Jan. 17 — Let it snow, let it snow

Puyallup event blankets Bradley Lake Park with snow for winter time festivities and games

Chris Albert / of the Herald

Snow is coming to Puyallup. There’s no need to check the forecast — this stuff is being hauled in from the Cascades.

The second Snowed In event will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at Bradley Lake Park on South Hill.

Organizers were uncertain if anyone would show up to last year’s event after it snowed the week before. To their surprise about 300 people showed up, said Lona Graves, city of Puyallup recreation supervisor.

“This year it’s double the snow, but it’s double the location size too,” she said. “We’d like to see ‘Snowed In’ be a happening event every year and still just keep growing.”

T. E . Walrath Trucking incorporated will bring more than 400 cubic yards of snow from the Cascade Mountains to the Puyallup park for the event. There’s plenty of snow to get, said Tom Walrath, owner of T.E. Walrath.

The event is sponsored by the city of Puyallup Parks and Recreation Department and T.E. Walrath Trucking Incorporated, which also sponsored the event last year.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” Graves said, adding that It’s amazing to see the semi-trucks dump off the snow.

“It was a lot of fun (last year),” Walrath said.

His daughter’s basketball team participated in the snowman building contest last year.

“It just created a good family atmosphere,” he said. “It’s kind of a unique way to contribute to the community.”

Like last year, the day will be centered around a snowman building contest. But the move to Bradley Lake from Pioneer Park allows more room for other activities.

“We felt we outgrew that park for what we wanted to do,” Graves said.

The country western band, Gerry Andal, will perform throughout the day and participants can enjoy horse drawn carriage rides around the lake for $15. The ride is about 30 minutes long.

The play area will be covered with snow for children to play in and a ice rink from Sprinker Recreation will be set-up with a skating group performing “High School Musical on Ice.”

Event-goers won’t be able to skate, but it could be on the menu for next year’s event, Graves said.

A benefit to having the event at Bradley Lake Park is the added space, she said. Plus the hillside will be made into a sledding area with temporary fencing to keep sledders in a safe location.

During a day of snowman building, sledding and playing in the snow people can stop by the s’more station.

“The kids will get to make s’mores,” Graves said.

A craft area will feature, projects like decorating little ski hats. People can take pictures with snowman cut outs with holes to put their faces in. Participants will need tickets for games and crafts. Tickets cost 25 cents per at the registration station and most activities require one to four tickets.

“It will be everything involving snow and ice,” Graves said.