When Richard Bubin was a child, he would draw pictures of animals in crayon on the walls of his family’s home.

The tool and canvas he uses have changed, but he is still creating.

On Monday, he guided a chain saw through blocks of ice to carve Pennsylvania-themed items such as Jeep, a Primanti Bros. sandwich and Heinz ketchup bottle. He created a Philadelphia cheese steak and Liberty Bell as well as a throne.

Bubin, of Wilkins, who is founder of Ice Creations, was turning 60,000 pounds of ice into a maze for the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

“We Love Pennsylvania” is the theme of the ice maze.

“I have been blessed to create and it all began with those crayons,” Bubin said. “I then worked as a chef and started carving fruits and vegetables out of pumpkins and ice. I am in the making people smile business. You don’t often get to see an ice maze like this one.”

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Massoud Hossaini | TribLive
Rich Bubin, expert ice carver and founder of Ice Creations, carves an icy masterpiece in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District on Monday. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Highmark, and Ice Creations are finalizing preparations for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2025, including the popular Ice Maze.

Bubin begins a carving by drawing on paper what he wants to make. The blocks of ice came from Amish country in Ohio and his own home where he has ice-making machines. He has hand warmers in his gloves to keep warm.

The 30 by 40-foot structure stands approximately 5.5 feet tall and is located at the Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard at 8th Street and Penn Avenue in the Cultural District, Downtown. It began being created over the weekend by Bubin and his team of six others. It will take four days to complete the maze. The forecast for the 31st annual First Night, hosted by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, which opens at 6 p.m., calls for unseasonably warm temperatures and a chance of rain.

“Our temperatures are going to be quite warm, relatively speaking, through the end of the year,” said Jill Szwed, Triblive partner WTAE-TV meteorologist via email. “Highs will be in the 50s to near 60 degrees, which is a good 15 to 20 degrees above normal. More scattered showers are coming on New Year’s Eve and will be around for the First Night festivities. The ice maze probably won’t bode well with the balmy air and rain showers. But maybe the ice ‘mazers’ have some tricks up their sleeves.”

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Massoud Hossaini | TribLive
Rich Bubin, expert ice carver and founder of Ice Creations, carves an icy masterpiece in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District on Monday. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Highmark, and Ice Creations are finalizing preparations for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2025, including the popular Ice Maze.

The Trust took action and has it covered.

“We ordered the tent ahead of time,” said Sarah Aziz, director of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh. “We didn’t want to wait until the last minute.”

Aziz said the rain is more of a concern than the warmer temperatures. The ice itself is kind of self-insulating, Aziz said

“The ice maze is fantastic,” said Kannu Sahni, vice-president community affairs for Highmark Health.” There are so many wonderful images. It takes a lot of skill and with the warm days that threw a curveball for them trying to construct an ice sculpture they overcame that and it’s looking fabulous.”

This will be the final event in this event space because the Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard is being transformed into a larger area planned to be ready before the April 2026 NFL Draft.

The Pennsylvania-inspired landmarks carved in ice is a nod to a sponsorship from Visit PA.

“I think that will be extra fun to have a Pennsylvania scavenger hunt,” said Aziz.

Also new will be an ice race track where people can build a Lego vehicle with Pittsburgh-based group Steel City Lego User Group, who are adults who build with Lego.

“First Night is so festive and it’s fun to see the area lit up and all of Pittsburgh celebrating,” Aziz said. “It’s the perfect way to welcome in the new year.”

This will be the first, First Night, for Brooke Horejsi, chief programming and engagement officer for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

“It’s exciting and such a great draw for the community,” Horejsi said. “Pittsburgh is such a welcoming city. I have seen ice sculptures before but never an ice maze. I would think you have to have a lot of patience to carve ice.”

The ice maze is free. Those with a VIP Citizens First Night Friends Pass can go directly to the front of the line with a “freeze” pass.

There are two options: The Warmest Wishes Package is $65 for adults, $45 for children 13 and under and the Magical New Year Group Package is $200 for up to four people.

Purchase here.

For more information on Highmark First Night Pittsburgh check the website.