American International Snow Sculpture festival in Breckenridge
- Jan. 22-28
Every January for the past 18 years in
Breckenridge, the city garners several new
pieces of public art. Unfortunately it all melts
by spring. The annual American International
Snow Sculpture Festival in Breckenridge draws
artists and spectators from far and wide.
Come and watch as teams of four have 65
hours over five days to turn a block of compacted
snow 10 feet long by 10 feet wide by
12 feet high into a work of art using only hand
tools.
Breckenridge Resort makes the snow, then
dump trucks pile it into crates and
Breckenridge public works department snow
blows it into blocks. This ensures each team
has a consistent piece of snow to work with.
Last year, team Oregon took first place with
their sculpture of an elderly gentleman’s face resting
on his fist. Other teams hailed from the Czech
Republic, Switzerland, Mexico and Canada.
Stay an extra week and attend Ullr Fest, in celebration
of Ullr, the Norse god of winter. The leftover
snow sculptures line the streets; parades,
dances and bonfires get the party going.
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