Seven Canadian winter festivals worth the air fare

Canadians don’t hide from sub-zero winters; they embrace ‘em.

Zip up your parka, pull down your toque (that’s a hat!) and head into the snow to party like a Canuck, these are the Canadian Winter Festivals not to be missed says Nikki Bayley.

Sourdough Rendezvous, Yukon

Winter festival Canada — The Sourdough Rendezvous allows furry friends get in on the entertainment too, howling is just part of the fun here (photo: Government of Yukon).

Yukoners don’t do hibernation even if the winter is long, dark months of little sunlight and temperatures below minus 20 degrees.

The Sourdough Rendezvous, a time to socialise, have fun and enjoy that winter weather. By day it’s a family-friendly affair, featuring feats of strength from carrying loaded flour sacks, to solo dog-sledding and snow-caving.

At night the locals let rip with events such as the Sourdough Sam contest to find the Yukon’s ‘primo male’ by bar-based challenges including a lip-sync contest, a ‘Bare’n’Boot’ striptease and kielbasa eating contest!

Tip: Don’t miss the Hair Freezing contest at the Takhini Hot Springs. yukonrendezvous.com

Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Experience life in 1815 lived by the Province’s fur-trapping Voyageurs, First Nations and Métis at the reconstructed Fort Gibraltar site, thanks to this annual 10-day cultural festival.

From a pop-up restaurant on the frozen river to candlelit parades through the sub-zero streets and dancing to the latest bands at the festival site, there’s plenty to keep you warm.

Tip: Wear the traditional ‘ceinture fléchée’ sash over your parka, and don’t forget to try the ‘tire d’érable’ maple taffy made by boiling sap then pouring it on snow. festivalvoyageur.mb.ca

Jack Frost Children’s Winterfest, Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown becomes an outdoor – and indoor – children’s winter wonderland for one long weekend each February when Jack Frost’s Winterfest comes to town.

Be dazzled by the skills of the Puppet Tamer, acrobatic circus performers and magicians on the live stage, visit the petting zoo and bouncy castles in Playland, then skate, slide and play in the Snow Kingdom before visiting the intricate ice sculptures.

Tip: Save little legs from getting tired, and hop on board the frost-themed free shuttle bus to visit all the different festival sites.

Rossland Winter Carnival, British Columbia

Tucked away in the soaring Monashee Mountains in the unspoiled West Kootanay region, Rossland plays host to Canada’s oldest winter festival, a true Canadian ski town winter whoop-up celebrating snow, skis and whizzing downhill as fast as you can.

Taking advantage of the city’s steep streets, this is where you’ll find madcap locals hurtling down iced slopes in home-made bobsleds, luges and toboggans, and street-side ice bars with bands playing outdoors long and late into the night.

Tip: Take a ‘Learn to Luge’ course at Rossland’s RED Ski Resort and be prepared for action. rosslandwintercarnival.com

FROSTival in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Discover your inner Canuck at FROSTival and watch a curling match in Officer’s Square whilst downing local craft beers.

Take an ice-carving workshop then stay up late and hit the hills for a moonlight snowshoe hike. Lace up your skates for an old-fashioned skating party with a live band and the best hot cider in town.

Tip: Warm up and enjoy the Shivering Songs taking place in quirky venues across town, such as the Urban Almanac General Store and the Wilmot United Church which boasts an interior decorated by celebrated Canadian artist, Alex Colville.

Ice on Whyte, Edmonton, Alberta

There’s snowy fun at the Ice on Whyte festival for two winter weekends in January and February.

Families will love tubing – zooming down snowy slopes in tyres – and playing on the giant ice slides, and big kids of all ages will dig the tasty food trucks and late-night bands.

Tip: Check out the giant Ice Castle at Hawrelak Park, one of only four in the world. This acre-sized icy marvel is hand-crafted with icicles and water and has an ice maze.

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Winterlude, Ottawa, Ontario

Taking place over three weekends in February, Canada’s capital hosts outdoor dance parties and an international ice-sculpture contest, and becomes the home of the world’s largest naturally frozen rink.

Glide down the Rideau Canal keeping warm by grooving to steel-drum bands and sipping hot chocolate along the way.

Tip: Ideal for families, cross the bridge into Gatineau, Quebec to visit Snowflake Kingdom, a massive snowpark with slides, games and kid-friendly shows. ottawatourism.ca/winterlude

Not ready to take your mittens off yet?

Keep reading for more chilly experiences in Canada:

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Seven Canadian winter festivals worth the air fare

Canadians don’t hide from sub-zero winters; they embrace ‘em.

Sourdough Rendezvous, Yukon

Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Jack Frost Children’s Winterfest, Prince Edward Island

Rossland Winter Carnival, British Columbia

FROSTival in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Ice on Whyte, Edmonton, Alberta

Winterlude, Ottawa, Ontario

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