When winter delivers a snow day, it’s time to embrace the opportunity and enjoy the outdoors.
On Friday, numerous residents across the Southern United States woke to an uncommon chance for winter fun as a significant cold snap blanketed a variety of areas in snow, transforming parks, streets, and backyards into winter wonderlands.
Though the icy conditions led to warnings of hazardous roads and resulted in widespread school closures, many eager individuals at home seized the moment to revel in the fresh snowfall.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, Tyshae Sanders and her partner, Terrell Bryant, embarked on a project to construct an igloo in their front yard, utilizing a plastic container to shape the snow blocks needed for their creation.
Their aim was to complete a structure towering 5 feet tall by the day’s end.
“Why couldn’t this happen when we were kids?” joked Bryant, 34.
“Honestly, I’m still hoping for more snow,” added Sanders, 30, expressing a desire for even larger snowfalls.
In a hilly area of southeast Atlanta, where 3 to 4 inches of snow enveloped the ground early in the morning, both children and adults eagerly grabbed sleds and other makeshift sliding devices.
With roads largely unplowed in many Southern regions, brave drivers cautiously navigated the slippery conditions at slow speeds.
“It was just magical to wake up to this!” exclaimed 12-year-old Mikayla Johnson, ecstatic about the snow.
“We haven’t had this much snow since I was really little, so I’m just thrilled!” her father, Nate Johnson, echoed her sentiment, acknowledging the varied predictions that preceded the snowfall.
Jason Hogan, a 45-year-old fire captain from Atlanta, and his son, Jonas, took this day as an opportunity to recreate a cherished family memory.
On the same date fourteen years prior, they had ventured out to enjoy what was young Jonas’s first experience with snow at just three years old.
Jason recalled, “I had no sled, so I suggested we use the snowboard instead.”
A nostalgic photo from back then surfaced on Jason’s phone, inspiring him to recreate that moment with Jonas, albeit with some awkwardness as he balanced his son on his hip.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, Markus Eberl and his three-year-old daughter, Lulu, headed to a local hill that was well-known for sledding, where groups of neighborhood kids were gathering.
“With everything shut down, it’s wonderful to spend time with my daughter and enjoy the beautiful snow,” said Eberl, a German native residing in Nashville for 15 years.
For Lulu, sledding was a fresh experience, but her excitement lay elsewhere.
“She is all about making snowballs and crafting snowmen at the moment,” Eberl shared, as Lulu triumphantly lifted a snowball bigger than her head before giving it a playful lick.
In Louisville, Kentucky, Chris Steiner took his daughter Chloe for a fun outing at Cherokee Park, known for its sledding hills.
“This is fantastic. The snow could not be better for sledding right now,” he commented before carrying Chloe on his back as they slid down the slope.
The park was bustling with other sledders, with about 50 people enjoying the snow-covered hills, particularly after the 8 inches of snow that fell the previous weekend.
Others found the snowy conditions to be a potential source of income. Two 14-year-olds, Sydney Lasher and Zoe Russell from Nashville, advertised on Facebook that they were available for shoveling driveways and steps.
“We had a blast doing this last year,” stated Sydney, mentioning that they would knock on doors to find clients.
As for their pricing strategy, Zoe noted, “We allow the customers to choose how much they’ll pay us,” with the duo successfully earning around $500 last year.
At a nearby bus stop, Darnell Ramey made snowballs and encouraged others to join in the fun.
“This is a rare opportunity, so let’s embrace the snow rather than shy away from it!” he encouraged.
The snow brought out a spirit of joy and camaraderie, proving that even in challenging weather, there can be moments of happiness and community.
