Ice float being sculpted for Thanksgiving Day Parade

BREWERYTOWN (WPVI) -- Peter Slavin has spent 85 hours sculpting ice for the 6abc Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade.

When assembled, Slavin's fantasy ice castle will stand 10 feet tall, 20 feet wide and weigh 4 tons.

Even the smallest of ice blocks are heavy.

"I've been watching the parade since I was 8 years old in New Jersey. I'm so excited to actually be able to do this," Slavin said.

This is the first year a float in the parade is entirely made out of ice.

Slavin and his team will be carving more details on the sculpture live during the parade.

"To give it more of a performance, people are actually seeing the float being created while we're going down," Slavin said.

Slavin admits there's one thing that may be a bit of a challenge, and that's the actual drive through heart of the city, especially in areas like here, where there's construction.

"I've driven up and down that road, trying to understand every pothole, and all the movements that might happen, so we keep our fingers crossed," Slavin said.

In the meantime, dozens of already sculpted pieces are chilled in subzero freezers until the very last hours leading up to the annual tradition.

Now, if you're wondering how he will keep the sculpture from melting before they get to the end of the parade - lots of dry ice will pack the base of the castle.

And hopefully, Mother Nature will be kind.