ice Trail is a Make It York event, supported by First York.

About Make It York

Make It York’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings – nationally and internationally - as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. Its mission is to grow the economic prosperity and wider wellbeing of York and its citizens. In practice, this means delivering a range of projects and programmes based around our corporate strategic priorities.

These are:

• City positioning and profile-raising

• Ensuring an exciting city centre
• Delivering the city’s ground-breaking Cultural Strategy

Final list of York Ice Trail 2022 sculptures:

Around the World, Blake Street – Provided by Make It York

The Home of Pizza & Pasta, Blake Street – provided by ASK Italian
The York Skyline, Exhibition Square – Provided by City of York Council
The Queen of Hearts, Lendal – Provided by The Judge’s Lodging
Oceania: Bruce (Nemo), Wellington Row – Provided by York BID
May I Take Your Luggage?, Station Rise – Provided by The Grand, York
70 Years Anniversary Oak, Station Road – Provided by North York Moors National Park
Leap of Faith by Gudelia Li, Hudson Quarter – Provided by Hudson Quarter
South America: Kevin (UP), Micklegate – Provided by York BID
The Executioner’s Block, Middletons - Provided by Middletons Hotel
Cheshire Cat, Middletons – Provided by York Gin
The White Rabbit, Middletons – Provided by Middletons Hotel
Mad Hatters Tea Party, Middletons - Provided by Middletons Hotel
Take the Helm, Captain!, Kings Staith – Provided by City Cruises
Penguin on Parade, Tower Street – Provided by York Army Museum

Africa: Simba (Lion King), Castlegate – Provided by York BID

Wanted: Dick Turpin, Spurriergate - Provided by York Dungeon
Big Ben Strikes Ate O’Clock, High Ousegate – Provided by Ate O’Clock
The Vikings, Coppergate Centre – Provided by Coppergate Centre
The Melting Earth, Piccadilly – Provided by Spark: York
Antartica: Olaf (Frozen), Fossgate - Provided by York BID
Europe: Remi (Ratatouille), The Shambles - Provided by York BID

The LNER Azuma Selfie. Kings Square – Provided by LNER
North America: Pepita (Coco), Goodramgate - Provided by York BID

The Sovereign’s Orb, Minster Piazza – Provided by York Minster
Fabergé’s Trans-Siberian Railway Egg, High Petergate – Provided by National Railway Museum
Eco Rocks Diamond by Kay Bradley, Low Petergate – Provided by Bradleys
Waitress, Grape Lane – Provided by Lucia Bar
Atlas the Turtle, Little Stonegate – Provided by Turtle Bay
The Bettys Express Train, Davygate – Provided by Bettys

Heavenly Delight, St Helen’s Square – Provided by Heavenly Desserts
Asia: Sisu (Raya and the Last Dragon), Coney Street – Provided by York BID
The Astronaut, Davygate – Provided by Shepherd Group
Space Shuttle, Feasegate – Provided by Viewpoint
Live Carving, St Sampson's Square – Provided by York Ice Trail
Cow Print, St Sampson’s Square – Provided by Cut and Craft
Rugby League World Cup Trophy, Parliament Street – Celebrating York as a host city
Norris the Knight, Parliament Street – Provided by York Knights
Flying Carpet in the Market, Shambles Market – Provided by Shambles Market
Bug Count Cash Giveaway, Parliament Street – Provided by York Mix
Wizard Golf Challenge, Parliament Street – Provided by The Hole in the Wand
Graffiti Wall, Parliament Street – Provided by York Ice Trail
First York Park & Ride, Parliament Street – Provided by First York