News Beat
Pictures: Delight for Darlington Ice Sculpture Trail 2025
It was a winter wonderland in Darlington today as the town centre was brought to life by the return of the popular ice sculpture trail, drawing families out far and wide in festive spirits.
Darlington sparkled with festive magic as the shimmering ice sculptures transformed the town centre into a storybook scene.
Crowds braved the chilly weather to hunt down the incredible sculptures that brought some of the most beloved characters and icons to life in dazzling frozen form.
The town buzzed with excitement as visitors young and old marvelled at the icy masterpieces mapped out for the trail.
The trail included 14 ice sculptures across the town centre, with creations appearing at key locations including Northumberland Street, Bondgate, Queen Street Shopping Centre, DL1, Grange Road, Duke Street and Northgate.
Children in Santa hats were seen skipping hand in hand between sculptures, stopping to stare in awe at the intricately hand-carved displays.
On Northumberland Street, excited shouts of “It’s Peppa Pig!” could be heard as queues of families formed to take photos with the popular character, wearing an icy crown.
As the afternoon went on, a pool of water had collected inside the crown as the sculpture slowly melted, adding to the fascination for younger visitors.
At Queen Street Shopping Centre, children gathered around the Gingerbread Man sculpture, eagerly counting and guessing how many candy canes were frozen inside, while families queued patiently to take pictures.
Another standout attraction was on Bondgate, where a Cinderella-style carriage carved entirely from ice drew crowds, with children stopping to admire the detailed design.
A young girl was spotted running towards the ice sculpture, shouting to her friend, “it’s Cinderella, I love this one”.
Meanwhile, over on High Row, budding young sculptors were keen to have a go at the interactive carving wall, with chief sculptor Mathew Challoner.
Families eagerly lined up as children chipped away at the ice with determination, including one young boy who focused intently and carefully chipped away on a Welcome to Darlington sign.
But a standout for many was the Pokémon sculpture on Duke Street. Children were seen standing around in awe as the much-loved Squirtle character glistened in the sunlight.
Katie Greenwood, Darlington Borough Council’s town centre partnership and events officer, said: “Our ice sculpture trail has become something of a tradition and is a popular part of our festive events programme.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the businesses and organisations who have sponsored this year’s event and look forward to seeing everyone taking part.
“It’s a great way for families to get together and have some fun while also enjoying all Darlington town centre has to offer, with some fantastic shops for your Christmas shopping and lots of cafes, bars and restaurants to take time out for a drink and a bite to eat.”
