The "greatest show in ice" is wowing Fairbanks once again, promoting winter tourism and highlighting the uniqueness of central Alaskan life.

Ice artists come from across the globe, from Mongolia to Morocco, to participate year after year in the month-long World Ice Art Championships.

At night the opalescent ice sculptures are transformed into masterpieces by hundreds of colored lights.

There are single and multi-block pieces, which are judged based on style and creativity and can range in size from 3 to 30 feet tall.

Governor Palin announced this year's multi-block winners on March 9.

A team from China won in the realistic category for their intricate depiction of "Chang Ur Return to Moon Palace.

There were also specially judged categories for youths and less experienced sculptors.

First- and second-timers, like visiting Fulbright Scholar Tanya Bugaenko and volcanologist Jill Shipman, competed in the amateur open for fun.

"Anybody who wants to can participate," Shipman said. "You take a class, learn how to do it, then come out here and have fun."

There were also a variety of other ice pieces like an ice version of Stonehenge and a functional phone booth made of ice.

Deceased Iditarod racer Susan Butcher was memorialized with a special ice depiction of her team.

The ice park is more than art, though. It's fun for the whole family.

The circus themed children's park has ice tunnels, ice mini-golf, an ice maze, a small ice-skating rink and many icy slides.

There is also a warm place for people to buy food and thaw out with a cup of hot chocolate when they start to lose sensation in their extremities.

"There's not much to do in Fairbanks," said justice sophomore Kt Roede. "When stuff like this comes around it's really fun. It's so special because it's unique to Alaska and Fairbanks in particular."

The park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It closes Sunday.