The Forks will play host to a new attraction this winter.

Utah-based has Ice Castles has picked Winnipeg as its newest location this season in Winnipeg.

"We are thrilled to bring Ice Castles to Winnipeg this season,"said CEO Ryan Davis,"Our hope is that Ice Castles will give families who live in or visit Manitoba an inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors together, even in winter."

Ice Castles is a seasonal entertainment company that creates elaborate, interactive castles each winter in several cities across North America, but this is the first year Winnipeg will host the frozen, family-friendly experience.

Ice artisans spend several weeks, working up to ten hours a day, growing and harvesting tens of thousands of icicles that are shaped and hand placed onto existing ice formations. The castles are then embedded with color changing LED lights set to a musical soundtrack at night.

The attraction, scheduled to open in late December, will be built at Parks Canada Place at The Forks National Historic Site, located just South of the Esplanada Riel adjacent to the Red River.
  
"We're very excited to see this frozen spectacle coming to Parks Canada Place at the Forks National Historic Site," said Marilyn Peckett, Superintendent with Parks Canada’s Manitoba Field Unit. "Ice Castles is new to Winnipeg and a well-established company. We look forward to drawing visitors to our celebrated, historic meeting place for a dazzling new experience.