BOLD AND COLD

Although last weekend saw many Owatonna Winter Weekend Out events canceled or rescheduled due to a cold and snowy prelude of this week’s polar vortex, other events such as the Snow Sculpture Competition went ahead as scheduled.
“We were happy we were able to pull off the Snow Sculpture Competition during Bold & Cold,” said Jessica Abrahams, Owatonna Parks and Rec administrative assistant. “At first, it didn’t look like we would have enough snow for the competition and then once we got enough snow, the temperatures were less than ideal for the competition.”
This year was the first time the weekend festival featured a snow sculpture contest, and the three teams who signed up were not going to let the artic weather stand in their way of creating cool winter works.
The sculptors were able to carve away at their chunks of snow beginning Thursday and then continued through the weekend. On Monday, Jan. 28, the winners were announced.
First place and a prize of $100 in Chamber Dollars went to the Spencer family and their ornate owl. Second place and $50 in Chamber Dollars went to the Frozen North Team comprised of John Donkers and family for their fish. Third place and a pair of Bold and Cold gloves went to Foremost Brewery Cooperative for their rendition of a pint glass complete with logo.
“We’re so thankful that the sculpting teams stuck with it though, braved the cold and completed the sculptures during the Bold & Cold Festival,” Abrahams said of the diligent sculptors. “All of the teams were great to have and be a part of the competition; they were all positive and having fun despite the cold weather.”
Some excess snow was in need of clearing away after the competition, but as the current weather stands now there is no sign of the sculptures melting any time soon. “We encourage everyone to stop down to Central Park in Owatonna to see the sculptures, the sculptures will be available for viewing until they melt,” Abrahams added.
Regardless of the weather, the snow sculpting competition was a success in its first year as part of the Bold and Cold festival, a weeklong celebration that was also in its inaugural year running alongside the Winter Weekend Out.
Abrahams is hoping that next year will see even more sculptures standing at Central Park, that is, as long as the weather cooperates. “We hope to get more teams signed up next year and fill Central Park with many snow sculptures,” she said.