These Amazing Illinois Snow Sculptures Put Snowmen To Shame
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published December 30, 2017
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
There is an amazing winter attraction that takes place in Illinois each year that few people know about. For sport, teams come together to create astounding snow sculptures that will put your snowman building skills to shame.
From intricate carvings to scenic displays, each year brings bigger and better designs. Check out this fierce competition:
Each year, 40,000 visitors come to drive or walk through one of the most amazing events held annually in Rockford. The Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition (ISSC) is a winter wonderland you don't want to miss.
The first ever Illinois snow sculpting competition took place in Rockford in 1987 after a couple businessmen happened upon a winter carnival in 1985 that included these amazing snow sculptures.
So amazed with what they saw, the men asked the creators (a couple from Wisconsin) to bring their sculpture to the Sinnissippi Park Greenhouse, which is now the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens. After connecting with a Milwaukee-based group that sanctioned such competitions, the men were able to secure rights for this Illinois event.
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The competition includes teams from all around the state that compete for the chance to represent Illinois at the national level. Skill, time, and care make these pieces of snow art jaw-droppingly amazing.
Each team begins with a block of snow that is six feet long, six feet wide, and 10 feet high. Designers use all hand tools — and no power tools — to make these amazing snow sculptures.
To enter the competition yourself, you must have a group of between two and three people who are at least 18 years old. There is no fee to enter, but at least one teammate must be an Illinois resident. About 10 teams compete each winter.
This year, the state competition takes place January 17-20, 2018 while the high school competition will be held January 18-20, 2018. The awards ceremony is set for the final day.
The Illinois Ice Sculpting Competition takes place at Sinnissippi Park which is located at 1401 N 2nd Street in Rockford, and you can get more information on its Facebook page or website.
