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    3. World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska

    For nearly 25 years, the all-volunteer Ice Alaska organization has presented the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska. The month-long event typically draws some 100 ice artists from more than 40 countries. The competition brings more than 45,000 people to the region to admire the single- and multi-block works, which are also popular to see after dark, when they are dramatically back-lit in eerily glowing colors. The ice carvers also create a vast kids' playground by carving 200-foot ice slides, mazes and an ice rink for children and adults to enjoy.