While passers-by have undoubtedly seen familiar sites of Snowkingdoms past, it’s no secret that this year is different.
In place of the annual Snow Castle is a Snow Garden run by Snow Buddy in lieu of its usual Snowking. The free festival – castle and garden alike – still require funds. As cancellations and lockdowns set in just in time for last year’s King of the Hill (KOTH) reverse raffle, the team was not able to run their typical fundraiser.
To raise money for the free festival, the festival team announced in a Thursday news release that they are maintaining the reverse raffle format.
This year, it will be called “the Best of Buddies Bonanza” (BOBB), said spokesperson Mike Mitchell – A.K.A Black Ice Mike.
They will be announcing daily prize losers to be eliminated from the draw, until one last gambler is left standing to collect their winnings.
Participants can purchase tickets online for $50 a pop or $250 for five. Possible winnings include grade prizes of $2500, $1500, $750, $500 and $250.
The 500 tickets sale goes live on Feb. 14 and the draw begins March 2.
Each day, 25 people will be eliminated, with one daily-drawn ticket to be thrown back into the hat and given a second chance at the jackpot. Participants and curious onlookers can tune into the raffle on the Snowking Facebook page to watch the daily eliminations. The five finalists will be drawn on March 22. While sales may be virtual, Mitchell assures the money is very real.