From The Greeneville Neighbor News

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. -- “Professional and amateur ice carvers will race the clock to create stunning, unique works of art made completely from ice,” said a news release on a world renowned competition set for the Titanic Museum Attraction on Jan. 19.

Last year’s event attracted 5,000 spectators, and this year’s visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure the best views for watching the competitors in action, who will begin at 9 a.m.

“Starting with 250-pound blocks of ice, these artists have a limited amount of time to create carvings that would surpass the expectations of passengers attending gala events in Titanic’s first class dining room,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction and co-leader of the first private expedition to Titanic’s Atlantic resting place.

Artists will compete for prize monies ranging from $500 to $2,000 in the competition.

The official National Ice Carving Association judging panel will announce the competition winners and award prizes at 3 p.m.

 “It’s especially fun to cheer on a favorite artist and artwork you were able to interact with during the process of creation,” Joselyn said.

“The very nature of the artworks means the creations won’t be around long, so this one-day only event is even more special as families look for exciting and unique entertainment options during a Smoky Mountain winter,” the news release said.

Additional information on the 2013 Ice Carving Competition and other special events at the Titanic Museum Attraction may be found online at TitanicPigeonForge.com.

Tickets are not required for the ice carving event, but are needed for tours of the attraction.

The Titanic Museum Attraction opens daily at 9 a.m. Reservations for museum tours are strongly suggested since many days sell out entirely. Tickets may be purchased online at TitanicPigeonForge.com or by phone at 800-381-7670.