Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Event Returns This Week to Washington Park
Feb. 6, 2023 -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The City of Dubuque Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Dubuque Museum of Art are pleased to partner to present the 2023 Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Competition and Festival in Washington Park (700 Locust St.) from Thursday, Feb. 9, through Sunday, Feb. 12. The free community event will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the park.
The snow sculpting event will feature six teams including a student team representing the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Teams will be located on the Bluff Street side of the park, sculpting from Thursday, Feb. 9, until noon on Sunday, Feb. 12. Each team begins with a 6 feet by 8 feet-tall block of manufactured snow. The public is encouraged to visit sculptors and observe the carving process throughout the week and into the weekend.
From noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, the community is invited to explore the final snow sculptures and vote for their favorite, online or in-person. Tools and blocks of snow will be available for those inspired to try their hand at snow sculpting on a first-come first-served basis. The community sculpting area, led by local artist Emily Cotton Cram, will feature themed blocks inspired by Saint-Saëns’ whimsical musical masterpiece “Carnival of the Animals,” in conjunction with Dubuque Symphony Orchestra’s spring family concert. Birds food truck will be onsite with food for purchase and YAPPERS from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will offer hot beverages for free-will donations.
In addition to the People’s Choice Award, a team will be selected to advance to the U.S. National Snow and Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wis. Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh will present the awards and cash prizes at 4 p.m. in the Dubuque Museum of Art’s lobby.
During Sunday’s activities, Seventh Street will be closed between Locust Street and Bluff Street in front of the museum. In addition, there will be no parking on the east side of Bluff Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. A map of adjacent on-street, lot, and ramp parking options is available online. Parking is free on Sundays.
The event is supported through in-kind contributions from Sundown Mountain, Truck Country, Conlon Construction, Selco Inc., Key City Creative Center, and KWWL. Event support also comes from Black Hills Energy, Forget-Me-Not Landscaping, Weber Concrete, Jimmy Johns, HyVee, Papa John’s Pizza, and Wicked River Event Productions. The event is sanctioned by WinterFun, Inc.
Volunteers are needed on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., or 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., to prepare the blocks of snow for the sculptors. Volunteer information and signup is available at VolunteerDBQ or by contacting Danielle Stowell at 563.581.9688 or dstowell@dbqart.org.
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