Enjoy The Beauty Of Winter
Summer is so often considered the best time to travel in North America that we often forget about the other seasons. In fact, there are many, many winter festivals across our continent that you can enjoy, either as a resident or a visitor. Keep those wintertime blues from getting to you, and celebrate the great outdoors.
1. Frostival, North Dakota
Situated in the coldest time of the year, the town of Fargo aims to lighten the spirits of its residents and visitors. Frostival is a time of celebration that aims to make the winters seem a little less dark and spooky with a weekend full of art, activities, and fun.
2. Festival du Voyageur Solo, Manitoba
This week-long celebration is the largest Francophone event in Western Canada, with roots dating back to 1970. It not only celebrates Indigenous and Canadian-French culture through art, music, dance, snow sculptures, and food, but it's also dedicated to educating Canadians on Indigenous and Francophone history within the province of Manitoba.
3. Igloofest, Québec
This electronic music festival is one of the coldest in the world. Held in Montréal's old Port, the festival aims to warm people up with music and dance. The ice decor, light shows, and brightly colored clothing help attendees remember that the winter gloom will end sooner than they think.
4. Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Alaska
“Fur Rondy” is the primary winter festival held in the most northern of the north. The festival has been around since 1935, when the city of Anchorage had no more than 3,000 people. While it began as a sports tournament, this 12-day celebration has dog sledding, games, parades, snowshoeing, and outhouse races.
5. Fire & Ice Festival, Ontario
Located in the city of Bracebridge, this festival likes to bring the heat. You can hit the trails on cross-country skis or snowshoes, “climb Muskoka” in a 6,400 sq. ft indoor rock climbing facility, or enjoy performances by fire artists. The festival also boasts an impressive fireworks display, interactive ice displays, open firepits, and a Downtown tube run.
Alexander Churbakov on Unsplash
6. Winterfest, Virginia
The city of Norfolk is a bright spot every winter, as the city transforms into a gorgeous light display. Alongside the beauty of over 2 million lights, the festival also has circus acts, Santa meet&greets, donuts from the WWII era, and their newest addition, the Kingdom of the Snow Queen.
7. Carnaval, Québec
Widely considered the quintessential Canadian winter festival, Québec City is full of wonder and celebration for 10 full days. It boasts a palace made entirely of ice, night parades, music, activities, and the festival’s lovable mascot, Bonhomme.
8. Winterlude, Ontario
Held across Ottawa and Gatineau, Québec, this well-established festival takes place across three weekends in February. You can skate along the Rideau Canal, the world’s largest skating rink (and a UNESCO World Heritage site), take in a live show, carve a bit of ice, or attend the Sparks Street outdoor art gallery.
9. World Ski & Snowboard Festival, British Columbia
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the town of Whistler comes alive through sport and art alike. This week-long festival boasts ski and snowboard competitions, an after-dark music series featuring international DJs, a guerrilla film challenge, talks, art, and saucy after parties.
10. Whitefish Winter Carnival, Montana
This unique 3-day winter celebration takes over the city of Whitefish every year, transforming the town into a mini-kingdom. With two coronation events, a scavenger hunt, a disco party, beer curling, and a penguin plunge, you’ll enjoy the lavish lifestyle of medieval luxury, with the bonus of modern entertainment.
11. Snow Days Festival, Alberta
The beautiful towns of Banff and Lake Louise come to life every January during this three-week festival. You’ll be able to walk among the most beautiful snow and ice sculptures, ski, skate, and snowboard to your heart's content, and warm up with the town's diverse food scene. All of this against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies? Sign us up!
12. Michigan Tech Winter Carnival, Michigan
This university-based festival began around 1922 and is celebrated in the city of Houghton every year. Michigan Tech turns into a winter wonderland, with large snow statues dotting campus and the surrounding city, as visitors and residents enjoy sleigh rides, comedy shows, and a coronation.
13. Winter Festival Of Lights, Ontario
Occurring through the fall and winter, Niagara Falls visitors can experience the multisensory beauty made up of 3 million lights. Featuring a firework display, laser light shows, kinetic light sculptures, and a poetry hut, you’ll feel warm amongst the chill emanating from the falls.
14. St. Paul Winter Carnival, Minnesota
For ten days, Saint Paul hosts a variety of family-fun activities all in the spirit of the cold weather. You can enjoy the city’s ice sculptures, parades, fundraisers, and even a musical that honors historical figures from Minnesota's history.
15. Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, Yukon
Taking place in the capital city of Whitehorse since 1945, this winter spectacle has been the hub for winter sports tournaments for over 60 years. The festival boasts a craft fair, a flour packing contest, a pancake breakfast, shows, and even a pet parade.
16. Sarnac Lake Winter Carnival, New York
Considered the oldest winter festival in the United States, this logging town has been a popular spot for skiing, sledding, and skating for over 100 years. Each year, residents and visitors alike can participate in a winter carnival court, watch fireworks displays, or take in the festival’s pièce de resistance: the annual ice palace build.
17. International Snow Sculpture Championships, Colorado
This free-to-attend festival takes place across two weeks, with the first dedicated to sculpture building and the second to sculpture viewing. Each team receives a 25-ton block of snow that they must hand-carve over a 5-day period.
18. McCall Winter Carnival, Idaho
This mountain town is the perfect spot for fans of outdoor winter sports, and its 10-day winter festival is no different. Their 2026 theme is called “Where in the world is Sharlie?” which honors Idaho’s very own mythical sea serpent.
19. SnowFest, California
Yes, even the Golden State has winter festivals! North Lake Tahoe started Snowfest in 1982, a 10-day festival that’s situated among the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The festival hosts over 40 events, a parade, and the town’s only annual firework show.
20. Stowe Winter Carnival, Vermont
Featuring professional ice carvers, ice fishing, maple sugaring, skating, and a thriving outdoor market, this 3-day festival puts the small town of Stowe on the map. Head there this January to understand why it holds the title of “Ski Capital of the East.”
