ALGONAC, MI — Decorated snowmen line the St. Clair River in Algonac as part of the first Snowman Decoration Contest, a winter initiative designed to draw residents downtown during the quieter season.
The 20 snowmen are on display along the riverfront, across from City Hall, located at 805 St. Clair River Dr., and will remain up through Feb. 28.
Awards will be presented to the top three winners, each receiving a lighted snowman trophy, during the March 3 City Council meeting.
Algonac Mayor Rocky Gillis said the event was created to encourage families to get outdoors and bring energy to downtown during the winter months.
“The goal was to create a fun, positive winter attraction that encouraged people to get outside, walk the riverfront, and enjoy downtown Algonac during a quieter season,” Gillis said. “We wanted something family-friendly and accessible that added energy during the winter months while also supporting a good cause.”
The event was organized through a partnership between Algonac Alive and the city.
“This was a true partnership,” Gillis said. “Algonac Alive led the concept, coordination, and fundraising, while the City of Algonac supported the effort by allowing use of the riverfront space and assisting with logistics and promotion.”
The snowmen were decorated by families, local businesses, nonprofits, civic groups and other community members, with designs ranging from traditional holiday themes to river-inspired and humorous creations.
“The creativity really stood out — no two snowmen were alike,” Gillis said.
Since installation, the displays have drawn steady foot traffic along the riverfront, even in colder weather.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Gillis said. “People have been stopping to walk the riverfront, taking photos, sharing them on social media, and bringing their families down to see the displays.”
Each snowman was sold for $60, raising $1,800. Proceeds benefit the Algonac Community Center through Algonac Alive. Gillis said funds have already been used to purchase new chairs for the center for events and gatherings.
Organizers hope to make the contest an annual tradition.
“Based on the success of the first year and the strong community participation, there is a lot of interest in making this an annual winter tradition,” Gillis said.
He also thanked volunteers and community supporters, including Danny Walker of Colony Insulation and Dwayne Hyrnk, for helping make the event possible.
The snowmen are free to view along the riverfront, across from City Hall, 805 St. Clair River Drive, through Feb. 28. Community members can vote for their favorite by emailing algonacsnowman@gmail.com or calling Algonac City Hall at 810-794-9361 with the number of their chosen snowman.
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: First Snowman Decoration Contest fills Algonac riverfront with color
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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