Amateur Snow Carving Contest

Each year during the Ely Winter Festival, the Nothern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA) sponsors an Amateur Snow Carving Contest. This year's contest will be held from January 31 - February 6 with judging at 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 7th. Participants need to enter to reserve one of 20 4’x4’ snow blocks available for carving in Whiteside Park over the week. The contest is for amateur carvers and is judged according to the following three categories: 1) Individuals, adult or student; 2) Adult groups; 3) Student groups.

Contest is now full and no more entries will be accepted.

Rules

• Twenty (20) blocks are available, one block per group, on a "first come first serve" basis according to entry order (click here to submit an entry online).
• Contestants may carve Monday, February 1 through Saturday, February 6, 2010. Judging will be held the following Sunday. (Judge's Tip: the judges find carvings that have a cleverness to them more attractive. They also look for ways the basic block shape is changed, carved away, etc.)
• No colorants are allowed, but the theme is wide open for creativity! As we've seen in the past, it's amazing what can be carved from snow! A sign will be left in the park for each group or individual who should pick a block and claim it with the sign.
• Once you have submitted an entry, unless otherwise notified, you are registered for a block.
• A few things we've learned from experience:
  1. We will try to provide the best block we can for your use, however, we are not responsible for the weather conditions, or condition of the snow, should it warm up.
  2. We will try to make the entry categories as fair as we can. You must tell us who and how many are carving, to determine your category. (Also, if in a youth group category, youth should be designing and carving the block, not adults.)
  3. Once you mark a block with the sign, it is yours; do not switch blocks.
  4. Watch the weather forecast and then plan your carving around the weather and the judging. For example, if it is to be warm and sunny on Wednesday, save carving for later so that the block does not begin to deteriorate once carved down.