Check out these 11 best winter festivals in the U.S.

What is it? The Ice Alaska World Ice Art Championships began back in 1990 in Fairbanks so that artists could share ice sculpture experiences with the community. Thirty five years later, it’s a thriving event with stunning large-scale exhibits (you have to see the website homepage with an entire five-person rock band carved out of ice). There are multiblock, double block and single block competitions, plus a youth category. Experience ice slides, a very cool ice hill for sledding, an ice dome, ice ping pong, ice checkers, ice mini golf… the list goes on. Let’s just say it looks like a blast.

Time Out tip: Odds are, you’re going to see the Northern Lights while here.

Price: Tickets start at $17/adult and $8/child.

Address: Tanana State Fairgrounds, 1800 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709

Dates: Feb 16–March 31, 2026

What is it? Celebrating nearly a half century, the North Lake Tahoe Snowfest includes 10 days of embracing winter. There are more than 50 events on the slate, including snow play, pancake breakfasts, nightlife, a street fair, a throwback party, a “brain freeze” ice cream eating contest, bar Olympics, milk jug curling, “I did a run” sled dog race, fireworks… it’s all a mishmash of hilarity and joy. It culminates in the snow sculpture contest at River Ranch Lodge. Last year, 20,000 people attended Snowfest and a quarter of those participated in an event—and $180k was raised for local nonprofits.

Time Out tip: Welp, it’s not winter if you don’t do a polar bear plunge into the lake. Gar Wood’s annual Polar Bear Swim is Feb 28.

Price: Most events are free, but this is a fundraiser for local community organizations so you are encouraged to make a donation.

Address: Various sites in North Lake Tahoe, California

Dates: Feb 26–March 8, 2026

What is it? Home to the World Snow Sculpting Championships, this festival is serious fun with teams competing for prize money for whatever they can sculpt within 72 hours—and the title of World Champion. Along with the artistry, dine on international dishes prepared by local restaurants, inspired by the 16 competing countries, as well as live music and performances, bingo, a snow slide, an indoor market and a candlelight winter walk.

Time Out tip: Purchase the official event button which supports the festival and also gives you the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize.

Price: Free

Address: Lowell Park, 201 Water St, Stillwater, MN 55082

Dates: Jan 13–25, 2026

What is it? For more than three decades, Zehnder’s Snowfest has been hosting a winter festival featuring snow sculptures and intricate ice carvings made from single and double blocks of snow. High school students compete in separate snow sculpture contests while older folks compete with ice. Zehnder’s Snowfest also includes a petting zoo, fireworks and a chocolate baking contest.

Time Out tip: “Carve out” time to eat at Zehnder’s restaurant, dating to 1856 and able to serve 1,500 guests at a time, earning it the title “America’s largest family restaurant.”

Price: Free

Address: 730 S Main St, Frankenmuth, MI 48734

Dates: Jan 28–Feb 1, 2026

What is it? World-class ice carvers descend on Richmond's Meltdown Winter Ice Festival to competitively wrestle 22 tons of ice into beauty, plus the weekend is filled with live music, ice fights, a family fun zone with games made entirely out of ice, carriage rides, a frozen fairy trail, a “frosty mug” pub crawl and fireworks.

Time Out tip: Since the ice sculptures are temporary, visit some permanent art at the Richmond Art Museum.

Price: Free

Address: Various spots in downtown Richmond, Indiana

Dates: Jan 30, 31, 2026

What is it? At the International Snow Sculpture Championships, teams from 10 countries around the world—plus Vermonters and a local team—come to hand-carve (no chain saws!) 25-ton blocks of snow into intricate sculptures. They work for five days, or about 94 hours, to create this outsized outdoor art gallery. They sculpt Jan 24–28 and the viewing week is Jan 28–Feb 3. Plus there are cannons, light shows and generalized fun.

Time Out tip: Do we actually have to say it? Breckenridge is a fabulous ski destination. Bring your skis or board!

Price: Free

Address: Riverwalk Center, 150 W Adams Ave, Breckenridge, CO 80424

Dates: Jan 24–Feb 3, 2026

What is it? Kenosha packs a lot into a single day at the Snow Daze Festival, where ice sculptures are erected in front of restaurants and businesses throughout downtown, less than 60 miles from Chicago. See ice carving demonstrations, walk around to enjoy the sculptures, shop and dine.

Time Out tip: After viewing the ice creations, do your own carving at the large 32-foot by 60-foot outdoor ice rink at Veterans Memorial Park (free—with free loaner skates, too, while supplies last).

Price: Free

Address: Downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin

Dates: Jan 24, 2026

What is it? Celebrating 15 years, Ice Castles builds glorious ice castles to entertain and awe visitors, with caverns and archways, handplaced icicles, tunnels that delight children (and are big enough for adults if they crawl!), sculptures carved by artists and fast ice slides. There’s also an ice bar where you can order a winter-themed cocktail. Based on founder Brent Christensen building a backyard castle to entertain his kids, today the company has grown significantly. You can visit five locations this winter: two in Colorado, one each in Minnesota and New Hampshire, and one north of the border in Edmonton.

Time Out tip: The New Hampshire location is the most extravagant one with added-on features like a quarter-mile Mystic Forest Light Walk, a snow tubing hill, a Winter Fairy Village and sleigh rides. For anyone thinking of an unusual place to propose (or just wanting a place to hang with friends), you’ll want to book time in the private Arctic Alcove.

Price: Prices vary by location and day of the week. For context, tickets at the Silverthorne location start at $25/adults, $19/children for off-season visits and $33/adults, $26/children for peak time visits (in general, Friday–Sun).

Address: 33 Irene Avenue, Cripple Creek, CO 80813; 125 Stephen’s Way, Silverthorne, CO 80498; 3818 Randall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108; 24 Clark Farm Road, North Woodstock, NH 03262.

Dates: All the locations typically open in January and close in late February or early March, but it all depends on the weather. You’re encouraged to sign up for the newsletter on the website to receive an email alert when dates are decided.

What is it? ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is 10 different displays of gigantic ice sculptures colored with special dyes to stay bright, plus ice tunnels and 20-foot frozen slides. It takes artisans 12,000 hours to create the cold and glittering playspace with 2 million pounds of ice, kept at a brisk 9 degrees Fahrenheit (loaner parkas are provided). ICE! first began here at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, but is now in five other cities. You don’t have to be a resort guest to access the feature.

Time Out tip: Look for the hidden ice slide inside the Reindeer Games area.

Price: Starts at $36

Address: Gaylord Palms Resort, 6000 W Osceola Way, Kissimmee, FL 34746

Dates: Nov 14, 2025–Jan 7, 2026

What is it? The ten day Lititz Fire & Ice Festival includes gorgeous ice sculptures, food trucks, scavenger hunt, fire shows with acrobatics, maker’s market, chili cook-off and a ticketed Winter’s Coolest Night Out preview party with live music and live ice carving.

Time Out tip: Check out the week-long Fire & Ice themed pub crawl. You’ll get a card listing all the downtown Lititz bars and restaurants featuring fire-themed drinks, and you spend the week visiting them.

Price: Free (other than the Coolest Night Out)

Address: Downtown Lititz, Pennsylvania

Dates: Feb 13–22, 2026

What is it? Over three busy days at the Fire & Ice Winter Festival, you can see fireworks off the back of the train, take a mural walking tour, play ice horseshoe or nighttime glow disc golf, go ice bowling, paint ceramics and warm your hands at an art sculpture bonfire, just to name a few of the activities. But undoubtedly, people are there for the ice sculpture contest judging at Cave Lake State Park.

Time Out tip: Bring your fat tire bike for the fun and scenic Birkenbeiner race on the snow.

Price: Free

Address: Various spots in Ely, Nevada

Dates: Jan 16–18, 2026