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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.

Winter festival Canada
Snow-carving during the Sourdough Rendezvous in Yukon, Canada (photo: Government of Yukon).

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

Winter festival Canada
The Winnipeg community enjoying the Festival du Voyageur at Fort Gibraltar (photo: Travel 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.

Winter festival Canada
Viewing the snow scuptures at the Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg (photo: Travel Manitoba).

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

Winter festival Canada
A warmly-dressed little girl enjoying the ice at the Prince Edward Island’s Jack Frost Children’s Winterfest (photo: Tourism PEI).

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

Winter festival Canada
Rossland’s steep hills are perfect for the bobsled races that run during the Rossland Winter Carnival (photo: Mike Thomas Flickr).

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

Winter festival Canada
Fredericton’s FROSTival snow sculptures (photo: Fredericton Tourism).

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

Winter festival Canada
Inside the giant Ice Castle at Hawrelak Park at the Ice on Whyte festival in Edmonton (photo: Wilson Hui).

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.

Winter festival Canada
Glistening ice sculpture at the Ice on Whyte Festival in Alberta (photo: Mack Male Flickr).

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

Winter festival Canada
Performer in wintry attire at Ottawa’s Winterlude Festival (photo: Canadian Tourism).

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.

Winter festival Canada
Family fun at the Winterlude Festival in Ottawa (photo: Canadian Tourism).

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

Winter festival Canada
The Winterlude festivities in Ottawa include ice-skating on the Rideau Canal.

Not ready to take your mittens off yet?

Keep reading for more chilly experiences in Canada:




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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

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    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

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    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    Seven Canadian winter festivals worth the air fare | International Traveller