Despite this weekend’s thaw, hundreds of people flocked to downtown Dowagiac on Saturday for this year’s Ice Time festival. 

Returning acts such as Alonzo Montoya’s woodcarving demonstrations were joined by new festivities for visitors to enjoy, such a timber wars competition between students at Michigan State and Ohio State universities.

As in previous years, the highlight of the day came during the carve-off held inside Beckwith Park, with the area ice carvers competing against each other to create the best frozen marvel within the hour-and-a-half time limit.