Get ready for a snowman showdown

By Kristy Alpert

Organize a snowman-building contest in your neighborhood when the snow starts falling and stoke that competitive spirit! Whether it’s a contest for the best celebrity look-a-like snowman or the most mini-snowmen built in an hour, this winter you can put everyone’s skills to the test and create memories that will last long after the snow melts.

Brook Grant, veteran snowman builder and coordinator of the snowman-building contest at the 2010 Buffalo Winterfest Powder Keg Festival in Buffalo, New York, knows a thing or two about how to organize a snow-rolling good time.

“The first three steps for organizing a contest like this are getting the word out, securing a location, and securing prizes,” Grant advises.

Here are five steps to creating your own memorable snowman soirée:

1. Encourage people to pre-register to get an idea of how much snow and space you will need, but also accept anyone that didn’t sign up to join in the fun.
2. Create fun categories for groups to compete in, like tallest snowman, funniest, most creative, best celebrity look-a-like, most mini snowmen built (12 inch minimum), and more!
3. Have some type of signage (that won’t melt) for teams to hang from their snowman so judges can tell which snowman belongs to which team. Also, consider enlisting the help of a “celebrity” judge to heat things up. This could mean a person who’s well known in your community, or someone who’s willing to dress up as a famous personality (Simon Cowell, anyone?)
4. Have people bring their own decorating materials so the organizer doesn’t have to worry about distributing materials. Encourage them to bring tasty snacks, too!
5. Give out cool prizes. “We gave away items donated from local businesses (dinners, baseball tickets), and winter gear, such as fleeces, hats, and gloves,” Grant says. Persuade local owners to get in on the fun by donating prizes, or offer up “coupons” good for yard work, babysitting, or other services that can be performed by your neighbors.