Mike And Natalie Stomp Snow For The Winter Carnival

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Preparations for the St. Paul Winter Carnival are well underway.

Crews are out at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Saturday prepping snow for the snow sculpture competition next weekend.

Mike and Natalie wanted to help out, so they went down to volunteer their time, and feet, to stomp some snow.

"We are at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Welcome to the Vulcan's Snow Park," organizer Bill O'Hearn said.

Crews are working hard to get the snow ready for the sculptures that will compete in the Winter Carnival Snow Sculpture competition.

"We have anywhere from 40 to 60 guys who will come out here all during Winter Carnival to help put this together. Planning actually starts in May or June," O'Hearn said. "We figure we have over 2,000 man hours putting the snow park together."

David White is one of the master sculptors who will compete to win this year's competition.

"We make our own handles," White explained. "There's no snow sculpting stores so we basically have to make a lot of what we want."

If he succeeds, he will head to a national contest.

But, before he can get to work, he needs a lot of snow.

So, they make it.

The Snow Park at the Fair and the Snow Sculpting Competition both start this coming Friday.

There will be a slide, a zombie night and, of course, the Vulcans.

For more information visit the Snow Park at the Fair online.