Jared McAlister joined other ice sculptors as they worked on the foundations of their sculptures.

“Today is the day we build all the walls, get everything built and ready to go, so that tomorrow all we have to do is come out, unwrap it and start cutting,” said McAlister.

Across town, inside the Penn State Ice Pavilion, ice skaters beat the crowds expected Thursday.

"I grew up skating on ponds. I think it's a really good thing to do,” said ice skater Barbie Collins.

Collins brought her daughter, Anna, ice skating for the first time Wednesday. “It's great that they're open throughout the week for the students that are in the school district, it's really good."

Paula McCartney brought her son, Ben, to the rink Wednesday. “We loving coming up to the rink. We come here at least once or twice a year, usually when the students aren't here, it's a little nicer,” said McCartney.

“The kids are off of school, so it's really nice just to get them away from the video games for a while."