Each year during the festival, in addition to the International Snow Sculpting Symposium, there is an Amateur Snow Carving Contest. This year’s contest will be held from Jan 30th – Feb 4th, with judging at 2 pm on Feb 4th.
Would you like to try your hand at snow carving? You can enter as an individual, family, or group. The entry fee is $10 per block.
Participants must enter by Jan 10, 2024, to reserve one of 20 4’ x 4’ snow blocks available for carving in Whiteside Park over the week. The contest is for amateur carvers, and you may enter in one of the following categories: 1) Individual, 2) Family, or 3) Group. Prizes will be awarded for first and second places in each category.
Twenty (20) blocks are available, one block per group, on a “first come, first served” basis according to entry order.
Contestants may carve Monday, Jan 30th through Sunday, February 4th, 2023. Judging will be held Saturday, February 4th. (Judge’s Tip: the judges find carvings that have a cleverness to them more attractive. They also look for ways the basic block shape is changed, carved away, etc.)
No colorants are allowed, but the theme is wide open for creativity! As we’ve seen in the past, it’s amazing what can be carved from snow! A sign will be left in the park for each group or individual who should pick a block and claim it with the sign.
Once you have submitted an entry, unless otherwise notified, you are registered for a block.
A few things we’ve learned from experience:
- We will try to provide the best block we can for your use, however, we are not responsible for the weather conditions, or condition of the snow, should it warm up.
- We will try to make the entry categories as fair as we can. You must tell us who and how many are carving, to determine your category. (Also, if in a youth group category, youth should be designing and carving the block, not adults.)
- Once you mark a block with the sign, it is yours; do not switch blocks.
- Watch the weather forecast and then plan your carving around the weather and the judging. For example, if it is to be warm and sunny on Wednesday, save carving for later so that the block does not begin to deteriorate once carved down.