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The Windy City Snowmen team won first place in the 40th Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition, according to a community announcement.
The event, organized by the Rockford Park District, brought together 13 state teams and 10 high school teams.
Team wins for adult and high school divisions
Windy City Snowmen took the top spot with their sculpture “Our Founding Father.” The Snowbra Kai team secured second place with “The Witch King,” and The Band of Misfit Boys claimed third place with “Killer Whale.” The Snowbeards team received the Committee’s Choice award for their piece “Rockford Pride.”
In the high school division, Byron High School won first place with “Guardian of Innocence.” Rockford Lutheran High School took second with “Chicken of the Sea,” and Belvidere North High School placed third with “Monkey Business.”
Additional awards were given for spirit, artistic choice and people’s choice. Roosevelt Community Education Center won the Linda K. White Spirit Award for “Croc-A-Doodle-Do.” Keith Country Day School received the Artist’s Choice Award for “eXes and snOs,” and Rockford Christian High School earned the People’s Choice Award for “Wrap Music.”
Event aims to inspire artists, foster community pride
The competition is a free, family-friendly event that showcases large-scale sculptures crafted from compacted snow blocks.“This competition creates meaningful opportunities for young sculptors to learn from experienced artists, fosters community pride, is a major winter tourist draw, and gives residents and visitors a fun way to enjoy life during the cold winter months,” said Kellie Olivencia, Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition Coordinator.
The event draws artists, families and winter enthusiasts from across the region.
For more information, visit ilsnowsculpting.com.
This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
