Winter Carnival Sculptures | Dartmouth

While Dartmouth’s winter carnival was first held in 1911, the craft of designing and building the snow sculptures began later but has been practiced for close to 100 years, starting in 1925.

The 112^th winter carnival celebrates the beauty of winter, the athleticism of our winter sports teams, and the fun to be had in the snow. This year’s sculpture, based on the theme: Mission: Winter Carnival—License to Chill, will be front and center on the Green.

Here’s a look back at some of the sculptures from the past.

Cat in the Hat snow sculpture

2004: “Oh, The Places It Snows: A Seussentennial” (Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)

Snow sculpture of a ski jumper at the end of the jump

1980: “Dartmouth Games: Winter Takes All” (Photo by Rauner Special Collections Library)

Sculpture celebrating 250 years

2019: “Ice Age: 250 Years of Winter” (Photo by Robert Gill)

Snow sculpture of Ishmael and Moby Dick battling

1982: “Adventures In the High Freeze” (Photo by Rauner Special Collections Library)

Game of Thrones sculpture with a red carpet

2014: “Carnival of Thrones: Winter Is Coming” (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)

Fire-breathing winter carnival sculpture

1969: “In the Land of Fire and Ice” (Photo by Rauner Special Collections Library)

Snow sculpture of the Alice In Wonderland rabbit

2007: “Down the Rabbit Hole” (Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)

Swiss man and his dog with skis, lederhosen, and a beer stein

1960: “Swiss Holiday” (Photo by Rauner Special Collections Library)

2003 merlin sculpture

2003: “One Carnival to Rule Them All” (Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)

Sculpture of a Norwegian ski god holding skis

1956: Ullr, the Norwegian god of skiing (Photo by Rauner Special Collections Library)