When unexpected snow days arrive, many people find themselves in the mood for winter fun.
Throughout the southern United States, a cold snap on Friday greeted millions of residents with a rare sight: snow blanketing parks, streets, and backyards.
While the icy weather generated warnings about unsafe roads and led to widespread school closures, individuals and families eager to enjoy the winter wonderland made the best of the heavy snow accumulation.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, Tyshae Sanders and her partner, Terrell Bryant, took to their front yard to craft an igloo using snow blocks molded from a plastic bin.
They set a goal to create an igloo standing 5 feet tall by the end of the day.
“Why couldn’t this happen when we were kids?” Bryant, 34, exclaimed with a chuckle.
“I’m still wishing for a blizzard,” added Sanders, 30.

In a hilly area of southeast Atlanta, where 3 to 4 inches of snow had accumulated by the early hours, both children and adults eagerly grabbed sleds and makeshift sliding items.
In typical Southern fashion, many roads remained unplowed, leading to a slow and careful drive for the few who ventured out.
“My first thought was, ‘Wow!’” exclaimed 12-year-old Mikayla Johnson about waking up to a snowy scene.
“We haven’t had good snow since I was about 4,” she said, expressing her excitement.
Her father, Nate Johnson, shared in her joy, stating, “I can’t believe all the hype was true,” referencing the unpredictable snow forecasts of recent years.

Jason Hogan, a 45-year-old fire captain in Atlanta, and his 17-year-old son, Jonas, took the opportunity to relive a cherished memory.
On the same date, years ago, they had their first significant snow experience together, capturing a photo of Jason carrying both the snowboard and his young son.
Motivated by nostalgia, Jason sought to replicate that moment, albeit with an awkward twist.

In Tennessee, Markus Eberl ventured with his 3-year-old daughter, Lulu, to a popular sledding area, where many neighborhood children congregated.
“Everything is closed, so I’m happy to spend this time with my daughter in the snow,” said Eberl, a German native now living in Nashville for 15 years.
For Lulu, it was her first sledding experience, but it was snowmen and snow angels that captivated her more than the slides.
“She’s taken to making snowmen and building snowballs,” Eberl shared as Lulu proudly lifted a snowball larger than her head.

In Louisville, Kentucky, Chris Steiner took his daughter, Chloe, to Cherokee Park, a local favorite for sledding.
“It’s great. Best sledding snow you can get right now,” he remarked, before sliding down the hill with her on his back.
Despite the cold, around 50 people enjoyed sledding on one of the larger hills, topped with 8 inches of snow from the previous weekend.
Steiner’s daughter was thrilled to continue enjoying her snowy school break.

Others seized the snow day as an opportunity to earn some money.
In Nashville, 14-year-olds Sydney Lasher and Zoe Russell advertised on social media that they would shovel driveways for neighbors.
“We did this last year, and it was a lot of fun,” Sydney noted, explaining their initiative to knock on doors for work.
When asked about their fees, Zoe replied, “We kind of let the people decide,” mentioning that they had earned nearly $500 the previous year.
Nearby, Darnell Ramey engaged in making snowballs at a bus stop, encouraging onlookers to join in on the fun.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy this snow,” he declared.
“Not running from it, but running into it!”