A 20-foot-tall snowman is drawing crowds and briefly halting traffic in Shirley, Massachusetts, becoming a local landmark in the midst of winter. The creation, dubbed “Parker” by its builder’s wife, stands 21 feet wide and is located on Parker Road.
Eric Aalerud constructed the massive snowman as a way to brighten the winter months, according to his wife, Katie Aalerud. “I feel like this time of year there isn’t much to do. It gets dark early, it’s gray, so it’s something fun for people to see, stop and take a picture,” she said.
Katie Aalerud described her husband as a “snowman artist,” noting the skill required to build such a large structure. Eric Aalerud, who works a separate job, utilized his skills as an electrician and home remodeler to bring Parker to life. The process involved using a snowblower to pack the snow, layering it with water to freeze it solid, and climbing a ladder to sculpt the form. “To start, with the snowblower, he gets a piece of wood in there, grabs snow, all the snow disappears as the shovel all that way,” Katie Aalerud explained.
This isn’t the first time Eric Aalerud has built a large snowman. He created a smaller version last year, but opted for a different color scheme this year. “I get the feeling the red was scary,” Katie Aalerud said. “It might have just been me, but I believe the red was scary, so he switched it to blue. It’s more natural. I think it looks a lot better.”
The Aaleruds are replacing the batteries in lights illuminating Parker every two weeks. The snowman’s hat is constructed from a trash can and wooden boards, spray-painted black.
Although Eric Aalerud is hesitant, Katie Aalerud is hopeful that they will build an even larger snowman next year, potentially making it an annual tradition. Parker is expected to remain standing longer than last year’s snowman, which lasted until late March.
