Calgary FrostFest: From icy cocoon to butterfly, in photos

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Despite temperatures well below freezing, Calgarians flocked to the first-ever FrostFest on Saturday night.

Despite the thermometer reading below -8 degrees according to Environment Canada, patrons bundled up to enjoy art, tasty eats from food truck vendors, and hot chocolate inside warming huts and next to fire pits.

The event, put on by the City of Calgary, continues on Sunday night at Valleyview Park starting at 4 p.m.

Lee Ross of Calgary-based ice business Frozen Memories demonstrated to festival-goers how an ice block becomes a work of art.

Watch how this butterfly emerges from its icy cocoon.

Lee Ross, of Frozen Memories, marks out the lines used to make an ice carving of a butterfly at the first-ever FrostFest at Valleyview Park in Calgary on Saturday, November 20, 2021. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
An electric chainsaw was used to carve out the rough-cut wings of an ice butterfly. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
An electric chainsaw was used to carve out the rough-cut wings of an ice butterfly. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Lee Ross positioned his butterfly for further ice carving. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
A child hides behind an ice carving of a bear, watching Lee Ross demonstrate ice carving. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Dozens of FrostFest festival-goers gathered to watch Lee Ross put details on his butterfly ice carving. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Lee Ross used a specialized ice carving tool to carve out the details of a butterfly wing. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
A rotary tool was used to to carve out the details of the front of the butterfly ice carving. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
The finished butterfly ice carving done by Lee Ross of Frozen Memories at the first-ever FrostFest at Valleyview Park in Calgary on Saturday, November 20, 2021. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
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