The St. Paul Winter Carnival snow sculpture contest started last weekend. Mom avoids these big events because they are packed with people, and many are not dog friendly. On Facebook, Mom saw that they had some rat carvings for the Year of the Rat, and she knew we needed to go, so go we did. Since Olivia and I are the rat hunters, and three dogs would be just too much, Bailie stayed home. She isn’t into car rides, so it was fine with her.
Back in January 2016, Mom took Emma to a nose work field trip at the State Fair Grounds on a Sunday morning. As they were leaving, they passed all the snow blocks for the upcoming snow sculpting contest. Of course, Emma had to get out and have her photo taken. The contest is held on the State Fair grounds every year in the Vulcan Snow Park. As you look at some of the sculptures we took photos of, remember, they all started as these snow blocks.
To avoid chaos, Mom took us to the event early Sunday morning. Yes, we left home at 7 am, before eating breakfast. It was nice because only the sculpting people were there working on their pieces of art, and some small loaders were driving around delivering more snow to those who had requested it. I found the Year of the Rat sculpture first. I couldn’t focus on the camera because that guy delivering snow was close, and making me nervous.
This Star Wars sculpture was really big and very well done. The man said it was his first year in the contest. Amazing!
We like this goofy bird on a sled. He is pretty funny.
Koalas are so in the news right now with the fires in Australia, we were not surprised to find this one carved out of snow.
Since Bailie loves to run around the house squeaking her hedgehog, we had to take a shot of this giant one made out of snow for her. Don’t tell anyone, but I think it actually looks a bit like Bailie’s smile!
This racing rodent is pretty cute. We are not sure if it is a racing mouse, or racing rat, but we like it either way.
Whoooo goes there? Yes, this is one wise snow owl I would guess. Naturally, smarty pants wanted a shot with it.
We found another rodent that wasn’t yet completed. Mouse or rat, can’t tell, but we like the ears! The St. Paul Winter Carnival has the snow sculpture contest every year. This year it is almost too warm, but the sculptors do their best in the weather we have.
This giant animal with the jumbo fangs was rather scary looking. It is not our favorite, but it was still fun to see because of it’s size.
Here is the Year of the Rat again without a dog in front of it. The areas are fairly close together and are roped off, so one can’t get really close. We are happy it won second place in the snow sculpture contest this year.
The St. Paul Winter Carnival Vulcan Snow Park is always at the fairgrounds. It’s one of the few times we can actually go to the fairgrounds. For me and Olivia it was our first time, and we would like to go back to snoop around when the weather is better, and it is not so icy. Hope you enjoyed the snow sculptures.
We are joining our friends at Living Laughing and Barking in Our Backyard for their Nature Friday blog hop.
oh that is so beautiful! how bad that it will melt away once… who has such a big freezer to keep it?
It will melt, and they can make new ones.
The carvings are just amazing!
They are all great, but some are really over the top.
The year of the rat in snow sculptures! Yep you girls HAD to go! I bet Ratty wanted to hear all about it! You look great in all of your pictures. Those artists are amazing! How do they do it?? Mom and I went through all the pictures and kept saying, that’s our favorite, wait, that one’s our favorite! We love them all! Great post. Have a great day! your friend Lilly
I wanted to bring ratty along, but Mom said no. They are so fun to see. We only took photos of about 20% of them, just our favorites. Happy weekend!
That sure takes a lot of time and talent but they are all really pretty! I’m glad you two sweeties got to go see the big rats!
It is a serious talent. These folks are amazing!
You took my breath away with the first picture… our beloved Emma. I love her and miss her so very much. Those sculptures are amazing! Around her we have sand sculptures since there is no snow. Have a happy weekend! XOXO, Sparkle
Sand sculptures are super amazing too! As for Emma, we miss her, but Mom is still so very sad and has leaky eyes pretty much at some point every day.
How beautiful. I would love to see this in person. The pups are much better looking though.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. My best to your peeps. ♥
Photos can’t do them justice as there is so much to see, and in person the size really comes out.
Wow! What a fun group of sculptures and how pawfect to see you rat hunters to be able to see so many frozen rodents!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
I think we could hunt them frozen or not! As a matter of fact, we are going hunting this afternoon.
Thank you for the tour girls. It’s like going to a snow sculpture museum. Enjoy your weekend!
It kind of is. Early in the morning they are working on them, so there is lots of junk around, but we prefer that over herds of humans milling around.
I think the carvings are great, but 7:00am?
We wanted to beat the crowds, and it paid off.
My word Ladies what talent!! Golly gee I know that was fun to see all the critters.
How in the world do the artist keep their fingers from freezing?
Thanks you for sharing these
Hugs Cecilia
The are wearing gloves and use all kinds of tools to do the carving part.
What fun! That ice rat would take a lot of straw to cover!
He didn’t smell like a rat either!
Those are awesome! Very talented people.
We can’t imagine even trying to do something like that.
We did enjoy it, and we’re glad you girls got to go! When I was in high school, we always went to the Dartmouth College winter carnival and they had snow sculptures. It was so much fun, but I don’t think I’ve been to one since!
It’s amazing what these people can do with a block of snow.
What a fun place! It does look like you had a fun visit.
It was really fun to see them working and what they could do with snow.
Wow…those are very impressive!
They are very talented artists!
What a great place to visit. We think the concept of a ‘snow koala’ is most confusing! Gail hopes you did not leave too much yellow snow for the sculptors…
Toodle pip!
Bertie.
Heavens no! We didn’t pee anywhere in the sculpture area. Mom said we needed to use our best lady manners.
those are simply amazing! Love the mouse with the cheese!
The year of the rat!