This post update reminds me why I need to be careful about my site addresses. While I only had 6 North American locales with winter festivals when I first wrote this, I’ve got several new locations with this latest update. I love the winter–the food, the sports, the fashion. It’s all amazing. Some people don’t feel the same way, and to those, I say give an outdoor winter festival a try. In the Midwest, Canada, and the Northeast, many towns and cities offer a mid winter carnival to get people moving outdoors!
Frostival in Fargo, North Dakota: A Weekend Winter Festival
I’ve only been to Fargo once for a wedding in the height of summer. Neither my husband nor I have ever visited during the winter, but when it was the backdrop of my husband’s favorite TV show, he started to show a renewed interest in the town. Sidebar: 9.0 on IMDB? Wow.
Fargo gets very cold and very dark in the winter, but a winter festival like Frostival helps warm the spirit. Outdoor activities like snow yoga, also known as Snowga, snow golf, and capture the flag are extra special when played in unexpected conditions. Warming saunas and huts are rocking all day with food and music stations. You can see the whole lineup of activities for this winter festival in Fargo, North Dakota on their website. Frostival runs for almost a full week, so you can plan your visit around the schedule of events. There are still rooms available to visit town for this awesome winter festival.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Winterfest: A Nine Day Winter Festival
I had never visited Lake Geneva before I started dating my husband. Hisbest friend’s family owns a gorgeous home in town, and we often spend a weekend there in the summer. I’ve never been to Lake Geneva over the winter, but it sure is on my list. This year, there are multiple events in Lake Geneva that are perfect for winter fun, although only one is a true winter festival. Winterfest is a nine day winter festival in Lake Geneva. Taking place from one weekend into the next, Winterfest includes an unbelievable snow sculpture event, human dog sled races, and a chili cook-off.
Winterlude in Ottawa: Bilingual Winter Festivals
Cross country skiing in Major’s Hill Park. Photo c/o Ottawa TourismPerhaps the best vacation my husband and I have ever taken was Winterlude in Ottawa. We were originally supposed to visit Ottawa over Christmas, but that trip was canceled. Even though we had a non-refundable, pre-paid stay at Fairmont Château Laurier, the hotel graciously allowed us to rebook our stay within 90 days of cancellation. Since all of the Christmas cheer would be packed away for the season, we decided to rebook for a time during Winterlude. We will get to see ice carving, skate on the UNESCO heritage site of the frozen Rideau Canal, and try to stay warm with some skiing at Camp Fortune.
Camden, Maine: Winterfest
I lived in Maine when the economy was in the toilet (2008) and all I cared about was surviving life with a ghost as a roommate. Weekends were spent at the gym and the movie theatre, trying to kill time. I didn’t take advantage of skiing or any fun winter activities because I was 23, alone, and generally unhappy. One of my biggest regrets during that time was not visiting the coast of Maine, north of Portland. I missed out on entirely awesome places like Acadia National Park and Camden, Maine. Not too far from either Bangor or Augusta, Camden’s Winterfest started in 2013 to celebrate winter! Ice carving, skating competitions, pie parads and a toboggan competition are some of their ongoing programming in January and February.
Houghton, Michigan: Michigan Tech Winter Carnival
Mount Bohemia in Houghton, Michigan, site of Winter Carnival events. Photo c/o Chris GuibertI absolutely fell in love with Houghton and all of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula when I visited. While I visited over the summer, hearing about the over 200 inches of yearly snow piqued my interest. Because winter lasts so long in Houghton, it is hard not to talk about it. Everyone in town told me about the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival. A yearly tradition since 1922, this winter festival is put on by students of the university for the public’s enjoyment. Ice bowling involving human bowling balls, speed skating competitions, broomball, and more, are all enjoyed without spectators having to risk life or limb. The crowning achievement of many of these STEM curriculum students is the month long snow statue competition. Visit the MTU website to see past winners.
McCall, Idaho: McCall Winter Carnival
If you’ve been around my site or my social media, you’ll know I love Idaho. I honeymooned there, and went back in 2020, and fell in love with their Sunnyslope wine trail. It’s all great. Now what I haven’t done, is spend a winter in southern Idaho. If I were, the place I would head is McCall, for the more easy going, and accessible ski and winter sporting activities. Sorry, Sun Valley, you’re a little too Hollywood for this lady! (Unless I somehow am invited for a hosted trip, then I am SO in.) It’s only a weekend, but don’t forget your crampons so you can zip around safely to all the events on offer.
Québec City, Canada : Winter Carnival
The big daddy of all winter festivals is that of Québec City. I studied abroad in Québec City during the summer, and while the Festival d’Été was a blast, people frequently spoke of its winter equivalent. Québec City is known to be the most European feeling city in all of North America. Couple the quaint streets and historic architecture with a Francophone winter wonderland, and you have Winter Carnival. While it doesn’t run as long as the Canadian capital Ottawa, what the winter festival lacks in days it makes up for in spectacle. A pivotal Québécois event since 1955, the jewel of this fest is the Bonhomme Ice Palace. Fashioned entirely of ice, it is an architectural marvel that one must see to believe.
Does your town put on a winter festival each year? Or, perhaps you know of another fun locale for winter festival fun. If so, please leave a comment so I can update my list!
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Saranac Lake, New York: Winter Carnival
Established in 1897, the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is one of the oldest continuous winter festivals. Ice palaces, fireworks, hockey, live music, and of course, fry pan tosses are some of the most popular events. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting the Adirondacks in the summer, consider checking out Saranac Lake in the winter. After all, there is a reason why Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics!
Duluth, Minnesota: Cold Front
Maybe you aren’t interested in these multi-day winter festivals. Maybe you’d prefer to ski, snowmobile, or skate in the absolute stillness of winter. If that is more your speed, consider checking out Cold Front in Duluth, Minnesota. This is a great stop on the way in or out of town for a Lutsen Mountain ski trip.
Detroit, Michigan: The Most Urban of Winter Festivals
If you are looking for one of the more urban winter festivals, look no further than Detroit, Michigan. Okay, more like Royal Oak, Michigan. Just a stone’s throw from Detroit, enjoy the infrastructure of a major metropolitan area and the whimsy of a neighborhood winter carnival.
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My girlfriend and I were just thinking we want to take a trip this winter and Winterlude was on the list. Love the suggestions here I’m sending to her for the review! Thanks so much!
I’m glad to hear that Sharon! I will be there too :)