If you're a Coon Rapids student with a flair for design and a love for winter cheer, your artistic talents could soon translate into cold, hard cash. The City of Coon Rapids, MN - Local Government, has put out the call on social media for young artists to create a button design that will become the face of the 62nd anniversary of the Snowflake Days festival. For those in grades 5-12, this could be a perfect opportunity to showcase their creativity and potentially walk away with a win.
To successfully enter this frosty fray, student designers must to include certain elements in their button designs. According to the contest rules posted, Rocky the Raccoon, the city mascot, should be featured prominently. Additionally, they're suggesting to incorporate a slice of Coon Rapids winter life—think hockey, ice skating, sledding, and even disc golf. All this, wrapped around the celebration's dates, January 30 - February 8, 2026, and the words “Coon Rapids Snowflake Days,” is sure to make for a button that encapsulates the spirit of the festivities.
Entries aren't just for good fun—they come with the chance to earn prizes. Although the exact prize amounts aren't specified in the announcement, the recognition factor alone could well be worth the effort. The official deadline for this chilly challenge is Friday, Jan. 9, which gives students a relatively tight timeframe to brainstorm, design, and submit their icy masterpieces. The Snowflake Association will be selecting not one, but two winning designs.
For those looking to get involved, full details are freely available on the Snowflake Days website. So, grab your pencils, tablets, or whatever tools you prefer to unleash your wintry works of art. Submissions that faithfully follow the contest rules stand a fair chance to not just win some cash, but also become a memorable part of Coon Rapids' local history. What's crystal clear is that this contest is an amusing chance for students to publicly display their talents and to, quite literally, button up 62 years of beloved local tradition.
