Ice carving week: Friday, Dec. 26 – Wednesday, Dec. 31

Holiday fun includes wildlife ice carving competition, professional carving demonstrations; interactive ice play area; ice displays; and more

Salute to Wildlife Ice Carving Competition: Sunday, Dec. 28

Bronx, NY – Dec. 4, 2014 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo will be the highlight of the holiday season with the return of the Salute to Wildlife Ice Carving Week, presented by Canon. The week-long celebration includes professional ice carving demonstrations, wildlife-themed ice sculpture displays, an interactive play area, and the Salute to Wildlife Ice Carving Competition.

This year’s theme will be Tropics on Ice, to highlight WCS’s conservation work in the Brazilian rainforests and the Amazon River Basin. Professional ice carvers will create tropical-themed wildlife displays from giant blocks of ice and an interactive play area featuring a 25-foot rainforest canopy ice slide.

2014 Ice Carving Week Activities Include:

Ice Sculpting Demonstrations
Daily demos will amaze as artists transform blocks of ice into glistening statues of animals.
Cost: Free with admission
Dates: Friday – Wednesday, Dec 26 – 31
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Salute to Wildlife Ice Carving Competition
The annual ice carving throwdown will pit many of the area’s best ice carvers against each other. Professional sculptors will test their skills in a competition of creativity as they sculpt artistic interpretations of wildlife. The winner is determined by spectator vote.
Cost: Free with admission
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Ice Sculpture Play Area
Rainforest Canopy Ice Slide and Amazon River Play Area– This giant slide and play area make for the perfect winter photo-op.
Cost: Free with admission
Dates: Wednesday – Sunday, Dec. 26 – 31
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Note: This activity is weather-dependent

Performances
Arthur‘s Perfect Christmas – Additional activities include character meet-and-greets with everyone’s favorite aardvark, ArthurTM and his little sister, D.W.TM Children of all ages will enjoy the beloved PBS special come to life. Arthur will be available for photos following a special story time.
Cost: Free with admission
Dates: Monday, Dec. 29
Time: 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.

For a complete schedule of activities, please visit www.BronxZoo.com. Members of the media wishing to attend should make an appointment in advance. Contact Max Pulsinelli at mpulsinelli@wcs.org or 718-220-5182.

CONTACT:
Max Pulsinelli: 718-220-5182; mpulsinelli@wcs.org
Steve Fairchild: 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $16.95, children (3-12 years old) $12.95, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14.95. Parking is $15 for cars and $18 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010. Follow @TheBronxZoo.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. VISION: WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in more than 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: www.wcs.org; http://www.facebook.com/TheWCS; http://www.youtube.com/user/WCSMedia Follow: @thewcs.