Quick Pic: Snow BB-8

Snow BB-8 by Jeremy Scates

While I feel bad for all of those who've been buried under piles of snow for the past few days, big storms like that are great news for geeky sculptors  who create awesome stuff in the snow.

Sculpture: Star Wars Snow Sculpture

"Japanese Army Creates Star Wars Sculpture For Snow Festival"

South Dakota may have Mount Rushmore, but now Sapporo, Japan has Mount Darth Vader. A 50-foot tall Star Wars snow sculpture was created in the city’s Odori Park to celebrate the 66th annual Sapporo Snow Festival. The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces’ 11th Brigade used bulldozers to move 3,500 tons of snow into a pile that they then carefully crafted into Darth Vader and his Imperial forces, complete with an imposing posse of Storm Troopers and TIE fighters

The massive structure features Vader, a trio of Storm Troopers,  TIE Fighters, and the ominous Death Star. According to a Google-translated story from Yahoo! Japan, the sculpture is approximately 50 feet high, 74 feet wide, and 65 feet deep. and took 2,000 people to complete. According to the festival’s website, “Snow Star Wars” was approved by Lucasfilm, making it the first snow sculpture to be formally endorsed by George Lucas’ production company.

Quick Pic: Wanna build a snowman?

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" by Kimberly

Nope.

Event: Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

The 2015 Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

Photographs via Design Dautore

Every year, in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, the city of Harbin hosts the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, featuring massive ice and snow sculptures. At night, the sculptures are colorfully illuminated and visitors can climb and play on some of the structures. The festival officially opened on January 5 this year, and will run through the end of February. According to organizers, the winter festival now draws several million tourists each year, from China and from abroad. Read more about the event at The Atlantic and The Telegraph.

Quick Pic: Snowtoro

Totoro snow sculpture via Japan-Guide

Photographed at the Asahikawa Winter Festival in Hokkaido, Japan

My Neighbor Totoro Snow Sculpture.

Sculpture: Darth Vader Snow Sculpture

Imperial Forces Snow Sculpture

Photographs by disneystudiojp, momoko_f, yume_kami,
 kyakunasut, and Kimimasa Mayama

South Dakota may have Mount Rushmore, but now Sapporo, Japan has Mount Darth Vader. A 50-foot tall Star Wars snow sculpture was created in the city’s Odori Park to celebrate the 66th annual Sapporo Snow Festival. The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces’ 11th Brigade used bulldozers to move 3,500 tons of snow into a pile that they then carefully crafted into Darth Vader and his Imperial forces, complete with an imposing posse of Storm Troopers and TIE fighters

The massive structure features Vader, a trio of Storm Troopers,  TIE Fighters, and the ominous Death Star. According to a Google-translated story from Yahoo! Japan, the sculpture is approximately 50 feet high, 74 feet wide, and 65 feet deep. and took 2,000 people to complete. According to the festival’s website, “Snow Star Wars” was approved by Lucasfilm, making it the first snow sculpture to be formally endorsed by George Lucas’ production company.

Quick Pic: Snow Tauntaun

Snow Tauntaun photographed by Xnipek

Source: Imgur via Reddit

A Tauntaun I can't sleep in is no Tauntaun at all!