January 24-26, 2014, are the dates for the annual New Hampshire Snow Sculpting Competition to be held at Black Mountain in Jackson. The winners of this year’s New Hampshire championship, open only to sculptors 18 and older who live or work in New Hampshire, will be invited to the National Championship in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 2015. In addition to the sanctioned state competition, awards include the Jackson Invitational Prizes awarded by the judges, and the People’s Choice Award, determined by all visitors to the event. Professional and amateur artists of any age are eligible to compete for these other awards. Snow sculptures are judged based on technique, creativity, and message. Some sculptures from 2013 are shown above.
Scat snow scupture Jackson NH
In preparation for the event, cylinders of snow 8 feet high and 4 feet in diameter are prepared. Teams who come from Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont as well as New Hampshire, have from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning to complete their sculptures for judging. Lights allow sculptors to work into the night if they wish. Onlookers can enjoy roasting marshmallow by a bonfire (weather permitting), scavenger hunts Saturday at 11 am and Sunday at 10 am, and live auctions during the weekend to help support this event.
The Inn at Ellis River is one of the sponsors for this special winter art form. The Inn hosts a team, and all competitors find the Inn’s lip balm and our homemade oatmeal raisin cookies in their welcome bags. In 2013, we hosted Wade Parsons who won with his spectacular carving of Scat. You can see his work in progress on the left, and the award winning sculpture on the right. We look forward to seeing this year’s creative snow art only found in Jackson’s winter wonderland!
