Ice Sculptures In Uptown This Weekend - Crash Investigation - Builder Moving to Westerville
Ice Sculptures Arrive in Uptown Westerville Friday, Marking Popular Holiday Tradition
Late Friday afternoon, completed ice sculptures will arrive in Uptown, signaling the start of one of the city’s most anticipated holiday events. Crews will install the sculptures on lighted stanchions that illuminate the artwork after dark and give the district a distinctive nighttime glow.
More than 30 hand-carved ice sculptures will be displayed throughout the Uptown district, primarily along State Street and nearby side streets. The winter- and holiday-themed pieces will be positioned outside local shops and restaurants, creating a self-guided walking tour through the area.
The display features a mix of traditional and interactive designs. Classic holiday imagery includes a nativity scene, a grandfather clock, and sculptures inspired by Christmas tree ornaments. These are paired with several cartoon-style figures that include cutout openings, allowing visitors to place their heads inside for photos. The combination offers something for all ages, blending reflective seasonal scenes with playful, hands-on elements that are especially popular with families.
The event opens Friday evening and will remain available for viewing into the night and through the weekend, weather permitting. The display is free and open to the public and typically draws large crowds once installation is complete.
The ice sculptures are part of the broader Holidays in Uptown celebration, which includes seasonal events designed to draw visitors to the historic district during the holiday shopping season. The illuminated sculptures encourage foot traffic throughout Uptown, with many visitors stopping to shop, dine, or gather along the route.
Though the sculptures are temporary, the event has become a familiar sign of the season in Westerville. Each year, the display brings residents and visitors to Uptown to mark the final days leading up to the holidays.
A Westerville police investigator uses a GPS device to map the scene of a serious car crash Thursday afternoon at Cleveland Avenue and County Line Road. My Final Photo for December 18, 2025.
The Westerville News will have further details once the police report is released.
Business News Brief
Rockford Homes is relocating its headquarters from the Polaris area of Columbus to Westerville’s Westar business district after purchasing a 144,000-square-foot office building for $12.7 million.
The Central Ohio homebuilder will move about three miles from its current office at 999 Polaris Pkwy. to 440 Polaris Pkwy., CEO Bob Yoakam said. The new headquarters, known as Westar III, is expected to open in May 2026.
Rockford plans to lease roughly 30,000 square feet of the building and keep the remaining space available for other tenants. The company will renovate the facility to include new common areas, a fitness center, training rooms and social spaces. Yoakam said the move reflects the company outgrowing its current space and wanting to be closer to amenities offered in the Westar district.
Rockford’s current headquarters near Polaris Fashion Place will be marketed for sale or lease.
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