2010 will be the 20th year of International Snow Sculpture Championships. The Sculptures "live" in the area around the Riverwalk Center grounds at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424. Click here for a map.
The winners of the 20th Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships were announced on Sunday, January 31, 2010-
1st Place and Kids' Choice- Team Lithuania2nd Place- Team Canada, Ontario3rd Place- Team Mexico
People's Choice- Team USA/Alaska
Artists' Choice- Team Wisconsin
Please click here for the 2010 event program booklet.
We welcome visitors from beginning to the end of this free event (January 26-February 7, 2010). Artists sculpt from Tuesday, January 26 at 11:00 a.m. until Saturday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m., judging is at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, the awards ceremony is at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 31 and sculptures will remain standing weather permitting until the night of Sunday, February 7, 2010 (until approx. 11pm). PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A SNOWY, HIGH ALPINE ENVIRONMENT. DRESS WARMLY AND APPROPRIATELY WITH HIGH TRACTION SHOES. We think the evening of Friday, January 29 is one of the best times to visit. Artists are preparing to stay up all night to do detail work and the atmosphere is celebratory. Why not spend a night or two and catch the whole weekend? You won't regret seeing the sculptures evolve and witnessing the awards given out. Please click here for a printable version of the schedule.
January 26-30, 2010 Sculpting Week- Sculpting begins at 11:00 a.m.on Tuesday, January 26 with a shotgun start and sculpting ends on Saturday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m. The awards ceremony will be on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 3:30 p.m.
January 31 to February 7, 2010 Viewing Week - (Please note that visitors are welcome at this free event anytime from January 26 to February 7- not just during viewing week.) During viewing week, the artists are done sculpting but the sculptures are here for your viewing pleasure. Weather permitting the snow sculptures will stay up until the night of Sunday, February 7, 2010 until approx. 11pm and then they will disappear under the darkness of night- just as magically as they appeared! We say that viewing week is weather permitting because every once in a while we need to take down a sculpture that is about to fall due to warm weather. Over the past few years we have only taken down one or two sculptures due to weather so it is a pretty good bet that you will be able to see all or most of the sculptures (and without the crowds!).
Where are the sculptures located? The Snow Sculptures are located in the area around the Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424. The competition sculptures are in the Riverwalk Center (Tiger Dredge) parking lot and the sponsor/exhibition sculptures are spread onto the "lawn" just north of the Riverwalk Center and across the river in the Blue River Plaza adjacent to Main Street. Event Headquarters are in the Riverwalk Center.
Who will be sculpting this year?This year we have 12 teams from 6 countries- Canada, China, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Mexico and the United States. Within the United States we have teams from Alaska, Breckenridge/Colorado, Loveland/Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Please click here for the 2010 event program booklet.
Where may visitors park?
There will be limited pay parking available at the Riverwalk (Tiger Dredge) parking lot which is the parking lot where the sculptures are located. Please click here for a map. On January 30-31 the Riverwalk (Tiger Dredge) parking lot will be closed to automobiles due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic in that area. But parking is available throughout downtown Breckenridge. Free day parking is available at the Courthouse Lot, off the alley between Wellington and Lincoln; the Barney Ford Lot, at the corner of Ridge Street and Washington Avenue; the French Street Lot, on the corner of French Street and Jefferson Avenue Click here for more general parking information.
On January 30-31 and February 6-7, parking will ONLY be allowed on the EAST side of Park Avenue adjacent to the Riverwalk (Tiger Dredge) parking lot. Please obey posted signage indicating whether parking is allowed. Please do not utilize the F-Lot Transit Center off of Park Avenue as a turn around or drop off area for cars. The transit center is for buses only.
Also, on January 30-31 a special Snow Sculpture shuttle will run between the event site (F-Lot transit center) and the satellite/free skier parking off of Airport Road. The shuttle will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and there will be signage directing visitors to the satellite/free skier parking off of Airport Road as well as the special shuttle stop. Please click here for a map.
Free public transportation is also available throughout the town from 6:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., provided by the Breckenridge Free Ride. Maps are available at Event Headquarters located in the Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, The Welcome Center on Main Street, Breckenridge Station and on each bus. Or click here to find out more about the Breckenridge Free Ride. The closest bus stop to Event Headquarters is the F-Lot, which is serviced by most bus routes.
Where should private charter buses park and drop off/pick up?
Private charter buses may utilize the F-Lot Transit Center near the Riverwalk (Tiger Dredge) Lot to drop off and pick up guests. Please click here for a map. Buses may not park on Park Avenue or in the Tiger Dredge Lot. Buses will be directed to park in the satellite/free skier parking off of Airport Road and return to the event site to pick up guests. For more information about parking please click here.
A Permanent Memento Be sure to stop by Events Headquarters for postcards, fleeces, pins and more. The Snow Sculpture Headquarters merchandise sales and history room will be closed on Saturday, January 31 and on Sunday, February 1. Event memorabilia and information will be available at the Welcome Center located in the Blue River Plaza. History on Display Discover the process of snow sculpting, information about the teams and lots of interesting trivia. Located at Headquarters, this exhibit explores the last 18 years of the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Don't Forget to Vote Support your favorite sculpture with the People's Choice Vote. Voting occurs throughout sculpting week through Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m. Stop by Event Headquarters or look for our volunteers throughout the site. A $1 donation receives one vote and goes directly to supporting the International Snow Sculpture Championships. The Magic of Ice Don't miss the spectacular Ice Village, located at the Riverwalk Center. Each intricate carving is sculpted into a glowing statue. The sculptures represent many of the supporters of the Snow Sculpture Championships.
------------------------- For more information or to volunteer, email Michelle Gehr, Chief of Volunteers at michelleg@townofbreckenridge.com or 970-547-3100. For sponsorship opportunities, email Sally Croker at scroker@gobreck.com or call 970-453-5074.
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents. They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.