Snowman building can be quite the challenge and the Snow Daze winter festival organizing committee is taking it to a whole new level - a record setting level, in fact.
The 35th annual festival with more than 70 scheduled events will be held Feb. 4 to 20.
The Mardi Gras society applied to Guinness World Records for the chance to set a record to see how many snowmen one person could build in an hour. That's the dare put to the community during the snowy celebration.
"We're inviting the whole city to participate," said Mardi Gras Snow Daze executive director Marian Axelson. "People have to send information about how many they built in that hour with proof by way of photos or video. The one who builds the most within an hour will attempt to set the actual record on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club."
As part of Guinness rules the record-setting event must be video taped entirely, with dignitaries there to witness the event. There is no record set now so Guinness set a standard of 25 snowmen. Each snowman has to be created with three snowballs vertically piled no lower than three feet, with two eyes, a nose and two arms.
"This is going to be cool, especially now with all the snow," said Axelson. This could be quite the challenge. "If you think about it, you have to build a snowman every two-point-something minutes. That's quite a few. You have to really hustle."
One of the most popular events is the Mr. P.G. Pageant held at the Coast Inn of the North on Friday, Feb. 4. The theme for this year's event is television game shows.
There is a No Limit Texas Hold 'Em event at the Day Inn Saturday, Feb. 5.
Replacing the Gong show is the Snow Daze Talent Night at the Treasure Cove show lounge Thursday, Feb. 10. There is a showcase of local talent taking place and anyone with a special talent is invited to participate.
There is a $5 registration fee and great prizes are to be won. Top talent gets a prize worth $300, second place $200 value, third place is $100 value and people's choice is $100 value.
"We try to get as many of the top calibre entertainers from Prince George to participate as we can," said Axelson, who volunteered with Snow Daze for 22 years before taking the executive director position two years ago.
"We've already got some really exciting acts lined up for that. We've got Danielle Molesworth, Jesse Church, Isaac Smeele, Ashley Connors, Kristen Novak, Alex Pilcik and Ivan Paquette. We're looking forward to that show."
The Wendy's Kids' Fun Fair is always a popular event. The fair will be held at the Connaught Youth Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19.
"The fair is always a big hit with the kids," said Axelson. "There is no admission and tickets to play the games are only 50 cents each, so a family can come in and play all day for a small amount of money." Hot dogs and chips and drinks are also available for 50 cents each at the fun fair.
"There used to be quite a few events in this town and they've all gone by the wayside," said Axelson. "I believe we're actually the only annual festival left. We'd like to keep it going so that families can go out and enjoy things during the winter season."
For more information visit www.snowdaze.ca.
