Snow sculpting festival is a winter highlight

Photo by DDA

After heavy equipment operators load the forms with snow one bucket at a time, cheerful volunteers stomp the snow to pack it down until the forms are filled.

By Alison Brush DDA Executive Director

Driggs Snowscapes – The Art of Sculpting Snow began ten years ago as a signature local event designed to celebrate Teton Valley’s abundant resource, snow!

Teams of artists from all over the country, some state and national champions, have come to Driggs to enjoy the friendly competition and to sculpt alongside a growing list of local snow sculptors, including high school students.

Broad community support begins with planning that starts months in advance, led by the nonprofit Downtown Driggs Association, whose mission is to foster a vibrant and thriving downtown Driggs. The week prior, concrete forms are used to build 8x8x8 foot containers for the snow blocks. On Friday, January 14, over 30 tons of clean snow will be harvested and then transported to the Driggs Pla-

za to start the form filling for the very popular Snow Stomping community volunteer event! Heavy equipment operators load the forms one bucket at a time, and hundreds of volunteers stomp the snow to pack it down until the forms are filled. The forms are removed after two days, and the blocks are ready to be carved.

Artists work, often in severe weather conditions, over four long days without the use of electric tools. One block is always set aside for teaching snow sculpting to children, while being transformed into a fun community zone. On Friday night at 10 p.m. all sculpting stops. On Saturday morning, a carefully selected jury judges the sculptures, while the public is invited to decide which sculptures deserve the People’s and Kids’ Choice awards. The always well-attended Snow Ball finishes the day with a fun community party and awards ceremony.

To keep this popular event free and accessible for everyone, local businesses give their support through in-kind and cash donations. Teton Valley Resort is the Title Sponsor, and Headlining Sponsors include the Bronze Buffalo Sporting Club, Peaked Sports, and Idaho Central Credit Union. Collaborating organizations include Driggs City Public Works, JK Concrete, Avail Construction, Teton Arts, Seniors West of the Tetons, and Teton Regional Economic Coalition, who join a long list of volunteers to make the event possible and successful each year.

Driggs is fortunate to be one of a handful of towns in the west that host a snow sculpting competition. Thousands of people come from all over the region to experience Snowscapes while enjoying the best of downtown Driggs - hospitality, restaurants, shopping and this unique public art experience in a beautiful setting.

For schedule details - www. downtowndriggs.org and @downtowndriggs

In 2020, “Perilous Crossing” took second place and People’s Choice.

Photo by DDA

This article is a paid promotional feature. n