Ten Snowdog sculptures arrive in Macclesfield from 24 November to 5 January. What is confirmed, where to get the map, and last year's Elmer trail locations.

A trail of ten Snowdog sculptures is coming to Macclesfield this winter. Snowdogs Discover Macclesfield starts in late November and runs into the new year, the town’s second Wild in Art trail after last winter’s Elmer elephants. The dates are set; the locations and the trail map are not out yet.

The quick answer

  • When: from 24 November 2026, according to Wild in Art, the company that makes the sculptures. The Silk Museum lists the trail from 23 November to 5 January. Go from the 24th to be safe.
  • What: ten Snowdogs, each decorated by a different artist, based on the animated film The Snowman and The Snowdog.
  • Where: around Macclesfield. Wild in Art says the sculpture locations and map collection points “will be announced soon”. One is confirmed: a Snowdog by local artist Jo Oatts in the Silk Museum garden on Park Lane.
  • Maps: the Silk Museum says it will hand out trail maps and stickers.
  • Cost: neither organiser has mentioned a charge to walk the trail.

What the organisers have said

Wild in Art’s event page names its partner as Macclesfield Council and says it is “returning to Macclesfield for a second winter with a new sculpture trail featuring ten decorated Snowdog sculptures”. It adds that the sculptures have been on earlier Wild in Art trails, so regular trail-goers “might recognise a few old friends along the way”.

The Silk Museum’s listing gives the run as 23 November to 5 January and says its own Snowdog, “lovingly designed and decorated by local artist Jo Oatts”, will stand in the museum’s garden. The museum will hand out maps and stickers for the trail.

The two start dates differ by a day. We will go with whichever the town council confirms when it publishes the map.

Last winter’s Elmer trail, for comparison

Last year the same company brought Elmer’s Art Parade to the town from 22 November 2025 to 11 January 2026. Wild in Art’s record of that trail says there were twelve painted elephants, at places including the Grosvenor Centre, Macclesfield Library, the Silk Museum and Mill Street, with eight more around the area. This year’s trail is two sculptures shorter. Expect a town centre walk again, but treat the Elmer spots as a guide only until the Snowdog map is published.

The Snowman and The Snowdog at the Silk Museum

To go with the trail, the Silk Museum is showing The Snowman and The Snowdog free in its classroom on Saturday 5 December and Saturday 12 December, at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance, and the screenings are supported by Macclesfield Town Council (The Silk Museum). Father Christmas is at the museum on those Saturdays too, which is on our Santa page.

Fitting it into a day in town

The trail overlaps with the town’s other Christmas fixtures:

Town centre car park charges are on our parking in Macclesfield page, and any road closures on the way in are on our roadworks and travel page.

Still to be announced

  • The ten sculpture locations and the trail map.
  • Where to collect a paper map, apart from the Silk Museum.
  • Whether there is an app, a prize for spotting them all or a farewell event.
  • What happens to the sculptures afterwards.

We will update this page when the map is published.

Sources

Checked on 28 October 2026.