Steamboat Creates will once again oversee the snow sculpture creation during Winter Carnival, continuing a legacy that dates back nearly a century. This year’s sculptures will be built on Wednesday, Feb. 4, through a partnership with the Steamboat Springs Sailors football team, which helps construct the large wooden frames that give each sculpture its shape.

Carving day follows on Thursday, Feb. 5, when eight teams will take to the Routt County Courthouse lawn to transform packed snow into works of art. While the scale is smaller than usual – Winter Carnival typically features around 21 sculptures – the spirit of the event remains unchanged.

“Due to this year’s snow conditions, we’ve had to scale back,” says Robin Miller, operations manager at Steamboat Creates. “But even with such an unusual snow year, this tradition remains important – and it must go on, even if the weather is working against us.”

The snow sculptures are a hallmark of Winter Carnival, celebrating the intersection of art and athletics that defines Steamboat Springs. Since 2015, Steamboat Creates has overseen this portion of the festival, building on a tradition that began in 1929. High school students and community members work side by side to carve imaginative designs that become a vibrant visual centerpiece of the carnival.

Among this year’s returning teams is The Monastery, led by Barn Village resident David Monk. The team – made up largely of Monk family members, along with friends and neighbors – is back with renewed determination after falling short of a win last year.

“We’re a returning team and were disappointed not to walk away as winners last year,” David says. “This year we’re actually trying to follow the theme – Dream Big.”

The sculptures are judged for prizes and, in typical years, line Lincoln Avenue, drawing crowds and adding a creative spark to the winter celebration. Steamboat Creates partners with the Steamboat Springs School District, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and the City of Steamboat Springs to bring the project to life each year.

While organizers hope to return to full participation by 2027, this year’s reduced number of sculptures stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to tradition. Even when conditions aren’t ideal, Steamboat Springs continues to find ways to celebrate creativity, teamwork and its deep-rooted winter culture.