Ice, Ice Baby: Nadeau's Ice Sculpting Keeping It Cool Since 1980
WDCB’s Gaary Zidek visits Forest Park-based Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures to talk with owner and chief ice sculptor Max Barajas.
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Forest Park-based Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures believed to be the country’s oldest ice sculpting business. Despite the frigid temps this winter, the craftsmen at Nadeau’s have been pretty busy. This coming weekend, the shop’s work will be on full display at the long-running Downers Grove Ice Festival. Around 70 sculptures will be on display throughout Downers Grove’s downtown and there will also be ice carving demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Some ice sculptures waiting to be finished.
We’ve all seen ice sculptures somewhere, usually at a special event, like a trade show, holiday party or wedding. Chances are if you see one in the Chicago-area, it likely came from Nadeau’s. Despite their short shelf lives (ice sculptures aren’t meant to last forever) a great deal of time and effort goes into creating the glistening, translucent works of art.
You can learn more about the shop’s work at nadeauice.com. This year’s Downers Grove Ice Festival is taking place Friday January 31 through February 2.
The outside of Nadeau’s on Roosevelt Road in Forest Park.