(SHIPSHEWANA) - The 12th annual Ice Festival gets underway this weekend in Shipshewana.

The festival kicks off on Friday the 27th with Ice Carvers cutting, drilling and shaving huge blocks of ice all over Shipshewana.

The creations they design are submitted by the sponsor or are the carver's choice. These professional carvers enjoy the challenge of creating new and beautiful designs. Visitors to Shipshewana can stop in all over town to see them at work free of charge.

The Blue Gate Restaurant has purchased the “ICE BERG”. This is the largest block of ice ever to come to Shipshewana. It will be carved in front of the Blue Gate Restaurant starting early on Friday.

On Saturday ice carvers will compete at the Wolfe Building parking lot. In addition to the ice carving competition, the Chili Cook-Off will take place inside the Wolfe Building. A $5 admission gives visitors a warm lunch sampling the many varieties of delicious chili's offered by the participants.

The Chili Cook-Off is free with a purchase of the annual Ice Pin in addition to many discounts (worth over $200) from the area merchants through the end of January 2020.