Winter in the northern parts of the country can feel like a long ordeal when just the thought of getting out of the house for even a short errand can feel overwhelming. Building a snow sculpture — whether a simple front yard snowman or something far more elaborate — is a tried and true way to fight back against the winter blues with an outpouring of creative and physical energy at the same time.
The snow sculpture competition was always a cornerstone of activity and excitement for my high school’s annual winter carnival. So fundamental was it to the core meaning of the event, some classmates and I during our junior year decided that we couldn’t let a little thing like an unseasonal and complete lack of snow on the ground stand in our way. With the aid of some pickup trucks, an arsenal of shovels, several thermoses of hot chocolate and a shared commitment to do without sleep, we appropriated the only snow in town from a grocery store parking lot plowed-up pile. The next morning, on the school’s brown, frozen front lawn, stood a reasonable though unlikely facsimile of a seal balancing a ball on its nose.
For such an enjoyable activity then, snow sculptures sure are serious business indeed, and the headlines are steeped with evidence from around the country showing that for many who deal with the cold truth of the winter season, it’s critical to fight back with fun. Among the most inspiring underway is taking place thanks to the efforts of the South Wood County Humane Society. If snow has to fall, these folks are set on making sure that stray animals in their community have a safe, warm place to escape it.
As the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reports, this town set about 100 miles north of Madison and the same distance west of Green Bay is geared up for this weekend’s snow sculpture fundraiser, described as its biggest in five years. Fifteen teams are lined up with shovels and sculpting tools for the event, which is expected to raise thousands of dollars for the local Society’s new animal shelter.
As we’re right now in the peak of the winter season, we see that similar events are cropping up all across the country in big cities and small towns alike. This weekend also features the annual Snow Days Chicago event as well as small community snow sculpture competitions in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and Glencoe Illinois. The 24th Annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition recently took place in the town of Rockford, and on the immediate horizon is the US National Snow Sculpting Competition slated to kick off next week on February 3 in Lake Geneva, New York.
So go right on ahead. Let it snow. People everywhere are just itching to make something of it.
Photo courtesy of dsearles via flickr