Lakeside Winter Celebration Features Olympic-Themed Snow Sculpture

The annual festival in Rochester, NY will showcase a snow sculpture inspired by the Winter Olympics.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:55pm

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This weekend's Lakeside Winter Celebration at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, New York will feature a snow sculpture with an Olympic theme. Sculptor Eric Jones, who thrives in snowy conditions, is creating the sculpture and expects it to take about six hours to complete. The celebration will also include a Polar Plunge on Sunday to benefit Special Olympics New York, with free admission to the event.

Why it matters

The Lakeside Winter Celebration is an annual tradition that brings the community together to enjoy winter activities and attractions. The Olympic-themed snow sculpture adds a unique element to the festivities and showcases the artistic talents of local sculptors like Eric Jones.

The details

Sculptor Eric Jones is creating the Olympic-themed snow sculpture at Ontario Beach Park, utilizing heavy equipment provided by the park to assist with lifting and moving the snow. Jones said he loves working in snowy conditions and expects the sculpture to take around six hours to complete. In addition to the snow sculpture, the Lakeside Winter Celebration will feature a Polar Plunge on Sunday to benefit Special Olympics New York, with free admission to the overall event.

  • The Lakeside Winter Celebration will take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 31 - February 1, 2026 from noon to 4 p.m.
  • The Polar Plunge is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Eric Jones

A sculptor who is creating the Olympic-themed snow sculpture for the Lakeside Winter Celebration.

Ontario Beach Park

The location hosting the Lakeside Winter Celebration and providing heavy equipment to assist with the snow sculpture.

Special Olympics New York

The organization that will benefit from the Polar Plunge event taking place during the Lakeside Winter Celebration.

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What they’re saying

“It's kinda like Christmas time, you like to see a little bit of snow falling and when I'm sculpting all winter long, the more it snows the better it is for me, so I love seeing it.”

— Eric Jones, Sculptor

“It worked out great lifting snow for me. The sculpture itself will probably take about six hours.”

— Eric Jones, Sculptor

What’s next

The Polar Plunge event on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 1 p.m. will be the next major activity as part of the Lakeside Winter Celebration.

The takeaway

The Lakeside Winter Celebration in Rochester, NY continues to be a beloved community event that brings people together to enjoy winter activities and appreciate the artistic talents of local sculptors like Eric Jones, who is creating an Olympic-themed snow sculpture as the centerpiece of this year's festivities.