From February 12 to 16, the City of Chicago will host its first Snow Days festival. The snow-sculpting competition will feature some 15 teams of professional snow sculptors from states such as Michigan and Wisconsin; a Mexican team will also compete.
The competition will take place in Grant Park's Spirit of Music Garden, and event organizers hope that the garden's high visibility will help draw some 50,000 spectators. "For years, we've been researching a winter festival that would entice people to come oustide and enjoy the city, even in the coldest months of winter," said Ann Hickey, director of program development at the mayor's office of special events.
Along with the sculpting competition, the festival will feature dog-sledding and snowboarding demonstrations, crafts and storytelling for kids, and on-site vendor carts that will dole out snacks and hot beverages.
