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Scenes from a snow day: Big snowball fight on the National Mall, sledding in Maryland

The National Mall was transformed into somewhat of a wintry battlefield Tuesday morning as people gathered for a snowball fight.

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Amid cancellations throughout the region due to a winter weather advisory, the Washington D.C. Snowball Fight Association issued a call to battle that turned the mall into a scene of聽pure snowball carnage.

Michal Lippen, with the association, picked the setting for the snow showdown. It’s a tradition in D.C. with the first fight organized by the association dating back to 2010, Lippen said.

“You’ve got a view of the monument one direction, you’ve got the Capitol the other direction, and the snow is nice and spread out,” he told 草莓传媒.

The gathering happens in what聽Max Bluestein characterized as “polarized” city.

“A lot of anxiety, a lot of hate, a lot of ideology, we kind of put all that to the side once in a blue moon when it snows out here,” he said. “We pelt each other snowballs, and we act like kids.”

Dozens of people of all ages floated, zinged and whipped snowballs with some even participating in a quick fight before logging into work.

And it wouldn鈥檛 be much of a snowball fight without some shots to the face and some tears.

“Took a couple of my head, one on the nose and one where it was really sensitive and that one took me out,” Bluestein said.

草莓传媒’s Jessica Kronzer and John Domen contributed to this report.

See photos of the big snowball fight as well as photos from a popular sledding spot in Prince George’s County, Maryland, below.

 

One of the oldest homes in Bowie, Maryland, is also one of the most popular anytime it snows 鈥 the Belair Mansion.

It鈥檚 not your ordinary downhill run. That鈥檚 obvious as soon as you tried to get parents to explain just what was going to wear their kids out.

鈥淵ou get three hills in one if you can get up enough speed ,鈥 explained Alvin Holley of Bowie. 鈥淛ust get to the top, sled down, and just keep going.鈥

鈥淵ou have a couple of different tiers,鈥 noted Leo Shane, who was there with Holley while kids race down in front of them. 鈥淵ou have a little one up here for the little ones to go down and bigger kids can try and make some ramps and everything. Lots of wipeouts without anyone getting too hurt.鈥

You can tell it鈥檚 popular because shortly after lunch the snow was already compacted into the grass, making it somewhat icy as kids rode sleds and inflatable tubes down over and over again. Everyone knew they had to get their fun while they can, since more snow days aren鈥檛 promised in the future.

鈥淪now comes not as much as it used to,鈥 noted Holley.

鈥淲e were worried we weren鈥檛 going to get one this year,鈥 added Shane. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a couple of years since we could come out to the mansion.鈥

And in the back of everyone鈥檚 minds, especially the parents, was that they needed to enjoy it all while it lasts, since everyone is likely back to school tomorrow.

鈥淚鈥檝e got to go to work, they鈥檝e got to go to school, that鈥檚 how it works,鈥 said Holley.

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Luke Lukert

Since joining 草莓传媒 Luke Lukert has held just about every job in the newsroom from producer to web writer and now he works as a full-time reporter. He is an avid fan of UGA football. Go Dawgs!

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