Sneak Peak Wednesday January 23rd
First and foremost, we are going to try something new on the Snowfest page. We are going to try and keep a running blog about whats happening at Snowfest and give you a place to come and get the scoop and see pictures of whats going on. Hope you enjoy! Check back often for updates.. We mean like a few times a day!
So the Annual Snowfest is finally here. And what better way to start the festival, but with a snow storm of about 6 inches of that fluffy white stuff. Tuesday afternoon our international and national teams bundled up and started working on their creations. So far so good the snow has already started to crumble off the massive blocks and take form into their amazing creations. When you come on down to check out Snowfest make sure you check out each teams area. It's insane what these guys... and girls pull off in just 5 days time. Some groups even have models of what their sculptures are to look like at the end. To get a sneak peak at some of the action that has been going on at Snowfest, click here for a link to first day photos. --- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest 2008
So what's in store for today at the opening day of all the wonderful activities, you may ask.. And we may say just about anything and everything that you would want to see and do!
The international and national snow sculptures will be at it all day. Come out and watch how they go from a large block of snow to something so incredible. It truly amazes us! You can even get a glance at some of the tools that they are using.
Children from local schools will get the chance to see Snowfest and some local properties up close and personal this morning (and tomorrow morning). Guided tours, hot chocolate and cookies and of course first hand instructions on how snow sculpting is done and even a chance to sculpt on their own block of snow!
Opening at 11am there is the Warming Tent, and really folks its pretty warm inside! There are all kinds of activities going on and lots of really good food too! Today is the 3rd annual Apple Pie Contest, doesn't that sound yummy! Check back later this afternoon or tomorrow morning for a link to photos and the winner.
And starting this evening the State of Michigan sculptors will get to start chopping away at their own snow blocks over at the Bavariann Inn Restaurant parking lot. Tomorrow check for a link to see the first pictures of what those talented sculptors are looking to create.
Check back later today for more of whats happening and links to see new photos of the first day of Snowfest 08! ---- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest 2008 -- Day One Blog 2
Ok, so the day so far has been a busy one! The kids were here and we are pretty sure they had fun. As we speak (type) the Apple Pie Contest is going on. And they sure looked good! The winners should be up this evening (maybe) or first thing tomorrow morning. The sneak peek pictures are up and live and hopefully before the days end some of the pictures from today will be up for everyone to see! Come out and enjoy all the events that are going on with Snowfest this week and weekend. ---- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest 2008 - Day Two Blog 1
Sorry guys that we haven't gotten a blog up today to tell you what's been going on so far this morning at Snowfest. We were outside with the groups of kids all morning. Well the international and US snow sculptors are still all out doing their thing, working hard on their masterpieces. Some of them are really starting to come to life. The State of Michigan ones are now started and so are the area High School ones. It's neat to see the next generation of sculptors. The Dueling Piano lunch is going on today, we need to get out and see what time the show starts, so we can snap some pictures to put up on the web for everyone to see. Warming Tent is warm and open for business. And tonight is the Dueling Chainsaws compeitition, thats so crazy to see what these guys can make with a chainsaw in like 20 minutes. Also tonight in the Warming Tent is Christian Night with the group, 33 Miles. Ok thats all we have for now cause we need to get the pictures up from yesterday, find the apple pie results and get back out and take more pictures.---- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest 2008 - Day Two Blog 2
Ok sorry it took so long but here are the photos from yesterday! Click here for photos
The Apple Pie Contest Winners are as follows also

1st Place was Fred Burns from Sparta with “My Father’s Apple Pie”
2nd Place was Amy Jo Bates from Saginaw with “Best All American Apple Pie”
3rd Place was Carol Socier from Bay City with “Tropical Twist Apple Coconut Crumb”
4th Place was Linda Tower from Portland with “Slice of Apple Pie”

Snowfest Day Two Blog 3
Just thought we would drop a real quick line and give you all an update, it's just so darn fun though to be outside and seeing everything that is being created. 15 mins and the chainsaws will be going.. Got to get some pictures of that. These will all be up tomorrow morning.. Promise! Got to listen to the sound check for 33 Miles this afternoon, very impressed, looking forward to hearing them in a while. Come out and enjoy the snow! We gotta go! ---- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest Day Three Blog 1
Click here for photos
Good Morning! Happy Friday! It's almost the weekend, so that means come on out and enjoy Snowfest. It’s gonna be perfect weather for all our events. Yesterday's Dueling Pianos luncheon was INCREDIBLE! It was the first time that this was at Snowfest and from the wonderful crowd response we are pretty sure that it will be back again! It was great family fun entertainment. The two performers were just awesome and they get the crowd into the show so much. It was definitely an old fashioned good time. Last night they set up all the ice sculptures of the different sponsors of Snowfest, so look for them when you visit around the town. So as you are wandering around town make sure you check those out. Last night we also had the Dueling Chainsaws event that we started to tell you about last night. You can also check out the link on the side to find out what they had to create and who won the challenge. We have no idea how they create such neat things in just a matter of 15 minutes. Christian night filled up our warming tent last night. Everyone loved the sound of all the bands that performed. Frankenmuth Bible Church, Brian Smith and 33 Miles put on wonderful shows and they had everyone on their feet having a great time. Ok let's get down to what’s happening right now at Snowfest. All the teams are back at their blocks and getting down to business. Things are really starting to take awesome shape. The Great Lakes Professional Ice Carving Competition has already started this morning. Again amazing what these guys will make in just a few hours. Tonight is Country Night in the tent and the kids play area opens up today at 3 p.m., so hopefully we can make it over to that and see all the kids having fun. Oh and there are even hot air balloons tonight! So pretty! Even though its great to talk to all you out there and telling you about Snowfest, we love showing you so we better get back to uploading pictures. Come out and enjoy the great family fun of Snowfest! -- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest Day Three Blog 2
Click here for photos

Click here for more photos

Click here to see even more photos
Well the majority of the day light hours are now over, but don't think that means that all the fun at Snowfest is over, NO WAY! Things have just begun. The Professional Ice Carving winners have been determined and are as follows:

1st Place - Jeff Wolf & Brian Beland - Detroit, MI -- Jazz
2nd Place - Stephan Koch & Jeff Bane - Indiana -- The Holy 1/2-a-saurus
3rd Place - Dick Alford & Jeff Meyers - Ohio -- Mr. Whiskers

Check out the ice carvings in Edwin Zehnder Park. All of the rest of our sculptors are still so busy at work. The sculptures are looking so incredible; we just don't know how they do it. Each year the imagination of these men and women amazes us. Don't forget to vote for which sculpture is your favorite and help them to win the People's Choice award. You can vote inside the Warming Tent. Starting around 6 p.m. the Collegiate Ice Carvings will begin behind Rau's Country Store. Don't forget it's Country Night; the Live Remote with WKCQ will start at 5 p.m. in the Warming Tent. The Karaoke finals will also be held this evening and a special performance by up and coming star, Katie Armiger will be performing and then the Laurie Middlebrook Band will take the stage to entertain everyone until the late hours of the night. Over between Ha' Penny and the Frankenmuth Toy Company is the Children's Petting Zoo and Pony Rides, make sure and take the kids on over there and check out the animals. Don't forget also over at River Place the local area high schools are busy working on their sculptures. Kids will also love the inflatables that are over at River Place. We are just getting ready to upload all of the pictures that have been taken so far today. We are also hoping to get out once it gets dark and take some and show you the sculptures in another light. One last thing, the hot air balloons have been flying high in the skies this afternoon and starting at 7:30 they will be glowing on the Heritage Park river bank. Hope to see you all soon! -- Friends of Snowfest

Snowfest 2008 Day Four
Ok I know it's already 3 p.m. and we have not gotten a blog up to everyone yet, very sorry about that. It's just been so busy out there. We have all been out enjoy all of the events! Everything has just been so awesome! Hope that you are planning on coming out tonight or tomorrow, because there is still so much to come. So last night the Collegiate Teams started with their ice carving competition. They had around 2 hours to create some unbelievable carvings. The pictures are already up, so go and check them out. Country night was a big hit, with karaoke contests, Katie Armiger and the Laurie Middlebrook Band. Those pictures are up so make sure you check out those too. Sorry everyone that the wind wouldn't cooperate with the hot air balloons and so the balloon glow was not possible. Now, as to what has been going on already today. The collegiate ice carving should be starting up as we type this to you all. All of the snow carvings has to be done by 10 a.m. this morning. It's amazing how remarkable the sculptures have turned out. The winners were announced at 2 p.m. and I am keeping you all in suspense just a few more minutes while we tell you some of the other things that have been going on today. Today is Oldies Day in our tent, with Oldies 96 doing a remote broadcast from the tent all day. Dr. Rock is playing in the Warming Tent right now, and Joel Tacey has been entertaining the children with Magic and More. We think that everyone is having a ton of fun out in our Warming Tent. Tonight the Sauce Cats will be the entertainment, come out and enjoy the bands. At 6:45 p.m. the annual fireworks display will be held. So make sure you turn your attention to the sky and enjoy all the beautiful fireworks. As long as the weather cooperates the Ballon Glow will also be at 7:30 p.m. tonight so make sure and check that out. Ok we think we have held you in suspense long enough....

If you check out the pages that are dedicated to the division of the sculptures you can see the photos of the winning sculptures also. The Winners of the Snow Sculpting are as follows:

International
1st Place -- Canada - Denis Bolohan, Bryan Lane and Dan Bolohan with Bull & Rhino
2nd Place -- Mexico/USA - Leoncio Rodriquez, Sean Gallagher, Sam Licavoli and Tom Licavoli with Polar Bears
3rd Place -- USA - Al Foster, Gordon Oberman and Ryan Leix with Pirate Ship
People's Choice -- Mexico/USA with Polar Bears

US
1st Place -- Wisconsin/Michigan - Dan Povolo, Dan Cushard and Mike Muller with Dinosaur Skeletons
2nd Place -- Ohio - Sandy Dobbeleare, Jesse Dobbelaere and Traci Dobbelaere with Elephants
3rd Place -- Michigan B - Steve Hargash, Bill Budd and Scott Hanson with Horse
People's Choice - Wisconsin/Michigan with Dinosaur Skeletons

State
1st Place -- Luke Dehtair, Ryan Olszowy and Max Dehtair with Pirate Skeleton
2nd Place -- John Martinez, Mike Martinez and Paul Phillips with Stacked Bears
3rd Place -- John Burrill, Steve Burrill and Mike Warnemuende with Grocery Clerk
People's Choice -- Jamie Smith, Chris Smith and Hailey Jarman with Stacked Boxes with Animals

Ok, so that is it for us for today. Check back tomorrow to hear more about what went on tonight at Snowfest and to see the photos from today and tomorrow. -- Friends of Snowfest