By Amber McIver-Traywick

The Surveyor

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for many reasons, including the return of Berthoud Snowfest. The Berthoud Area Chamber of commerce is hosting the winter festival for the fourth year as well as welcoming artists from across the state as they compete in the 2019 Colorado Snow Sculpting Championship.

This event provides activities right here in Berthoud to get you and your family out of the house and enjoying some seasonal fun for all ages.

The giant cylinders of snow used in the snow sculpting competition will be the first hint of the coming festivities. The snow blocks which are themselves an interesting sight to see, will be constructed between Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 9-10 along Seventh Street by Fickel Park where the competition will take place.

A Snowfest launch party will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5:30- 7 p.m., and will include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, at New Freedom Outreach, located at 250 Mountain Avenue. Tickets for the party are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Attendees will get to meet the snow sculpting artists as well as mingle with the event’s sponsors.

Artists will work on their creations throughout the rest of the week, the best viewing times are on Friday night and Saturday morning as the impressive, but temporary works of art are coming together.

The competition will culminate with an awards ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11:00 a.m. – the top three teams will be invited to go on to the United States National Snow Sculpting Championship in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Aspiring kid snow sculptures will get a chance to make their own frozen works of art on Thursday Dec. 12 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. with a mini-snow cylinder of their own – sculpting tools will be provided. The Berthoud High School cheerleaders will have a booth at the event selling hot chocolate, cookies, donuts and other baked goods. Additionally, for those who pre-register for the sculpting at berthoudsnowfest.com there will be two drawings to win the chance to go inside an enclosure, hang out, and get your picture taken with real, live reindeer. The reindeer will be coming to Snowfest from the Jessen Reindeer Ranch in Loveland and are sponsored by NoCo Hemp Expo.

Plan on making a day of it on Saturday, Dec. 14, when attendees can enjoy a free, family-friendly concert by The Kilted Man at 10:30 a.m. at the Berthoud Community Library, stop for some lunch at one of Berthoud’s restaurants, visit the artisan market at New Freedom Outreach Center from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for handmade items for sale, then grab something warm and delicious at one of Berthoud’s local coffee shops.

Finally, enjoy Berthoud’s annual Parade of Lights which will take place along Mountain Avenue at 5:00 p.m. followed by the official tree lighting ceremony and caroling by candlelight in Fickel Park.

For more information visit berthoudsnowfest.com.