Ice Carving Veterans, Champ at Upcoming Knickerbocker

Come out Jan. 28 and 29 to Rockland Lake State Park to appreciate frozen art at its best. There will be world-class ice sculptors returning to the . is hosting a fan vote and the "Fan Favorite" will receive a plaque.

Among the carvers scheduled to compete in the Invitational are Knickerbocker Ice Festival veterans: 

• Earl Covington of Ice Art (Mamaroneck) was the "Fan Favorite" at the 2010 and 2011 Knickerbocker Ice Festivals.
• Gary Costa of The Art of Ice Serving (Burlington, CT) has worked with ice since 1979. He has been in many area competitions, and he specializes in custom work, logos and symbols.
• Rob Patalano of the Rockland Lake Ice Company (Valley Cottage, NY), one of the founders of the Knickerbocker Ice Festival, will carve a life-size Horse and Wagon, a frozen replica of the "Cab" used by the original Knickerbocker Ice Company. Guests can have their photo taken while sitting in the driver's seat of the 14 foot-long, 10-14 foot-high cab.
• John Hedbavny of Woodstock Ice in New Paltz. He is a 1999 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and has been ice-carving full-time for over a decade.

"It'll be exciting to see Festival attendees interact with one of the sculptures, which will be one of the largest we've ever featured," said Maria Rodd, CEO of Knickerbocker Ice Festival Inc. "No doubt the best seat in the house will be in the cab of Rob's horse and wagon."

Check out Patch's coverage of .

Festival Fast Facts:

• Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. - dark
• Sunday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
• Free admission
• Parking: $8

Other Activities:

• Glacier Golf courtesy of
• Igloo Building
• Snow Sculpting by Mike Conklin of West Nyack
• Knick's Canteen featuring various warm foods and beverages from around the Hudson Valley in the warmth of the DRASH shelters
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Family Fun Fitness from
• the Historic Ice Gallery
• Dancing & Entertainment
• Artists in the Parks
• and more

Contact:

For more information about sponsorship opportunities or how to become a volunteer—

• Maria Rodd (mrodd@knickerbockericefestival.com or 845-290-1644)
• Rosemarie Monaco (rmonaco@knickerbockericefestival.com or 845-535-3453 x207)
• www.knickerbockericefestival.com
• Twitter: @KnickIceFest.