Last year’s Snowman Festival Competition drew seven competitors with some creative use of snow. The Town of Morinville is hoping the abundance of snow will put more families in the game this year. – Morinville News File Photo
By Stephen Dafoe
Morinville – Families have a couple weeks to take advantage of the snow that has accumulated in their yards this winter. Judging for the annual Snowman Festival Competition will take place on Family Day (Feb. 18) and organizers are hoping prizes of $200, $100 and $50 in gift vouchers will provide extra incentive for Morinville families to get out and get creative in the snow.
“It brings community pride and helps bring families together to do something,” said Tyler Edworthy, Morinville Operations and Program Coordinator. “I think it is an excellent opportunity. It’s very no cost for anyone who wants to participate. They build a couple snowmen in front. They get to be creative. I think it is a really cool idea for the town.”
Edworthy said registrations for this year’s contest would be accepted until noon Feb. 15. Registration forms will be available at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre, Town of Morinville Office and the Morinville Community Library.
Once again this year the theme will be centered on the family. Last year’s entries included a snowman hockey game, a vacationing family lounging around the campfire, and a family of snowmen engaged in various outdoor activities. Organizers are hoping to see the same creativity this year but in greater quantity. A lack of snow in 2012 reduced the number of entries down to seven, but Edworthy said previous years have seen a dozen or more entries.
“I’d like to see every house in town [involved],” he said. “With the amount of snow we have had this year, I don’t think it’s a far stretch to get as many people out building snowmen as possible.”
Props are encouraged in building the snowmen displays. “Props are an excellent idea,” Edworthy said. “The more creative you can be with it, the better it is. I know it has had a huge impact with the judging in the past.”
Prizes for the Snowman Festival Competition are being provided by The Morinville Festival Society and will consist of prize vouchers to Morinville businesses. Winners will have the option of selecting any Morinville business to spend their prize money at.
For more information on the competition call Tyler Edworthy at 780-939-7834 or download the entry form here.
