It's a frosty fiesta for folks in Maple Grove, as the much-anticipated Ice Castles extravaganza has officially kicked off. According to a post from the City of Maple Grove, the icy architectural wonderland opened its doors, or rather its icy gates, to the public with a little help from local officials.

The grandeur that is Ice Castles has been carved out for an experience that even an iPhone can't capture in full glory. The ribbon was snipped, not by frostbite-enduring citizens, but by none other than the mayor and city council, who were present to give the event their warm blessings—in a sub-zero context, naturally. The enthusiastic bunch took to social media, encouraging people to witness this temporary Arctic spectacle. "We hope everyone gets a chance to see them as well," the post from the official Maple Grove account read.

But here's the cold hard truth: the clock is ticking. With temperatures edging up, there's a window closing on this chilly wonderland. So if you want to slide into this frozen fantasy, the time is now or never. The city's post echoed this urgency, "With the weather warming up, there may not be much time." The implication being, you might want to drop your hot cocoa and get a move on before Mother Nature does her thing and transforms the crystal palaces back into plain old puddles.

Ice Castles isn't just a visual feast, it's an immersive experience that offers everything from LED-lit sculptures to ice-carved tunnels and thrones. This ephemeral ice kingdom is constructed entirely by hand, with artisans growing and placing upwards of ten thousand icicles each day to fashion the frosty features. And don't forget, the ticking seasonal clock means now is the moment to grab your mittens and make memories that'll stick around longer than the castles themselves. According to city hall, these glacial galleries won't stick around long, so plan your visit while the ice is still nice.

For those of you ready to embrace the call of the winter wild, head over to Maple Grove for an icy interlude.