"Big Chill" event in Racine postponed due to mild temperatures expected this week

RACINE -- Due to the unexpected warm temperatures hitting Downtown Racine this week, The Big Chill has been postponed to Friday through Sunday, January 15th-17th.

The Big Chill event will feature the Annual Midwest Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Championship.

Similar to last year, snow blocks will be carved by three-man teams.

The event will also feature the AGA Nation’s Downtown Winter Rail Jam Competition, sponsored by Real Racine.

Starting the week of January 11th, more than 30,000 cubic feet of snow will be compacted into snow blocks 6’ x 6’ x 10’.

See how the 10 mammoth competition blocks are packed by visiting Monument Square, starting on Wednesday, January 13th.

Each block weighs more than 5,000 lbs. The packing process is a two-day long process that is done “by hand" -- or rather, by feet. Packing requires the use of a snow maker provided by A.W. Oakes and Sons, huge dump trucks, provided by Dykstra Brothers Excavating, a Case skid steer, a few ladders and several volunteers - equipped with warm boots for stomping!

The competition gets under way on Friday, January 15th and is scheduled to conclude on Sunday at noon.

Each three-person team will compete for the prestigious title of the Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Champions.

The winner of this completion will then advance to the 2017 United States National Snow Sculpting Competition.

Downtown guests are asked to vote for their favorite snow sculpture. Winners will be announced late Sunday afternoon.