When you live in the north country, winter is something you embrace. This weekend in Stowe, Vt., they're doing just that with the Stowe Winter Carnival.
Some of the country’s best amateur and professional ice carvers create frozen masterpieces on Saturday, January 26. The nationally sanctioned competition is one of many activities during this annual celebration with roots back to 1922.
Yes, ice can be nice. The chopping, picking, chain sawing and creative blow torching goes on between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. with awards and an après ski party starting at 4 p.m.—all at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort's Spruce Peak.
Other activities around the ski town include Snow Golf (they use orange golf balls to keep track of them!), a Super G Ski Race, Kids Carnival, Snow Volleyball Tournament and the family-focused Village Night Block Party.
The sculptures should remain for all to enjoy for some time this winter as we're enjoying colder temperatures now that also make it great for snowmaking and snow squalls.
Stowe's reporting 19 new inches of natural snow fell in the last week, Jay Peak says 25 inches new in seven days, and Smugglers' Notch reports 10 new in last three days. I'm liking the sound of that!
Carnival season continues in Stowe with the University of Vermont Winter Carnival nordic and alpine ski races on February 1-2. We'll be there!
