World-class snow carving competition canceled for Zehnder’s Snowfest

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (WNEM) – Due to the warm winter weather, the world-class snow carving competition at Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth has been canceled.

“Snowfest is going to happen. We’ve had to make a couple adjustments, it’s fluid, but mother nature hasn’t been cooperating,” said John Shelton, the vice president of sales and marketing for Zehnder’s.

The unseasonably warm weather has brought a lack of snow to the area for the annual festival that kicks off Jan. 25.

“We had to cancel the world-class snow carving competition because that was supposed to start on Monday. We just can’t get it done by Monday. However, in lieu of that, we’ve added more ice to the show,” Shelton said.

Shelton said there will be about 150 ice carvings throughout town. He also said as of Jan. 18, the state and high school snow carving competitions are still going to take place as scheduled.

“We have fireworks on Friday at 6:45 p.m. and on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., and we’ve added a couple more amusement rides to kind of make up for the snow carving for the world-class that had to be postponed. Other than that, everything is a go,” Shelton said. “We’ve got a lot of bands, we got a lot of entertainment, a lot of food, a lot of fun. So just encourage everyone to come on out and enjoy the festivities.”

Shelton said there are discussions taking place about possibly trucking in snow from locations up north if that is what it takes, which would mark the first time that has happened in the event’s 32-year history.

Snowfest is scheduled to run through Jan. 29.

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