2026 snowplow naming now open to students in pre-K through university

The City of Boulder invites pre-K to university students to help name 17 city snowplows for winter 2026 to 2027. Winning name submissions will be featured on city snowplows and winners will have the opportunity to take a photo with the snowplow they named.

This year marks the sixth year of Boulder’s Snowplow Naming Contest. The city encourages both snow- and film-inspired name submissions this year. Puns are welcome!

How it works:

  • City of Boulder Pre-K to university students can submit their snowplow names at bldr.fyi/snowplow2026 by Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST.
  • Minors require a parent or guardian’s permission.
  • Students attending a university or college in the city can submit a name through a valid .edu email.
  • The city will judge pre-K-12 and university student entries separately.
  • The city will notify winners directly or via their caretaker’s contact information by Oct. 31, 2026. Winners can attend a snowplow naming ceremony and photo opportunity on Nov. 14, 2026.

Over the past few years, winning names such as Snowy, Sleet Dreams and Life of a Snowgirl were featured on the city’s snowplows. This year’s snowplow naming contest builds on five successful years of running the contest by expanding it to all students in the city.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to bring this contest to our community for five years, and to see youth in our community engaging with their local government,” said Transportation Maintenance Senior Manager Rene Lopez. “We are consistently impressed by the creative names and can’t wait to see this year’s submissions.”

Visit bldr.fyi/snowplow2026 for entry details. Questions about the contest? Contact Rene Lopez at lopezr@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-413-7149. Learn more about the city’s snow and ice response on the city's Snow and Ice Response webpage.

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