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Photo blog: As temperature dives, Winterfest sculptors get busy

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Lake Geneva snow sculpting 2013

Snapshots from the 2013 U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition, part of Winterfest in Lake Geneva, Wis.

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The snow sculptures are beginning to take shape after a morning's work at the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition 2012 in Lake Geneva. Photos by Margaret Plevak

Photo blog updates: throughout Thursday morning HERE.

LAKE GENEVA -- As the fog lifted and temperatures headed south early Thursday, snow sculpting teams began work in earnest at the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition, part of Lake Geneva's Winterfest celebration.

Margaret Plevak is photo blogging from the Riviera Thursday morning. Follow her updates at Facebook.com/WalworthCountyToday

Onlookers can watch the artwork come alive until the shovels-down signal at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, which is when judging begins.

The top three finishers will be determined, and people’s choice and spirit awards will be handed out during a ceremony at 3 p.m. Saturday in the ballroom.

Vermont won the top prize in 2012, with Nebraska second and an Illinois entrant third, while a Wisconsin team earned people’s choice honors.

Visitors can enjoy horse-drawn carriage and helicopter rides, live entertainment and children’s activities in addition to the usual shopping and dining the downtown offers.

Winterfest schedule

Jan. 28 and Jan. 29

-- Building of the 9-foot snow blocks, Riviera Park

Jan. 30 through Feb. 2

-- 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., sculpting teams at work, Riviera Park

Feb. 2

-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., children’s sculpting, wagon and helicopter rides, tethered hot air balloon rides and sleigh on wheel rides at Riviera Park and lakefront

-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Riviera Marketplace featuring food, entertainment, etc., Riviera Ballroom

-- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free shuttle service from parking at Petco (Wisconsin Highway 50 and Edwards Boulevard) to drop off/pick up at Mill Creek Hotel on Center Street

-- 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., live entertainment, Riviera Ballroom

-- 11 a.m., sculpting ends

-- 11 a.m to 2 p.m., People’s Choice Award voting

-- 3 p.m., U.S. National Snow Sculpting awards presentation, Riviera Ballroom

Feb. 3

-- All day, viewing of finished sculptures, Riviera Park

-- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Riviera Marketplace, Riviera Ballroom

-- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free shuttle service from parking at Petco (Wisconsin Highway 50 and Edwards Boulevard) to drop off/pick up at Mill Creek Hotel on Center Street

-- For more information, call the Geneva Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 345-1020 or (262) 248-4416 or go online to www.lakegenevawi.com or www.usnationals.org

Read the complete story in the Jan. 27 e-edition of Walworth County Sunday HERE.