Check out these celebrations of snow and ice that prove nobody does cold weather better than Canadians!
1 YUKON: SOURDOUGH RENDEZVOUS
Yukoners know winter. Whitehorse instituted its winter carnival week in 1945 to celebrate the season and the region’s famous bread. The focus here is on quirky cold-weather contests, from the farthest log toss to best-costumed pet to most exceptional mustache. Feb. 16-25
2 B.C.: WORLD SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL
As if anyone needed another reason to hit the slopes in Whistler, this end-of-season bash celebrates the best (and most raucous) of mountain culture. After shredding Blackcomb Mountain, attendees can watch the pros do it during freestyle ski and boarderstyle competitions. Free concerts and DJ sets, comedy shows, art installations and more offer ample off-piste fun. Dates to be announced
3 ALBERTA: JASPER IN JANUARY
This multi-week celebration encourages participants to explore Jasper’s pristine wilderness, as well as its urban sights, sounds and tastes. Show off your speed at the opening-weekend fat bike races, join a nighttime snowshoeing tour, embark on a downtown food crawl, and wrap it all up at a full-blown street party with epic fireworks. Jan. 11-28
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4 SASKATCHEWAN: POTASHCORP WINTERSHINES
Saskatoon embraces the cold during this annual affair, which inspires guests to don toques, mitts and down-filled coats to take in a world-class ice-carving competition, snow sports, petting zoo and more. When it’s time to warm up, you can head to the soup cook-off and sample hearty offerings from the city’s top culinary talents. Jan. 27-Feb. 4
5 MANITOBA: FESTIVAL DU VOYAGEUR
Hosted by Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg’s French quarter, this folksy fête toasts the province’s fur-trading legacy and its unique Francophone, Métis and First Nations heritage. That history comes alive at the reconstructed Fort Gibraltar and Voyageur Park, where you can wander through an indigenous winter trading camp, check out a wood-carving challenge, sample maple taffy or applaud top musical performers. Feb. 16-25
6 ONTARIO: WINTERLUDE
Skating Ottawa’s Rideau Canal is something every Canadian should do at least once. And there’s no better time to do it than during Winterlude. You might find yourself sharing the rink with winter triathletes or ice dragon boat racers. You can also glide to Confederation Park to see ice sculptures, or cross the provincial border to Gatineau, Que., which turns into Snowflake Kingdom with kid-friendly activities. Feb. 2-19
7 NUNAVUT: TOONIK TYME
Though it officially celebrates the arrival of spring each April, this long-running Iqaluit event is chock full of cold-climate fun, including a family tobogganing party, Inuit games, an igloo-building contest and a snowmobile race from Iqaluit to Kimmirut. For visitors, it’s also an opportunity to engage with traditional and contemporary indigenous culture. Dates to be announced
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8 QUEBEC: CARNAVAL DE QUEBEC
The country’s quintessential winter fair has been running annually since 1955, and it remains a must-see celebration of Quebecois culture. Affable snowman Bonhomme presides over the festivities, which include colourful parades and performances, snow-sculpture contests, a maple sugar shack, and an elite canoe race across the water and ice floes of the St. Lawrence River. Jan. 26-Feb. 11
9 NEW BRUNSWICK: FROSTIVAL
For four winter weekends, Fredericton becomes the Maritimes’ capital of cool with 150-plus things to do for chill families. Events like outdoor curling, skating in Officers’ Square and craft beer tours via fat bike ensure you can enjoy the frosty outdoor air, while the Georgian-style Fredericton Playhouse warms hands and hearts with concerts and film screenings. Jan. 18-Feb. 4
10 P.E.I.: JACK FROST CHILDREN’S WINTERFEST
Practically the entire island participates in this kid-focused event in Charlottetown, dubbed the largest winter festival east of Quebec City. The main attraction is a massive outdoor snow kingdom with ice slides, sleigh rides, a skating rink and more. Children’s entertainers, a petting zoo and bouncy castles bring the fun indoors. Feb. 16-18
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