Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Event Returns This Week to Washington Park 

The City of Dubuque Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) are pleased to partner to present the 2025 Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Competition and Festival in Washington Park (700 Locust St.) from Thursday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 9. The free community event will be from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the park.

Teams will be located along Bluff St., sculpting from Thursday, Feb. 6, until 12 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9. Each team begins with 6 ft. by 8 ft. block of manufactured snow. The public is encouraged to visit sculptors and observe the carving process throughout the week and into the weekend.

From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, the community is invited to explore the final snow sculptures and vote for their favorite, online or in-person. Hands-on community sculpting and arts activities throughout the day include:

  • 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Youth design workshops in the DuMA classroom ($5 materials fee)
  • 12 p.m. Klauer SnoGo snowblower demo
  • 12 – 4 p.m. Hot chocolate by YAPPERS
  • 12 – 3:30 p.m. People’s choice favorite sculpture voting
  • 12 – 1 p.m. Sculpture jurors on-site
  • 4 p.m. Award presentations inside DuMA lobby

Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh will present the awards and cash prizes at 4 p.m. in the DuMA lobby. Galena Coffee Roasters food truck will be on site for purchase all day and Swagat Indian food truck will be on site for purchase for lunch.

During Sunday’s activities, 7th St. will be closed between Locust St. and Bluff St. in front of the museum. In addition, there will be no parking on the east side of Bluff St. between 6th and 7th streets. A map of adjacent on-street, lot, and ramp parking options is available online. Parking is free on Sundays.

The event is supported through in-kind contributions from Sundown Mountain, Conlon Construction, Weber Concrete, and KWWL. Volunteer event support also comes from Black Hills Energy, Selco, Inc., Jimmy Johns, HyVee, Casey’s General Store, Green Acres Storage, Grand River Center, and Wicked River Event Production.

Volunteers are needed on Tuesday, Feb.4, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., or 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., to prepare the blocks of snow for the sculptors. Volunteer information and signup is available at VolunteerDBQ or by contacting Danielle Stowell at 563-581-9688 or dms@wickedriverevents.com.

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