Magical ice sculptures in Lake Louise attract fans worldwide, including longtime fans from Long Island, N.Y.

It's called the Ice Magic Festival, and it hasbeen enchanting people around the world for years.

This year was no different.

The ice sculpting competition, which kicked off last week in picturesque Lake Louise, draws top-tier ice artists and spectators each year to Alberta's Rockies.

• Carving out the science behind competition-grade ice at Lake Louise's iconic ice sculpture festival

The beauty of the event is what brings Long Island coupleShelli and Les Flaumback north each year.

"Everybody in the Canadian Rockiessaid, 'What are you crazy New Yorkers doing up here when you should be lying on a beach in the Caribbean in January?It's so cold here,'"ShelliFlaumtold Banff & Lake Louise Tourism.

"When we came and saw what's going on here in the winter there is no place more beautiful, no place we would rather be," she said, adding that she dreams of Lake Louise throughout the year.

The couple said Lake Louise isthe only location in the world they've ever vacationed inmore than once. This will be their 20th year. They say they love the scenery, the venue and the time they get to spend with people from all different backgrounds.

"It's a friendship where the languagereally doesn't matter," saidLes Flaum. "Beneath the surface we are all the same."

Whilethe winners were crownedover the weekend, thefestival runs until Sunday. Here's a look at what you would see in person if you took adrive out to the mountains west of Calgary. Tickets are only needed during peak times on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but it's free otherwise.

1st place

This sculpture, Moonlight Meeting, took home the top spot over the weekend at the 2018 Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise. It was sculpted by the American-Canadian team of Ben Rand and Scott Harrison, and also took the carver's choice award.

2nd place

Team Sakha, which consists of Russian sculptorsEgor Stepanov and Alexey Andreev, carved this piece of playful bears called Fun. It also received the people's choice award.

3rd place

The Baisas Brothers, who hail from the Philippines, took third place with this western-inspired piece called Catch Me If You Can.

Other notable mentions

While these sculptures didn't take home a prize, they still wowed winter enthusiasts with their attention to detail.

And if you happen to swing into Banff, the annual SnowDays snow sculpting festival is also a sight to see and it runs all weekend.

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