Discover the 2025 Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships Posted on January 29, 2025 - 6:06 pm by Stacy Sanchez Experience the Magic of the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships Breckenridge, Colorado, transforms into a winter wonderland every January as it hosts the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships presented by Toyota, a world-renowned event that draws artists and visitors from across the globe. This annual tradition celebrates art, creativity, and the breathtaking beauty of snow—and 2025 promises to be a spectacular showcase of talent. What Are the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships? Imagine massive, 25-ton blocks of snow being hand-carved into intricate, larger-than-life works of art. That’s exactly what happens during the Snow Sculpture Championships. Twelve teams from around the world—including participants from Argentina, Germany, South Korea, and the USA—descend on Breckenridge with just their tools, inspiration, and a vision. Power tools? Not allowed! These masterpieces are created with hand tools and countless hours of labor, totaling approximately 94 hours over five days. Once completed, the result is nothing short of awe-inspiring: a temporary outdoor art gallery set against the stunning backdrop of Breckenridge’s historic downtown. For a few magical days, these sculptures captivate spectators before melting away, reminding us to cherish the fleeting beauty of art and nature. Key Dates for 2025 Mark your calendar for these essential dates to experience the event: Sculpting Week: January 20-24, 2025 Viewing Week: January 24-29, 2025 While timed-entry reservations are required on Saturday, January 25, spectators are encouraged to visit the sculptures from Sunday, January 26, through Wednesday, January 29, when no reservations are needed. Note that the sculpture viewing area will close at 5:00 PM on January 29—so don’t wait until the last minute to see these works of art! Meet the 2025 Teams This year’s lineup includes 12 international teams, each bringing a unique cultural perspective to their designs. Among the competitors are: Argentina Quebec-Canada Finland Germany India South Korea Mexico Mongolia Turkey USA-Breckenridge USA-Wisconsin/SnowOne USA-Wisconsin/Snowblind Each team earns its spot through a rigorous selection process, with artists submitting proposals the previous summer. The result is a lineup of elite sculptors ready to transform snow into stunning artistic expressions. The Riverwalk Center: Your Event Hub The heart of the Snow Sculpture Championships is the Riverwalk Center, where the event is free and open to the public. Located in the heart of downtown Breckenridge, the Riverwalk Center serves as the hub for event activities and information. From here, you’re just steps away from the sculptures, as well as Breckenridge’s charming shops, restaurants, and historic landmarks. Discover Downtown Breckenridge While the snow sculptures are the main event, Breckenridge’s vibrant downtown offers plenty to explore. Take a leisurely stroll along Main Street, where you’ll find: Boutiques and Shops: From cozy winter gear to unique souvenirs, downtown Breckenridge has something for everyone. Restaurants and Cafés: Warm up with a cup of hot cocoa or indulge in gourmet cuisine at one of the town’s many dining spots. Local favorites include Hearthstone Restaurant and Crepes A La Cart. Breckenridge Welcome Center: Dive into the town’s history with interactive exhibits and helpful tips on making the most of your visit. For those looking to embrace the outdoors, Breckenridge’s trails and parks provide a stunning winter backdrop. Take a walk along the Blue River Recpath or head up to Carter Park for sledding and snowy fun. Tips for Spectators To make the most of your visit to the Snow Sculpture Championships, keep these tips in mind: Dress Warmly: Temperatures can dip low, especially at night. Layers, hats, gloves, and sturdy winter boots are a must. Plan Your Visit: If you’re attending on Saturday, January 25, be sure to reserve your timed entry in advance. Arriving earlier in the week? Enjoy fewer crowds and a more relaxed experience. Photograph the Art: Bring your camera or smartphone to capture these incredible sculptures. Early mornings and evenings often provide the best lighting for photos. Support the Event: Consider donating to the Breckenridge Tourism Office, which helps keep the event free and accessible for all. Why Visit Breckenridge in Winter? The Snow Sculpture Championships are just one of many reasons to visit Breckenridge during the winter months. This charming mountain town offers: World-Class Skiing and Snowboarding: With five peaks and over 2,900 acres of skiable terrain, Breckenridge Ski Resort is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing: Explore serene trails at the Breckenridge Nordic Center, located just minutes from downtown. Festive Atmosphere: The town’s holiday lights, cozy fireplaces, and friendly locals create a warm and inviting vibe. Whether you’re here for the snow sculptures, the slopes, or simply to soak in the alpine beauty, Breckenridge offers something special for everyone. Plan Your Visit Today Don’t miss the 2025 Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships presented by Toyota—a one-of-a-kind event that combines art, culture, and community in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Whether you’re marveling at the sculptures, exploring downtown, or enjoying Breckenridge’s endless winter activities, you’re sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. Start planning your trip today and experience the magic of Breckenridge in winter!
Sledding and Tubing in Summit County, CO Posted on January 12, 2022 - 1:51 pm by Stacy Sanchez Sledding Hills in Breckenridge Planning a family ski trip to vacation this winter in Breckenridge or Summit County? If so, then you’ll want to bookmark this page to make the most of your time and mix it up. What I mean is, skiing is hard work and can be tiring, so it’s good to take a day off to rest the legs, or you can visit these sledding hills before or after your time on the hill. Whatever you choose as your agenda, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the different choices for free and paid options to sled around the county. We’re going to start with the sledding options in The Kingdom. Of course, the weekends are busier, so if you have a choice, I’d say go early or go late and expect some sleds in community “take one, leave one” type set ups, but those could all be taken or even broken, so don’t rely on those. If you’re staying at a rental property, I would ask your host if there are sleds on site to borrow, or if you’ll need to purchase your own. If you need to purchase some quickly, the small, but expensive, grocery store near the post office is the closest option. Next would be the City Market near the gondola. Over in Frisco is Walmart and in Silverthorne is Target. Equipment List Whether you go to Breck or somewhere else, your day will be much more fun if you bring the following items. BACKPACK – to carry on the hill, or just leave it in the car if it’s relatively close by to get to. SNOW CLOTHES – to wear while sliding down the hill. You’ll get hot walking back up, so a ball cap with a brim and a hooded jacket is my headwear of choice.EYE PROTECTION – to shield your eyes from UV and from flying snow when you put your feet down to slow down / steer. Goggles or sunglasses work just fine. Maybe stash a glass cleaner cloth in your pocket to wipe off snow. GLOVES OR MITTENS – to keep your hands warm. Bring an extra pair because these will probably get wet and cold.BOOTS – these should be waterproof or be prepared to have cold feet. You can wear normal shoes, but you will be more comfortable in snow specific footwear. SUNSCREEN AND LIP BALM – to protect your exposed skin from the wind and sun.SNACKS – stash any food you don’t want to freeze in an inside pocket to keep warm. THERMOS – of hot chocolate goes a long way on keeping the little warm and energized for the day. Carter Park The classic and most popular sledding hill in Breck. Find directions and more information about this option by clicking here. Bonuses for this location include a dog park, and a set of covered picnic tables and even Town-maintained bathrooms. Parking is limited so be prepared to walk from town, if you’re staying nearby, or be patient as cars come and go. Runway Sledding Hill on Fraction Drive Find directions to the newest option by clicking here. I recently went with a favorite little person and we went by Carter Park first and it was super busy. We did about 8 runs before heading to this park, which was considerably less busy. We must’ve hit it just right, as it got busier as we finished up, which was close to when the ski lifts closed. Other sledding in Breckenridge – Country Boy Mine Sledding at the Country Boy Mine is also new, and is a privately owned company, and is not affiliated with the Town of Breckenridge. What they do offer looks amazing and super fun! I cannot attest to this experience, but here’s a video I found that shows what it may be like. Click here to learn about this and other options at the Country Boy Mine. Read more about the sledding hills around town on the GoBreck website by clicking here. Extreme Sledding at Country Boy MineWatch this video on YouTube Sledding and Tubing Hills in Frisco – Frisco Adventure Park Lift-assisted or Traditional options are available here. This is a more beginner friendly area, with options to go nordic skiing and snowshoeing on the popular Frisco Peninsula recreation area. Click here to learn more about option in the Town of Frisco. Sledding Hills in Silverthorne – Rainbow Park Near the Silverthorne Recreation Center is Rainbow Park. In addition to a traditional playground for the kids, it has a big soccer field that turns into a nice and easy slope for sledding. Tubing at Copper Mountain Just west of Frisco, before you head up Vail Pass, is the Copper Mountain Resort. In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, you can check out Woodward and even go tubing. Click here for info on the tubing pricing and details. Tubing at the Keystone Resort In addition to tubing at the Keystone Resort, there’s an awesome kids section and snowfort (not available for winter /21-22)! Click here for information on tubing at Adventure Point. Other Sledding Hills in Vail and Beaver Creek During my searching for links and information I found this link that explores options to the west. Worth a look if you’re sharing time on your winter vacation in Breck with Vail and Beaver Creek. Have fun, be safe and happy sledding! Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Breckenridge, Colorado – International Snow Sculpting Competition Posted on January 3, 2018 - 9:12 pm by Stacy Sanchez Breckenridge, Colorado – International Snow Sculpting Competition The Breckenridge, Colorado – International Snow Sculpting Competition is an annual event that draws thousands of locals and visitors to the core of the historic district in downtown Breck. Teams brave the sun, cold and wind of a high alpine environment to work with tons of snow, stomped on by hundreds of volunteers to create a square blank canvas of solid snow. Creativity, hard work and execution come together over a week of carving before the time limit and judging. I’ve seen some delicate pieces crash before the judging. If you can see the teams working on the sculpture before the deadline, I would highly recommend it. It’s fun to see the different roles that team members take. You can see it’s a collective effort from a group of dedicated people working with a temporary medium, and producing amazing exhibits that brings families together to spend time together. It’s one of my favorite events in Breckenridge, just for its originality and uniqueness. Breck Snow Sculptures 2017: The Blank Canvases Watch this video on YouTube Breck Snow Sculptures Video and Photo Albums I’ve shared videos to the blocks and then to a longer, carving section of clips. The final designs are showed at the end. But, I wanted to show the artists at work. Because that’s how I saw them. It was fun to put these together, and I try to put out an album or group of images of both carving in action, and final designs, so please come back to this blog and our social profiles to see more fun images of the snow sculptures in Breck and other mountain life scenery, community info and Summit County, Colorado MLS highlights and featured homes. Please contact us to learn more about this event and other lifestyle amenities from living in the high country. 2017 2016 2015 2014 2015 International Snow Sculpting Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado Watch this video on YouTube Get Answers to Your Questions The area of Summit County is very diverse and the different mountain towns each have their own feel. Some properties for sale are downtown and close to all the action, but if remote and quiet is more your style, we can customize a search just for you. There are many neighborhoods near the Town of Breckenridge, so let’s talk soon and we can find your dream home or property. Sometimes you just want to build and get everything you want. It’s absolutely possible. Contact us to learn more. No pressure, we’re here to help you dream and wonder, and to ask yourself, what if you did buy that home in the mountains? What would your life be like then? CONTACT US Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.