NILES — Eighty pre-carved ice sculptures and 128 blocks of ice from Pennsylvania arrived Monday in Riverfront Park, destined to be transformed into works of art at the 14th annual Hunter Ice Festival. But before they are ready to sculpt, the 300-pound blocks are milled into even squares to make an ideal canvas for sculptors.

The ice festival is hosted by the Niles DDA Main Street and will kick off Friday and last through Sunday. This year’s theme is “Harry Potter” and festival goers can expect to see sculptures modeled after the children’s books and movies scattered throughout the downtown and sponsored by local organizations and businesses.

Additionally, those who visit the festival can participate in numerous activities, such as witnessing live carvings and playing interactive games like ping pong on a table carved from ice.

Hunter Ice Cream will be sold and people can warm up at various downtown businesses.

On Monday, sculptors were hard at work maneuvering and preparing the ice as the snow fell throughout the day.

Danny Bloss, of Niles, is an ice sculptor who has been part of the festival since it began 14 years ago. On Monday, he worked with the ice alongside other sculptors: Aaric Kendall, from Illinois; Josh Niven, of Buchanan and Harvey Russell, of Missouri. Sculptor Dean DeMaris will also be visiting from Texas to help carve for the festival.

Bloss said the blocks of ice will be cut down into 40 inches long and 20 inches wide.

“That way when we do our sculptures in the middle of the week, we can just grab them and go,” Bloss said.  “Once we get that done, we will be rocking through these things.”

Bloss said the process is expected to take through Tuesday to complete.

This year, Bloss and other sculptors will be creating an ice slide for residents of all ages to enjoy at Riverfront Park.

“It will be good. It will be cold,” Bloss said.

Once the milling process is complete, sculptors will start the process of carving some of the creations that visitors can expect to see this weekend, including an ice throne and ping pong table.

Bloss said he looks forward to carving with fellow artists and seeing people take in the art.

“We are looking for big crowds,” Bloss said. “The temperatures are supposed to be good all week.”

While warmer temperatures last year caused sculptures to melt before Sunday, temperatures over the weekend are expected to be in the 30- to 45-degree range.

“It’s a family event [and we] want people to come out and enjoy the day with their family,” Bloss said. “People can look at the different sculptures and enjoy the day.”