At the beginning of February, Jelgava invites you to immerse yourself in the winter atmosphere and experience the 27th International Ice Sculpture Festival, which this year will take place over two days – February 7 and 8. Internationally recognized ice sculptors will reveal their vision of the theme "The Power of Illusion," inviting visitors to look beyond the obvious and experience moments where truth intertwines with deception. The festival will be complemented by an extensive entertainment program: sculpture duels, science shows, illusionists, performances, ice games and a slide, children's plays and concerts with well-known Latvian musicians.

 Sculptors from 12 countries will create the “Power of Illusion” in ice

Even before the festival took place, the jury selected this year's festival participants – the authors of the best works – in a sketch competition. This year, the competition attracted widespread international attention from sculptors – more than 40 applications were received, from which 20 sculptors from 12 countries were selected to participate in the festival: Argentina, Indonesia, Poland, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Spain, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Participants will arrive in Jelgava on February 1, and ice sculptures will be created from February 2 to 6. This year, artists will invite viewers to take a look at a world of illusions, where the boundary between reality and appearance becomes fragile and changeable. The sculptors' works will reveal both modern man's relationship with technology and the illusions created by nature, light and form, as well as the diversity of beauty, happiness and inner world perception. The festival will not only encourage visitors to admire ice art, but also to think about how differently each of us sees the world. It should be noted that two talented sculptors will create special ice photo sculptures that will invite visitors to become part of the artwork themselves – to step into the role of a queen, princess or the hero of the fairy tale "The Naked King." Visitors will have the opportunity to capture themselves next to one of the world's most famous circus wonders – a rabbit appearing from a hat – as well as next to a symbolic photo sculpture in which a cat sees itself as a mighty lion in a mirror image, revealing the contrast between illusion and reality. Festival visitors will also be delighted by other impressive ice photo sculptures, objects frozen in ice, as well as various ice attractions and games.

This year's festival free zone – Jāņa Čakstes Boulevard

Pasta Island, the open-air concert hall "Mītava" and Slidotava (ice rink) will be the main venues, where visitors will be greeted by individual and team sculptures, as well as an extensive cultural program on two stages. Jāņa Čakstes Boulevard, which in previous years was part of the paid area, will become a freely accessible festival zone this year. It will feature ice photo sculptures, attractions and carousels, as well as a winter "hospitality zone" with a wide range of delicacies and snacks, a selection of hot and cold drinks, and handicrafts. As darkness falls, the festive atmosphere will be enhanced by a laser show, which will be repeated and can be viewed from anywhere in the festival area.

Festival program – diverse and suitable for the whole family

The festival will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Both days at the Pasta Island Public Ice Rink Slidotavā visitors will have access to an ice games area, where they can join in checkers, table hockey, and domino tournaments, while younger visitors will enjoy the ice slide. The open-air concert hall "Mītava" will host children's performances, while Pasta salas skatuves Pasta Island stage will captivate curious minds with science shows featuring various experiments. Visitors will also be able to watch sculpture demonstrations, allowing them to follow along as artists create real ice sculptures. Illusionist performances will add to the festival atmosphere.

On Saturday, the ice competition awards ceremony and festival opening will take place at the Mītava open-air concert hall, followed by a performance by the musical group Vintāža and a special guest appearance by the charismatic band Instrumenti. Sunday evening's program will begin with the expressive Jelgava ensemble Tandēms trijatā, followed by Normunds Rutulis together with the Slaveno Rīgas orchestra, and the festival will conclude with the internationally recognized and energetic ethno-music group Tautumeitas.

Tickets can be purchased at a lower price until January 31

Tickets can be purchased at a discounted price until January 31 at Biļešu Paradīze ticket offices throughout Latvia, at the Jelgava Culture House ticket office, and online at www.bilesuparadize.lvThe price of a one-day ticket for adults is €10, but for schoolchildren, students, pensioners, and people with disabilities, it is €5. Family tickets and tickets with the "3+ Family Card" are also available – the advance sale price is €20. Only at the Jelgava Culture House box office, tickets with the "Jelgavas Vēstnesis" Ice Sculpture Festival coupon or upon presentation of a Jelgava resident card, the price is €7, upon presentation of a Jelgava school student card – €4.

From February 1, admission tickets for adults will cost €15, for schoolchildren, students, pensioners, and people with disabilities €7, and family tickets will cost €30. Children under the age of seven will be admitted to the festival free of charge. Each ticket purchased is a day ticket, which allows you to visit the festival grounds multiple times on the respective date.

During the festival, ticket offices will be located on Pasta Island and on the J. Čaktes Boulevard side of Mītava Bridge. All ticket locations will accept bank cards.

In preparation for the event, traffic restrictions are planned in the city – from February 1, Pasta Island will be closed to visitors, leaving access to the public skating rink, children's playground and restaurant "Pilsētas elpa", and from February 5, for safety reasons, the children's playground and skating rink area will also be restricted during construction, leaving access to the restaurant. During the creation of the sculptures and various technical works, from February 6 at 9 a.m. to February 9 at 2 a.m., traffic will be closed on Jāņa Čakstes Boulevard between Elektrības Street and Lielā Street, on Driksas Street between Akadēmijas Street and Jāņa Čakstes Boulevard, as well as on Ūdens Street.

The festival is organized by the city of Jelgava and Jelgava House of Culture. For more information, visit Jelgava.lv and kultura.jelgava.lv.