Worldwide Winter Wonderlands: The 10 Most Spectacular Cold-weather Festivals
Philip Scalia/Ambient Images/NewscomSaranac Lake Winter Carnival – Saranac Lake, New York
For nearly 117 years, the main attraction of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has been its “Ice Palace,” first erected in 1898. Nowadays, the famed frozen residence is built by volunteers from hundreds (if not thousands) of 2-by-4-foot-long ice-blocks cut by hand from Lake Flower, a 300-acre lake in the greater Saranac Lake region. Although the present-day Ice Palace is not quite as intricate as in years past, it does come complete with thrones and a temporary king and queen: two local residents, who are honored for their contribution to the community.
From about January 12th to February 19th, 2015.
© Jean-Sébastien Ouellet/Demotix/CorbisQuebec Winter Carnival - Quebec, Canada
Up in the Great White North, Canadians know how to put on fun cold-weather spectacles, too. One of the best options is the Quebec Winter Carnival, which stretches from January 30th to February 15th in 2015. Included in the festival village is a huge ice palace in honor of the festival’s snowman mascot, Bonhomme, which in 2014, was located in front of Quebec’s parliament building. The carnival, which spans a little over two weeks, also includes canoe and sleigh races; a night parade; a snow-sculpture-making event; and a snow bath—for those brave enough to take the plunge.
From January 30 to February 15, 2015.
ChinaFotoPress / Getty ImagesHarbin Ice Festival – Harbin, China
For one of the last words on ice palaces, make the world-spanning trek to the Harbin Ice Festival in sub-zero northern China. The festival features a jaw-dropping mini-city of illuminated ice—spanning four separate “theme parks” (some built from snow and ice)—cut from the Songhua River. Make sure to pack layers upon layers, because temperatures can drop as low as 44 degres below zero (Fahrenheit) in Harbin in January. But the frigid climate means there’s no shortage of material to build the festivals main attractions—which is a good thing, considering the ice sculptures alone require 4.2 million cubic feet of ice!
From January 5th to February 25th, 2015.
© Paul Brown / AlamySapporo Snow Festival – Sapporo, Japan
If you made it all the way to the Harbin Ice Festival, it might be worth flying an additional seven hours to Sapporo, Japan, which hosts its annual Snow Festival. The festival’s home city knows a thing or two about snow and ice, having hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. The international festival attracts millions of tourists, who flock to three exhibition sites: Odori Park, featuring a variety of sculptures; Sapporo’s community dome (or “Tsudome”), which last year boasted snow and ice slides; and Susukino Ice World, which is erected in the middle of the bustling city.
From February 5–11, 2015
© Michel Setboun/Sygma/CorbisLake Khövsgöl Ice Festival – Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia
Mongolia loves ice festivals so much that they have three of them. These include the Golden Eagle Festival, during which Kazakh hunters test their skills with the help of golden eagles; and the Gobi Desert–based Thousand Camel Festival, which features camel races and traditional song and dance. But the ultimate cold-weather event takes place in early March. Known as the “Ice Festival,” the event happens on the frozen-solid Khövsgöl Lake, which covers over 1,000 square miles of northern Mongolia. Festivities include ice skating, dog sledding, horse-sleigh racing, and one of the most popular events, ice-wrestling contests.
© Al Grillo/ZUMA Press/CorbisAnchorage Fur Rendezvous Winter Festival, USA
Alaskans sure know how to “Rondy” in the snow. This ten-day Anchorage, Alaska–based festival packs in wacky winter-weather games like leaf-blower hockey, played on an ice rink with wiffle balls; yukigassen, a Japanese import that hybridizes capture the flag, paintball, and snowball fighting; a race involving porta-potties mounted on skis; and the running of the reindeer, far from the gore-fest of its Spanish bull-run cousin. It’s not all fun and games, though: Things get the most competitive from Feb. 27th–March 1st, when the world championship of sled dog racing kicks off.
From February 27th to March 8th.
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty ImagesUp Helly Aa, Shetland Islands, Scotland (United Kingdom)
Winter festivals aren’t always about ice. In fact, some are built solely on the opposite. The Up Helly Aa, a Viking fire festival, takes place annually in Lerwick on Scotland’s Shetland Islands (off the nation’s northeastern coast). Originating in the late-19th century and held on the last Tuesday in January (i.e. it only lasts for one day), island inhabitants dress up like Vikings and in a torch-lit procession, drag a replica Viking longboat through town—lined, of course, by cheering spectators—before circling it and setting the galley ablaze. Note: heavy drinking may be involved.
January 25, 2015
© Dave Stevenson / AlamyJokkmokk Winter Market – Jokkmokk, Sweden
The 400-year-old winter market is the largest in Northern Europe and originates with Sweden’s indigenous, reindeer-herding Sámi people (a.k.a. Laplanders). In the 17th century, the king of Sweden set up permanent marketplaces near Laplander settlements, where the present-day, weeklong market takes place. Today, the market still bustles with traders, but it’s more of a festival than a trade show: Those in attendance are treated to performances of traditional Sámi music and dance; dog sled tours; moose-spotting excursions; and reindeer races (pictured).
From January 31 to February 8, 2015
© Hannu Mononen / AlamyLux Helsinki – Helsinki, Finland
The Finnish capital stays lit up well after the sun goes down for its Lux Helsinki festival, which features artwork created by light. The event consists of 17 light-art installations at 13 spots around the city’s center. Some of the most popular include “Lantern Park,” featuring hundreds of beacons hung in the University of Helsinki’s courtyard; and the interactive “Water Light Graffiti” installation, where audience members can create light paintings by brushing LEDs with wetted fingers or a paintbrush. Like the Shetland’s Up Helly Aa, burning stuff makes for a major spectacle, when a local “fire circus” performs in Helsinki’s main Senate Square.
January 4–8, 2015
© ARCTIC IMAGES / AlamyReykjavík Winter Lights Festival – Reykjavík, Iceland
If you can’t make it to Lux Helsinki, fear not: Exactly a month later, Iceland’s capital city throws its own festival of lights, featuring art installations and light shows at some of its architectural wonders like the Hallgrímskirkja Church (pictured). The unique “Pool Night” also offers festivalgoers the opportunity to enjoy some of the city’s public swimming pools—and at least one geothermic beach—free of charge, with aquatic illuminations, music, and games thrown into the mix.
February 5-8, 2015