This winter, it is time to sit back. Celebrate frigid temperatures with frosty fun within the style of snow and ice. From castles shaped from icicles to slides product of blocks of ice to wiggly sculptures handmade from snow, parks and town centers across the world are hosting the foremost epic snow and ice winter festivals .Use our list below to discover the world’s best snow and Ice festivals .
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1.Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Held: Late December-FebruaryDecember-February
Since it began in 1963, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has grown to become the largest in the world. Artists from around the world display their cool creations throughout the city, but the two main exhibition areas are where the majority of sculptures can be found. Make sure to stop by the Ice and Snow World exhibition at night, as full-size buildings made from thick blocks of ice are beautifully illuminated. The festival officially runs for one month but many of the exhibits open earlier and run later if the weather cooperates.
2.World Ice Art Championships, Fairbanks, Alaska
Held: middle of February-End of March
Each year more than 100 sculptors from 30 countries head to Fairbanks to participate in the World Ice Art Championships. The largest ice sculpting contest of its kind, tens of thousands of visitors make the trip to see what contestants have created each year. The championship itself is divided into three different categories, depending on the amount of ice they have to work with. And each category is broken down into either realistic or abstract art, resulting in a fairly eclectic collection, so there should be something to appeal to all tastes.
3.Sapporo Ice Festival
Held : One Week every February
The Sapporo Snow Festival began in 1950 when six snow statues were built by local high school students in the city’s Odori Park. Over the years, this annual tradition of building snow sculptures in the park grew and the media began to take notice. But it wasn’t until 1972 when Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympic Games that the festival became known internationally. Since its humble beginnings, the Snow Festival has opened additional areas around the city to make room for the hundreds of sculptures that are built each year.
4.International Ice Sculpting Festival Jelgava, Latvia
Held :Every February
With each festival revolving around a different theme, you never know what impressive form the ice and snow art will take at the International Ice Sculpture Festival in Jelgava . The largest ice and snow festival in Northern Europe, visitors can enjoy the artwork of over 30 global artists while listening to live music, watching live demonstrations, and participating in other special events. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the famous Koskenkorva ice bar for a chilled vodka.
5. Ice Sculpting Contest, Valloire, France
Held: Every January
The commune of Valloire has not one, but two distinct ice and snow events each year. The International Ice Sculpture Contest runs for four days, displaying the work of 20 sculptures from around the world, and comes to a close with a torchlight parade and fireworks. A few days later, the International Snow Sculptures Contest begins with both national and international artists displaying their best snow creations. This portion of the festival is again concluded with a torchlight parade and fireworks.
6.Ice Music Festival, Bergsjøstølen, Norway
Held: Annually in February
At this festival music is played with horns, percussions, cellos, talatuts, harps and other instruments – all carved of ice blocks, except for the strings of course. It is amazing how ice musicians manage to find the necessary string on the harp wearing a glove or how they blow into the trumpet and do not stick to the icy instrument. The concert is actually a great improvisation as you can never know for sure which sound the ice instrument will produce, for the quality of ice music depends largely on the temperature. The festival is held annually in late January in the small mountainous village Geilo.
7 .Snowking Winter Festival, Yellowknife, Canada
Held: Every March
The Snowcastle becomes a month long celebration of community spirit, collaboration, innovation in the arts, entertainment for young and old and where the spirit of winter wonderment from all our collective childhood reigns supreme.
A winter wonderland is created on Yellowknife Bay where the Snowking and his talented, hardy northern helpers brave -30 over the course of 2 months to build a huge castle made entirely of snow and ice.
On any given day, the Snowcastle might host a children’s play, followed by an arts exhibit or a rock band, a film festival and finish the night off by transforming into a dance club.
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