Giant blocks of snow will once again be transformed into detailed works of art for festival goers attending the annual Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous event next month.

The planned snow castle and ice slide, however, will not be there.

Rendezvous officials announced this morning that due to the warm weather and limited snow fall so far this winter, the two features have been cancelled.

The decision was made last night, a day after the society announced the annual snow sculpture contest was in jeopardy and just before the overnight snowfall.

“Due to the time frames necessary to produce the snow required, a decision had to be made by the society by Jan. 21, 2015,” the society said in a statement.

The festival goes Feb. 18-22.

Rendezvous president Reba Parris Beckett said early this afternoon that to her knowledge, this is the first time organizers have had to consider making snow for the event, noting with a laugh it’s “absurd” to talk about buying snow in the Yukon.

She’s been involved with Rendezvous since 2008 and on the board since about 2009.

While Mount Sima ski hill staff set up a mini-terrain park at the festival last year and brought in snow-making equipment for that, that was specific to Sima’s event.

There was plenty of snow to run the festival, including the snow castle and snow carving contest.

The city had advised the Rendezvous society the lack of snow meant it wouldn’t be able to collect enough to prepare for the snow sculpture contest, “let alone be able to prepare the snow pad as well as other major components that are integral to the annual festival.”

It’s estimated the snow would cost about $14,000.

Expenses would include working with Mount Sima to produce it at the ski hill and having it trucked to the festival site for the snow carving contest and snow castle, conditioning the toboggan hill in the park for kids’ events, and making the snow pad. That’s used for events like the one-dog pull, chainsaw chuck and the axe toss.

As Parris Beckett noted, Sima is also run by a non-profit society, and there is a lot of work that goes into snow-making, including having staffing on the equipment the entire time it is in use.

While Sima has been more than willing to work with Rendezvous, Parris Beckett emphasized a lot of work is required for snow making.

Given the lack of snow this season, the society voted unanimously last night to cancel the snow castle, a popular feature when it made its debut last year.

Though it was a tough decision to come to cancel the snow castle and the ice slide, Parris Beckett noted the board is committed to bringing the snow carving contest and numerous events that have become Rendezvous traditions.

She noted it just wouldn’t be Rendezvous without the snow carving contest.

“While the society is very saddened that it will not be able to produce this attraction for 2015, it feels that the costs associated with producing the attraction are such that the society cannot financially support the endeavour in 2015,” the society said.

By icing the snow castle, it’s expected to save $6,000 which was budgeted to cover the snow and production of the castle.

The ice slide – which would have been lit up at night – was set to be a new feature this year on the toboggan hill, with Lotteries Yukon having committed $4,000 for it.

“While the (Rendezvous) society had received a commitment of funding part of the cost of producing the slide, the society is unable to commit monies from the society budget to this project in light of the weather conditions.”

The society will be asking Lotteries if the ice slide funding could be redirected to snow making instead.

“This request has been made informally and, today, will be made formally,” officials said.

Parris Beckett said she anticipates hearing from sponsors within a few days, noting the support the festival has had from many in the community.

There was an “overwhelming” response from those who learned Monday that the snow carving contest was in jeopardy.

They voiced their support on social media for the annual event, brought forward suggestions and offered any help they could to make it a possibility.

Other efforts by Rendezvous will include seeking help from snow removal companies to provide snow for the snow pad, which will reduce the amount that has to be produced.

“Once we know of commitments from snow removal companies, the society will ask for a revised quote from Mount Sima, lowering the overall costs to the society,” notes the release from Rendezvous.

The society, with its snow sculpture committee, also plans to work on finding 10 sponsors willing to contribute $500 each to raise $5,000 for the efforts.

“The society has faced tough decisions such as this in the past, and is committed to ensuring the overall festival is a success, safeguard the financial status of the society, and ensure all key aspects of the festival are present for the general public to enjoy.”

The group went on to thank the city, Mount Sima and Don Watt, who leads the snow sculpture committee, as well as the public for its support.

Linda Rapp, the city’s director of community and recreation services, said this morning the city will do “whatever can be done” to get what snow it can to Rendezvous.

She noted the city normally provides the snow as part of its in-kind support for the festival.

Typically, the city provides 40 truckloads (carrying 12 yards per truckload) of snow for the snow carving contest along with a further 40 truckloads for other events at Rendezvous as well as the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.

“We have a ways to go yet,” she said, adding the city will continue working with both Rendezvous and Quest officials to provide as much snow as it can for the events.

She also pointed to last night’s snowfall and the forecast for the white stuff in the coming days, commenting: “It’s still not out of the question.”

The city is providing Rendezvous with $7,000 in cash for this year’s festival in addition to in-kind services valued at $28,500.