Winter Festivals in Canada

Canada’s top winter festival is Carnaval de Québec, but there are many more amazing events to enjoy. Winter season in Canada is synonymous with festivities. Despite the cold weather and snow, the country offers many options for fun. It is undeniably one of the most stunning seasons to explore Canada — and its incredible winter carnivals.

The days may get shorter and colder in the winter, but Canadians don't let that stop them. One of the best parts amonst the scenic magnificence of the Canadian winters are all the thrilling Winter Festivals In Canada.  

Immerse yourself in the fun of these festivals. Canadians are experts in this snowy season, after all.  

[ Read: How old is Canada ]

14 Canadian Festivals You Should Attend this Winter 

Is this your first winter trip to Canada? Are you wondering which Canada winter festivals you must experience—Winterlude, Ottawa, or Carnaval de Quebec? Don't worry! The travel experts at Canadiantrainvacations.com have put together this guide to the most exciting winter festivals to add to your travel list.

1. Carnaval de Quebec, Quebec City 

Carnaval de Quebec is the world's oldest and biggest Canada winter festival, and officially started in 1894 as a pre-Lenten carnival. The iconic cultural extravaganza will celebrate its 70th birthday in 2024! This seasonal festival is all about embracing the joys of winter and celebrating good times with food, drinks, events, and adventures. 

Every year, more than 400,000 Quebec City inhabitants and more than a million visitors from around the world come to the Carnaval de Québec to participate in the activities. It's considered one of the best Canadian winter festivals. 

Details for Carnaval de Quebec, 2024: 

• Date: Jan 25 to Feb 11, 2024
• Location: Quebec City
• Main attractions: Two night parades, Bonhomme's Palace, musical evenings, ice-scultpture garder, the inner tube slide, and so much more. 

[ Read: Best Time to go to Quebec ]

2. Winterlude, Ottawa 

Winterlude!  One of the biggest and most popular winter festivals in Canada, Winterlude sees half a million visitors from across the USA and Canada. This three-week celebration began in 1979 and adds excitement and fun to any winter trip. Food, music performances, entertainment, ice sculptures, and more await you in the Great White North.

Details For the Winterlude, 2024: 

• Date: Feb 2 to Feb 19, 2024 
• Location: Ottawa
• Main attractions: Ice skating, live musical event, snow activities, and games 

3. Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls

Started in 1982, the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights is the largest free outdoor light carnival in Canada. It attracts more than one million people every year. With the entire Niagara adorned with beautiful lights, this magical experience enchants you in every way. Be entranced by fireworks, concerts, and ultimate festivities.  

Details For the Winter Festival of Lights, 2024:

• Date: Nov 18, 2023 to Jan 7, 2024
• Location: Niagara Falls 
• Main attractions: Floral House, Hot Chocolate Trail, Dufferin Islands, Christmas market, light displays 

[ Read: Winterlude Festival ]

4. Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg

The Festival du Voyageur brings together the cultural heritage of the French Canadian and the Métis making for a special winter experience in Central Canada. The 10-day Canada winter festival celebrates the fur-trading past of the country along its French culture via arts and crafts, entertainment, music, events, and food. More than 80,000 people participate in this event annually. 

Details For Festival du Voyageur, 2024

• Date: Feb 16 to Feb 25, 2024
• Location: Winnipeg 
• Main attractions: A torchlight walk, concerts, French-Canadian cuisine

[ Read: What to do in Winnipeg ]

5. Jasper in January, Jasper

Get out of your cozy cocoons and embrace all the wild winter activities in Jasper in January. Jasper National Park is one of the best places to be in January if you are a wildlife enthusiast. Witness the wilderness and natural beauty of this place up close. You can also witness Jasper's makeover into a street party with loads of music, food, and fun. It is a two-week-long Canadian winter festival for all ages. So, whether you want to be there alone or with friends or family, it will be the ultimate winter bonanza for you. This year, Jasper in January celebrates its 5th anniversary. 
 

Details For Jasper in January 2024

• Date: Jan 12 to Jan 28, 2024 
• Location: Jasper, Alberta 
• Main attractions:  Maligne Canyon Ice Walk, Jam Nights, Brewpub Bingo, pond hockey, wildlife, ice climbing 

6. Snowking Castle Festival, Yellowknife

What could be as magnificent as enjoying a grand festival inside a snow castle? Yes, this incredible event takes place in the Snowking Castle overseeing the beautiful Great Slave Lake on the periphery of Yellowknife City. Started in 1996, the Snowking Castle Festival will mark its 28th year in 2024. During the daytime, the castle hosts various arts and cultural events for kids and then transforms into a venue for amazing night activities, including live music, concerts, and films. It can also be an educational experience and a great opportunity for young tourists to learn about the current climate crisis.  

Details For Snowking Castle Festival 2024

• Date: Mar 2 to Mar 29, 2024
• Location: Yellowknife, NT, Canada 
• Main attractions: International Snow Carving Symposium, ice slides, snow aurora, live music 

7. Yukon Rendezvous, Yukon

Started in 1964, the Yukon Rendezvous, once known as the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, will observe its 60th year in 2024. With over 30,000 visitors each year, this Gold Rush-inspired carnival organizes one-of-a-kind, inclusive and participatory events. Whether you are a night owl or enjoy daytime activities, the Yukon Rendezvous welcomes all. 

Details For Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous 2024

• Date: Feb 9 to Feb 25, 2024 
• Location: Whitehorse, Yukon 
• Main attractions: Axe throwing, pancake breakfast, flour packing, dog sledding, Can-Can dancers, SnowShoe Shufflers 

8. Montréal: Festival Montréal en Lumière

Since 2000, the Festival Montréal en Lumiere has had the goal of spreading happiness and getting people outside during winter. It remakes the streets of Montréal into a all-day fiesta. From food stalls and music concerts to Nuit Blanche, its night-time art exhibit, this winter festival offers many ways to have fun. It welcomes over one million visits every year.  

Details For Festival Montréal en Lumière 2024:

• Date: Feb 29 to Mar 10, 2024 
• Location: Montreal, Canada 
• Main attractions: Free outdoor activities, shows, braziers, light shows, dance, music, food, and nuit blanche 

9. World Ski and Snowboard Festival, Whistler

Locals call it WSSF. It is the highly anticipated ski and snowboard festival, which strikes a perfect balance between the energizing vibes of the late winter/early spring and the impressive mountain culture of Whistler. With non-stop actions revolving around the slopes, the WSSF is one of the best Canadian winter festivals and is hard to miss. This Canadian winter festival came alive in 1996 as an annual party around arts, music, and snow sports.

Details For Ski and Snowboard Festival 2024:

• Date: Apr 8 to Apr 14, 2024 
• Location: Whistler, British Columbia 
• Main attractions: Filmmaking, photography, snowboard and ski games and competitions, nightlight, arts, and music 

10. Silver Skate Festival, Alberta

The longest-running winter festival in Edmonton, the Silver Skate Festival, has offered 30 years of fun, frolicking, and enjoyment. Whether you long to relive your first snowfall again or rediscover the joy of childhood while enjoying good music and good food, the Silver Skate Festival is for you. Rooted in winter culture and Dutch traditions, this 10-day carnival is a blend of drool-worthy food, recreation, sports, and arts you will love for sure.

Details For Silver Skate Festival 2024:

• Date: Feb 9 to Feb 19, 2024 
• Location: William Hawrelak Park, Edmonton, Alberta 
• Main attractions: Imperial Oil Folk Trail, Wayward Snow Sculpture Garden, Mammoet Sporting Challenges 

11. Griz Days, Fernie

The Griz Days Winter Carnival is one of the biggest events in Fernie, British Columbia. Since 1978, this festival has been celebrating the bond between the community, winter, and the Griz, a mythical mountain man. 

Details For Griz Days Winter Carnival 2024:

• Date: Mar 1 to Mar 3, 2024 
• Location: Fernie, British Columbia 
• Main attractions: Rocky Mountain Lumberjack show, Ski competitions, Extreme Griz Competition, parades

12. Frost Festival in Regina

Organized across four frost hubs—Wascana, Downtown, Real, and Warehouse—the Frost Festival in Regina is a new Canadian winter festival, which will be three years old in 2024. The 17,000 annual attendees to the festival enjoy both outdoor and indoor activities. The 10-day Frost Festival  is a fun way to see how Canadians embrace the winter. 

Details For Frost Festival 2024:

• Date: Jan 26 to Feb 4, 2024 
• Location: Regina, Saskatchewan 
• Main attractions: Ice slides, snow mazes, marketplaces, skating, dog sledding, horse sleigh ride 

13. Chinook Blast in Calgary

The Chinook Blast in Calgary offers many iconic activities, including winter sports, live music perfomances, food stalls, and night markets. Another new festival on the scene, its ten founding partners started the Chinook Blast in 2020 to foster community pride and spirit, energize the downtown, and boost tourism. 

Details For Chinook Blast in Calgary 2024:

• Date: Feb 2 to Feb 19, 2024 
• Location: Calgary 
• Main attractions: High-Performance Rodeo, BIG Winter Classic, Block Heater, Nitro Rallycross 

14. Mummers Festival in St. John’s 

The Mummers Festival is a not-for-profit, community- based and folklife festival. It commemorates one of the oldest traditions of Newfoundland with a series of workshops and events gearing up to the Mummers Parade, the famous crowning event. 

Details For Mummers Festival

• Date: November 25-December 9, 2023, 2024 dates TBA
• Location: Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada 
• Main attractions: Ugly Stick Workshop, Family Printmaking, Hobby Horse Workshop, Ribbon Fool Workshop