Ice sculptor battles warm-up to chisel designs for Family Day weekend

Saskatoon’s week-long Winter Shines festival kicked off this weekend with mild temperatures, but not everyone’s so happy about the warm-up.

Ice sculptor Julio Martinez from Mexico has his creations are on display outside the Gather Local Market.

After coming to the city a couple of times to carve he said it was, “the cold weather [that] bring me here again.”

Except, that’s not the case this time.

“My designs have a lot of details on the back, so I was trying to carve inside of the [ice] block and I can’t because it was too warm,” Martinez said.

Although Julio Martinez works as a private chef in Mexico, he said he does “more ice than cooking.” (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)

According to Martinez, each piece would usually take him about two days, but the weather added more time and effort since he could only work during the early morning and evening when it was cooler.

While Martinez began drafting ideas for his carvings last year, “between the last week and this week, I saw it’s going to be so hot. So, I changed the design,” he said, although the end result doesn’t reveal the challenges he faced.

His sculptures tell a story about the four elements: earth, water, fire and sky. Some of the features include mountains, trees, fish, a buffalo, and a dream catcher.

The creations are made up of ice blocks that each weigh about 150 kg (331 lbs).

After carving for the last two weeks, Martinez said he’s tired but happy with what he’s done.

“I don’t have nothing nothing in my mind right now,” he said. “But, I can see my piece like, wow.”

The Winter Shines festival has more than 90 different events and activities that take place over the eight days.

Winter Shines festival director Shad Ali said around 29,000 people attended the free festival in 2025 and expects the same turnout this year. A full list of 2026 events can be found here.

What’s open and closed in Saskatoon on Family Day

City Hall: Closed, reopening on Feb. 17 at 8 a.m.

Remai Modern: Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saskatoon Public Library: All locations will be closed.

Saskatoon Transit: Holiday service from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (normal fares apply). OnDemand service will not be available, and Access Transit will also operate holiday service 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Transit Customer Service Centre closed, but phone lines (306-975-3100) open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Pay parking: Free, but all parking requirements remain in effect, including parking time limits.

Municipal Impound Lot: Closed. Vehicles will be released to the public as usual on Tuesday.

Waste collection: Garbage, recycling, and organics collections as scheduled.

Material Recovery Centre and Landfill: Open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Woodlawn Cemetery: Office closed. Cemetery grounds open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo: Zoo open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Forestry Farm Park open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Leisure centres:

• Cosmo Civic Centre: Closed.
• Lakewood Civic Centre: Open 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Lawson Civic Centre: Open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Saskatoon Field House: Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Shaw Centre: Open 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Terry Fox Track: Closed

Indoor Rinks:

• Cosmo Arena: Free Family Day Skate, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• ACT Arena: Parent & Tot Skate, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

— with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuck and CKOM News