The International Snow Sculpting Symposium is one of the premier events during the Ely Winter Festival. The symposium features large, snow sculptures carved by professional artists from around the country and around the globe.
The symposium is an art exhibition of snow sculptures primarily within the confines of Whiteside Park in Ely. This art exhibition is not a contest. No awards are given. This encourages the artists to be open with their work and fosters camaraderie between teams. The symposium is intended to be an interactive event so viewers can walk through the park and observe artists creating the sculptures. Each sculpture is created by a team of artists led by a team leader.