6 Amazing Winter Festivals Around the World

Holiday lights, cozy drinks, snowy escapades and tasty treats, winter has a lot of good things going for it. From newly established festivals to centuries-old traditions, people have been making the most of the chillier part of the year since… forever. Why not join in on the fun with one of these six amazing winter festivals around the world.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, South Korea

Try your hand at jigging and reeling at South Korea’s Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, an ice fishing extravaganza that attracts millions of people each year. Dubbed one of the “Seven Winter Wonders” by CNN in 2011, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is one of the only places where up to 8,000 people come together each day to catch and enjoy their very own sashimi, grilled or steamed fish dinner. The result is quite a spectacle that’s definitely worth experiencing at least once in your life.

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Aside from ice fishing, visitors can also enjoy figure skating, sledding, ice soccer, impressive snow sculptures and more.

Venice Carnival, Italy

One of the most famous carnivals in the world is Italy’s Carnevale di Venezia, a multi-week event with ties back to the early 1,000s. This noteworthy celebration attracts thousands of travelers each year to stunning Venice where crowds gather to marvel at colorful costumes and masks as people parade through the streets with wild music and dancing in tow.

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While the celebration carries on for weeks on end, the most important days are giovedì grasso and martedì grasso, aka ‘fat Thursday’ and ‘fat Tuesday’. These days are heavily focused on eating and those who partake are encouraged to indulge in special sweets and meats while donning extravagant Venetian masks.

International Snow Sculpture Championship, U.S.

Make your way to beautiful Breckenridge, CO, for a chance to see a series of mind-blowing snow sculptures at the International Snow Sculpture Championship. Each year, 12 teams from around the world gather to erect fantastic creations from massive 20-ton blocks of snow. The result is an impressive collection of larger-than-life works of art, each of which is crafted entirely by hand (no power tools allowed), that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages.

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The event typically lasts a total of four days and attendees can vote for their favorite sculpture at the end of their visit.

Winter Festival of Lights, Canada

Enjoy 101 nights of twinkling lights at the annual Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights, Canada’s largest free outdoor light festival. Located alongside the world-famous Niagra Falls, this stunning display has an unbeatable backdrop. Pair this with more than 3 million sparkling lights to enjoy and visitors will feel as if they’ve been instantly transported into a winter wonderland.

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The festival takes place from Early November through mid-February and includes live entertainment each weekend. What’s more, travelers can sip on free hot chocolate as they wait in line for a meet and greet with the one and only Santa Claus.

Diwali, India

The jolliest of Hindu celebrations, Diwali is India’s largest and most important holiday of the year. Also referred to as the Festival of Lights, Diwali lasts five days and is celebrated according to the Hindu calendar in either mid-October or mid-November depending on the year. Before the festival begins, participants prepare by cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes with diyas (oil lamps) and colorful art patterns referred to as rangolis. Then, when Diwali officially begins, celebrants don themselves in their finest clothes as they light diyas to illuminate their homes.

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In addition to cozy lights, festive treats are another important element in this yearly celebration. During this time, families come together to enjoy delicious desserts such as gulab jamun balls dunked in syrup, crunchy orange jalabi, loaves of halwa and more. Best of all, Diwali is marked with the gift of new clothes, so you don’t need to feel guilty if all that snacking has your waistline feeling a little snug.

Portland Winter Light Festival, U.S.

The arts and holiday spirit unite at the annual Portland Winter Light Festival. Each year, the city of Portland hosts this spectacular free event with the goal to, “build community by bringing art and technology to inclusive audiences while invigorating Portland in the winter.” The festival is a city-wide event where local businesses participate with window displays and pop-up art in order to encourage residents and visitors alike to get out and explore.

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Travelers can look forward to up to 100 illuminated art installations in addition to engaging performances and live events. Best of all, the event is family-friendly making it a perfect way for everyone to share in the holiday cheer.