Something new this winter for fun in Rock Springs

Jena Doak, [email protected]

Rock Springs, Wyoming — Snowball fights are always a go-to in the wintertime, as are bonfires and blowing bubbles, watching them freeze. But has anyone ever thought of a snowman stroll? That is just what staff at the Rock Springs Main Street/URA did when they got together recently.

“We were looking for ways to do more with winter to get people out of the house in January, February, and March,” said Chad Banks, downtown Rock Springs URA manager. “We want people to get out and embrace winter more in Rock Springs.”

Six life-sized snowman sculptures, put together by Wyoming artists, who each designed theirs with original themes, will be on display around downtown starting Saturday, January 15. First, there will be a ribbon cutting Saturday to celebrate this new project at 11:00 a.m. at Sidekicks Book & Wine Bar, located at 603 S. Main Street. The URA is in partnership with the Community Fine Arts Center for the Snowman Stroll.

One of the artists, Chrissy Pruett, whose theme is “Winter in the Mountains,” shared about her involvement in this new winter event.

“I love hiking, and I took the inspiration from the mountains near where I live in Lander,” said Pruett, who was born and raised in Rock Springs. “Rock Springs has really been doing a ton to support the arts, and I’m so excited to be a part of it since the community is still close to my heart,” Pruett said.

Another local artist, Shari Kumer, took on the theme of “A Bee in Her Bonnet.”

“When I looked at the form of the snowman, it reminded me of a chubby little bee,” she said. A local resident, Kumer participates in community art events, like teaching at the summer art camp and teaching workshops at the Community Fine Arts Center.

“I appreciate everything the URA has done to dress up the place, making it look nice downtown,” Kumer said.

The remaining artists and their snowman themes are: “Melting Pot,” by Hilary Huckfeldt; “Boar’s Tusk Snowman,” by the Farson Eden High School Advanced Art Students; “Steampunk Snowman,” by Suzanne Whitson, and “Winter Peace,” by Laura Grossnickle.

The snowmen will be on display from January 15, until March 19. The community can follow a map and stroll around Downtown Rock Springs to enjoy each of them. The map with the locations of the snowmen can be found here.

The URA is also hosting a “Snowman Adventure” activity. Local residents are invited to design their own similar snowmen by stopping by participating merchants to pick up the individual snowman parts.

More information, including details about several other family-friendly events this winter, can be found here.

Kenneth McCormack, URA’s new Theater and Events Coordinator, is happy to be involved in these events.

“It’s hard the first three months of the year, so we are trying to help people get out and do stuff, and change the mindset around winter,” McCormack said.