Belgium's Ice Magic Festival displays Star Wars characters amid a balmy winter

Thirty artists belonging to 12 countries sculpt everything from droids to Ewoks

Star Wars characters can be found at Belgium's Ice Magic festival, as the sci-fi series has been selected as the theme for the annual ice sculpture festival in Liege this year.

Canada's Yuri Nazarkin carves Star Wars character C-3PO (R) and R2-D2 for the ice sculpture festival in Liege, Belgium, November 13, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

As many as 30 artists belonging to 12 countries sculpt everything from droids to Ewoks using chainsaws and light sabers in the the climate-controlled halls.

The ice sculptures have been coming together for about four weeks with sculptors carving away in sub-zero temperatures. The sculptures include Darth Vader and the Sith Lord, among dozens of other Star Wars characters.

An ice sculpture depicting Star Wars character Yoda is pictured at the ice sculpture festival in Liege, Belgium, November 13, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

However, several artists have complained of catching colds from alternating temperatures when they enter and leave the hall, as the festival complains of an unusually warm winter.



Ice Magic's Managing Director Francis Vandendorpe told Associated Press the cooling bill would be around $10,700 - more than expected this year.

Holland's Marieke Van Der Meer carves Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt for the ice sculpture festival in Liege, Belgium, November 13, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

Twelve cooling compressors are also being used to prevent the ice from melting at the festival.

"You get sick from it. People are getting runny noses and it's pretty hard going", said sculptor Kim Arents.

"Outside it is too warm, working inside it's too cold."

The unexpectedly warm weather precedes global climate change summit in Paris this week.

This article originally appeared on BBC