Saskatoon residents going for a stroll down Cairns Avenue will notice something different in one of the yards, a huge blue snow dragon.
Located in the Adelaide/Churchill neighbourhood on the city’s south side, Snovid, as he is called, was created by Mel Thompson. She has been turning snow from her driveway into dragon-like creatures for three years.
Thanks to an abundance of snow, Thompson decided to make an even bigger dragon over years past.
She says she is glad she did as a way to put smiles on faces during these pandemic times.
“The response has been amazing,” said Thompson. “A lot of people have been coming out to see him.”
She says on some nights, up to 500 people stop by to take their picture with the snow dragon.
The dragon’s six feet high and 20 feet long, plus the body is made up of blue food colouring, water and frozen water balloon eyes — in addition to a lot of snow.
Thompson says it took a couple of hours a night for roughly a week to complete him.
Nothing tops the joy and sheer amazement he brings to people, especially kids. Some even mistake the dragon for being real.
“The looks on their faces is great,” said Thompson. “You get one or two responses either they are absolutely terrified or they just love it, and they don’t want to leave.”
Thompson says if the Saskatoon area gets more snow, she has permission to add some snow dragon friends on her neighbour’s front yards as well.