February might be the coldest month of winter in Alberta. But it is also the liveliest winter month in Alberta. There will be winter festivals and celebrations taking place all across the province this month, with a few notable Family Day events, too.
And after months of snowfall and freezing temperatures, Alberta’s great outdoors are ready for winter exploration and recreation. The fresh snow and solid ice mean it is the perfect time to skate, ski and snowboard, cross-country ski, or snowshoe. There is a lot to do in Alberta this February, with many activities free to try and enjoy.
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Will Balzac Billy See His Shadow?
Will Alberta see warmer days soon?
Alberta’s Groundhog Day weather procrastinator, Balzac Billy resides in the town of Balzac, 24km north of Calgary and will be predicting whether spring will come soon on Groundhog Day.
Head to Rockyview county or watch online on Feb 2nd to find out.
Black History Month
February is Black history month. Learn more about Alberta’s Early Black Settlements by visiting the Royal Alberta Museum, the Art Gallery of Alberta and other local museums.
Edmonton’s Black Community is hosting a food festival this month. FEED THE SOUL Dining Week is as a city-wide event that will feature bold, flavour-packed traditional offerings at 15+ Black-owned restaurants, food retailers and makers. Expect price fixe menus and retail bundles between $10-$50.
Participate in the Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture in Calgary where Afro-Canadian/ Caribbean communities celebrate their vibrant cultural traditions during Black History month.
Winter Festivals in Alberta’s Towns and Cities
Keep your family day long weekend wide open for these winter festivals in Alberta. These events cover a huge array of themes including arts, culture, music, sports, or a combination of the above. A few of these festivals run longer than the weekend, too.
- There is a ton of winter fun to discover in Sylvan Lake’s Winterfest and Big Jig ice fishing derby are back for 2023. The three-day festival boasts an ice slide and skating, sleigh rides, entertainment, and the Oval Racing Series. Plus, you can enter the Big Jig for big prizes. February 18-20, 2023
- The town of St. Isidore, near Peace River, will host their annual Winter Carnival (Carnaval St-Isidore) on February 17-18 this year. The festival promises outdoor activities and dining opportunities and is a great chance to learn about French Canadian culture.
- Sundre Winterfest is all about celebrating winter and learning about how to survive it. Along with a day of free outdoor activities, Winterfest will also feature the 3rd Annual Mountain Survivalist Competition.
- Snow Fever will heat up Cold Lake on Family Day long weekend with indoor and outdoor activities, food and drink, and winter recreation.
The celebrations continue in Alberta’s larger cities with winter festivals and activities for all ages and interests.
- Calgary’s Chinook Blast will light up the city’s downtown core until February 12th! The festival includes several free activities around the Olympic Plaza rink and Chinook Blast Hub. Plus, there are music and arts festivals happening around the city during these three weeks.
- Edmonton’s Silver Skate Festival will bring art, entertainment, and winter fun to Hawrelak Park from February 10-20, 2023.
- The city of Grande Prairie’s Family Day fun takes place on February 19 with free Eastlink Centre access, outdoor activities, cookie decorating, and more.
- Celebrate Family Day at Red Deer’s Cronquist House with snacks, warm drinks, and activities.
Family Day in Alberta
Most of Alberta’s small towns host a Family Day celebration, or full weekend festival. Check your local calendar for nearby Family Day events, or see a few below in different parts of the province.
- The town of Gibbons is hosting Family Day fun all weekend. You can register for the Curling Bonspiel, or enjoy all the free Saturday activities with kids like the neon public skating.
- Legal’s Family Day Event will feature food, fun, skating, and sleigh rides.
- Kiwanis Family Day in Medicine Hat’s Police Point Park offers a ton of outdoor fun with free snowshoes and ski rentals.
- The Family Day celebrations in Grimshaw in northern Alberta offer a day of skating, relaxing by the fires, and an evening family dance on February 18.
Check — Family Day Weekend in Alberta article nearer to the weekend for the long weekend activities.
Take Advantage of Alberta’s Free Fishing Weekend
There are two Family Fishing Weekends each year in Alberta: one in the summer on the Canada Day long weekend; and the second in February on Family Day long weekend. This February, families around Alberta can enjoy free ice fishing, meaning there is no purchase of a fishing license necessary to fish February 18-20.
- The lakes in Alberta’s northern Boreal forest parks have great ice fishing opportunities: Winagami Lake, Lesser Slave Lake, and Gregoire Lake are all ice fishing lakes in northern Alberta.
- Beautiful ice fishing can be found all across central Alberta: William A. Switzer PP, Obed Lake PP, and Pigeon Lake PP, all offer ice fishing.
- Lake McGregor PRA, Payne Lake PRA, and Chain Lakes Provincial Park, all offer ice fishing in southern Alberta, if it becomes cold enough.
Warm up to a local Hot Chocolate Festival
‘Tis the season for warm and cozy beverages! And there will be a few places in Alberta where you can celebrate the best of the winter drinks: hot chocolate! Plan your next winter outing around these Alberta hot chocolate festivals and indulge in some wild but delicious creations.
- Okotoks Hot Chocolate Fest is on February 8-18 this year with 10 different local businesses set to participate.
- Head north for about 20-minutes for more soothing drinks from the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest. Dozens of local businesses will participate for the entire month of February.
Glide around Alberta’s National Parks
Each of Alberta’s accessible National Parks offer natural areas for skating. And as an added bonus, these natural skating areas all make for a scenic place to glide on the lakes, enjoy a picnic, or stargaze later on in the evening.
- Skating is permitted on Elk Island National Park’s Astotin Lake. The park is only 40-minutes from Edmonton, while also near several other central Alberta communities.
- Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park offers a skating area maintained by the lake resort. This is a perfect place to come for not just skating, but also wildlife viewing, or some post skating dinner and drinks.
- Lake Louise in Banff National Park is an iconic place to skate with mountain views, the hotel behind you, and fresh mountain air.
- Skating on Linnet Lake in Waterton National Park offers views of the large lakes, the Prince of Wales hotel, and the mountains. And remember you cannot skate on the Waterton Lakes.
Book a Romantic Getaway
You can easily find romance all over Alberta for either a Valentine’s getaway, or any romantic vacation. No matter what time you book, you can find accommodations and activities for a memorable time away with a loved one.
- Take your relaxing February getaway to the Rockies with the Castle Mountain Chalets’ Romantic Getaway Package.
- Canmore’s Malcolm Hotel offers a Romance in the Rockies Package, with access to their mountainside pool and hot tub included.
- Love is in the Air at Edmonton’s Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, who offer a romantic stay package for February 11-14 2023.
- Stop to explore one of Alberta’s sunniest (and possibly warmest) winter cities for your winter getaway in Medicine Hat. The city’s Comfort Inn & Suites offers a one-night romance special for their Presidential or Honeymoon Suites.
Find the Cross Country Ski Trails
Alberta has an extensive amount of cross-country ski trails which are maintained and groomed. There are almost an overwhelming number of trails to explore, so here are a few per Alberta’s sections: the north, central Alberta, the Rockies, and southern Alberta.
- Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park has over 18km, plus a winterized shelter area on Devonshire Beach. A second option in north-central Alberta are the 30km worth of groomed trails further east, in the Lakeland Provincial Park.
- The Canmore Nordic Centre is one of the best places for all skiing skill levels in the Rockies: it is easy to access, offers rentals, and has onsite dining/drinks.
- Beauvais Lake Provincial Park in southern Alberta has over 10km of cross country ski trails.
- The Canadian Birkie Ski Festival will also take place in February in Strathcona County (east of Edmonton and Sherwood Park). The cross-country ski festival is the only one of its kind in Canada, and offers chances for skiing at all skill levels, and for all ages.
Stargazing during Alberta Winters
Alberta has a wonderfully large number of dark sky sites around the province. These dark sky preserves limit the amount of light pollution permitted in the give areas. This means better stargazing for us, but more importantly, a better quality of life for nocturnal wildlife. You can enjoy the epic stargazing provided by Alberta’s dark skies in either provincial or national preserves.
- Jasper National Park’s best stargazing spots, which are also close to town, are on the shores of Patricia, or Pyramid Lake.
- For Cypress Hills Provincial Park’s best stargazing, head to the Spruce Coulee Campground. Or book a winter cabin, and enjoy the stars from your private patio.
- Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, and Elk Island National Park are all underneath the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve. Visit any one of the three park day use areas for stars, a picnic, a fire, or all of the above.
- Lakeland Provincial Park is Alberta’s newest dark sky preserve and have the Shaw Lake day use area open year-round.
Try Dogsledding
Alberta has a fair number of dogsled tour companies from north to south. A few of Alberta’s dog sled tour companies offer trips through the Rockies and Foothills, too. Any dog sled tour you book will include incredible views, thrills, and refreshments like hot chocolate or cookies. These are also great opportunities to learn about the art of dog sledding, the dogs themselves, and Alberta history.
- Howling Dog Tours: two-hour and half-day trips in Canmore.
- The Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours: 2- or 4-hour trips available in Canmore.
- Cold Fire Creek Dogsledding: one-hour or full day excursions in Jasper.
- Boundary Ranch: 1.5 hour trips in Kananaskis
- Elevation Sled Dogs: 1.5-2 hour tours in Grande Prairie
Rent a Private Ice Fishing Shack
Alberta’s lakes are well-known for their great fishing spots. And the fishing can continue over the winter. Ice fishing is a relaxing and rewarding experience, and can be done outside, under a tent, or in a shack or hut. And even if you don’t own the right equipment and gear, you can still experience ice fishing in Alberta. There are outfitters all over the province who offer heated shack rentals, and who provide all the gear you need.
- Pinto Rentals on Lesser Slave Lake offer fishing cabin rentals for up to four people.
- The shacks rented out by Fishapalooza Ice Hut Rentals on Lac La Biche can fit up to six people.
- Tip Up Ice Shack Rentals operate on Lake Newell in southern Alberta with shacks that fit up to four people.
- Enhance your ice fishing experience with the bit of luxury added to the Man Cave shacks from Dockcyde on Wabamun Lake.
Book a Snowshoeing Tour
Exploring Alberta’s backcountry areas can be a little overwhelming, especially in the winter. Even if you do want to venture out on your own, you still need proper footwear. Make the adventure smooth and safe with a guided snowshoe tour. These professional guides know where to go, and can show off some amazing scenery while you’re out on the snowshoes.
- Catch the Last Tracks Snowshoe Tours every Saturday of the winter season at Castle Mountain Ski Resort.
- Nakiska Ski Area offer guided Snowshoe Tours at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
- Lake Louise Ski Resort offer a variety of snowshoe tours, including a nighttime stargazing adventure, and wildlife tour.
- Kananaskis Outfitters can bring you on a memorable tour through the forest and valley, alongside mountain views.
Rent Snowshoes and have a DIY Adventure
There will be a place to rent snowshoes in almost every Alberta city, as well as in many of the towns, and the National Parks. Take advantage of the easy rental access to create an epic and snowy adventure. Snowshoeing in Alberta is especially easy thanks to the wide number of park areas in which you can bring snowshoes. You can snowshoe in most Alberta Parks and Natural Areas, but always be mindful to stay off of packed XC ski trails.
- Snowshoeing destinations in northern Alberta include: Winagami Lake Provincial Park, Peace River Wildland Provincial Park, or Poacher’s Landing PRA.
- Elk Island National Park is a popular snowshoeing destination in central Alberta. Otherwise, you can explore the river valley around Blue Rapids PRA, or the Halfmoon Lake Natural Area.
- Spray Valley Provincial Park’s Goat Creek day-use area, or the day-use areas in Bow Valley Provincial Park, both make for beautiful snowshoeing in the mountains.
- You can explore Cypress Hills Provincial Park in southeastern Alberta on snowshoes, or Beauvais Lake Provincial Park in southwestern Alberta.
Treat your family to a day of Snowtubing
Snowtubing is a perfect way to get smaller kids accustomed to being at the hills, making for an affordable day of family fun. You can find snow tubing around the Rocky Mountain Ski resorts, as well as in Alberta’s cities.
- Canyon Ski Resort outside of Red Deer offers a thrilling hill for snow tubing, along with downhill skiing and snowboarding.
- Calgary’s WinSport and Canada Olympic Park offer snow tubing in the city, along with downhill skiing or snowboarding, and several dining options.
- Sunridge in east Edmonton offers snow tubing, skiing and snowboarding, and great views of the city from the riverbanks.
- Nakiska Ski Area in Kananaskis now have their Wanidu Tube Park open, and offer great family skiing and snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
- Visit Banff National Park to try out Mt. Norquay’s large tube park.
- Snowtubing in Alberta
Book a Ski Resort Vacation
February in Alberta can mean a ton of fresh powder on the ski hills. Take advantage and take off to the mountains for a ski or snowboard getaway. These can be great trips for couples, families, and groups of friends, with options for smaller and easier hills, to the larger hills who host the black diamonds.
- Banff’s Sunshine Village in the province’s only ski-in/ski-out accommodation, while they also offer lofts, guest rooms, and suites.
- Lake Louise Ski Resort offers several different accommodation options within a short distance of the hill and chairlifts.
- Southern Alberta’s Castle Mountain Resort have onsite accommodations, and several nearby partner hotels, lodges, B&Bs, and cabins.
Book a Snowmobile Tour
Snowmobiling is popular in Alberta because there are so many beautiful places to enjoy seemingly endless trails. But if you don’t own a snowmobile, there are ways to try the sport before buying. These Alberta snowmobile tours take you through northern forests, or around the Banff mountains.
- Off Road Adventures in Lac La Biche offer snowmobile rentals, and tours through Lakeland Provincial Park.
- Toby Creek Adventures Ltd. Offer a variety of tours through Banff and Canmore which range from 1-5 hours.
- The tours from White n’ Wild take you through the Banff and Lake Louise areas.
Attend the Snowmobile Rallies
Alberta’s snowmobile rallies are a great excuse to get out of the house in the middle of winter and create activities for all ages. Some are multi-day events, while others are simply a day of riding, socializing, and local food or drink. These rallies often include prizes for riders, too!
- The Pembina Driftbusters Snowmobile Club is hosting a rally on February 4th, with 100km of groomed trails in the Westlock area.
- The Northern Lights Snowmobile Rally is in Barrhead on February 11 with an option for a short route or a long route.
- Alberta Beach SnoMo Days (February 18-20, 2023) is a Family Day weekend event with public skating, monster trucks on ice, outdoor fires, fireworks, and adult-only evening events.
Watch a Winter Racing Event
Winter racing can take a few different forms. And you can see all of it this February in Alberta. Between three different events there will be motorcycles, snowmobiles, and cars, all racing on the snow or ice. These are family friendly races which come alongside other local festivals.
- Lac La Biche Festival Of Speed celebrates all sorts of winter racing with snowmobile trail rides, ice racing, a vintage snowmobile show, and more: February 25-26, 2023.
- NITRO Rallycross will take over Stampede Park on February 4th, 2023 to offer ice drag racing for all ages to spectate.
- The Rocky Motorcycle Club will host an Oval Ice Racing Series on the Sunday of Sylvan Lake’s Winterfest (February 19, 2023)
Find Alberta’s Frozen Waterfalls
The frozen waterfalls you can view around the Alberta mountains each winter can be worth the trip on their own. And with that, you are able to view several different frozen waterfalls within one day, depending on which mountain park you explore. These waterfalls may require some winter hiking, so proper footwear, poles, or spikes are useful.
- A few of the waterfalls of Waterton Lakes National Park are simple to access with a good pair of winter boots. The southern park and its warmer weather may not offer completely frozen waterfalls, but the snow and surrounding ice still add beauty to places like Lower Bertha Falls, or Cameron Falls.
- Jasper National Park has two large waterfalls on either side of the park boundaries: Athabasca Falls on the west side; and, Maligne Canyon falls on the northeast side of the park. If you do visit Jasper in the winter, explore the entire park with one frozen waterfall as a starting point, and the other as your final destination- you will get to see the whole park!
- Some examples of easy to access waterfalls in Banff National Park include Bow Falls behind the Banff Springs Hotel, Panther and Bridal Veil Falls off the Icefields Parkway, or the Johnston Canyon falls.
- Outside of the national parks are also Elbow Falls in the Provincial Recreation Area, Troll Falls near Nakiska Ski Resort, or Lundbreck Falls west of Lethbridge.
Climb Canyons and Waterfalls
The Rocky Mountains offer a unique outdoor activity over the colder months. More specifically, the waterfalls and canyons of Alberta’s beautiful mountains offer the fun of ice climbing. It is a lot like rock climbing, but of course with ice! The waterfalls in the mountains come to a standstill over the coldest months as they freeze into vertical walls of ice. And thanks to a handful of guides and tour operators, you can experience ice climbing with the professionals. These tours cover several different icy locations and notable waterfalls.
- Rockaboo Mountain Adventures offer ice climbing tours in Jasper with climbing locations dependent upon weather. The climbing sites could be Maligne Canyon, Tangle Falls, or the Edge of the World.
- Yamnuska Mountain Adventures offer beginner ice climbing courses and lessons. The climbing may take place at various locations around Canmore and Kananaskis Country.
- On Top Mountaineering host ice climbing all around Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise. Their beginner course starts at Johnston and Grotto Canyons.
See the Canyons a Different Way: Icewalks
Ice climbing is great for the more adventurous mountain visitors. But if you want to experience these beautiful locations with a guide, and in a more relaxed manner, then you have the option to book Icewalk Adventures. An Icewalk is much less intense than ice climbing and will bring you through some magical winter scenery.
- White Mountain Adventures in Banff offer Johnston and Grotto Canyon tours.
- Nordegg Adventures can take you on a memorable Ice Walk over Abraham Lake in David Thompson Country and show off the lake’s famous Ice Bubbles.
- Sundog Tours in Jasper offer Maligne Canyon Icewalks, or a deal for combining an Icewalk with a Wildlife Tour.
- You can also enter the bottom of Maligne Canyon with Ice Walk adventures offered each winter by Jasper Hikes and Tours.
Embrace Alberta’s Art Scene
Two major arts and culture festivals will be in Calgary this February as part of the larger Chinook Blast Event. Two more arts festivals are taking place north of Calgary. And if you can’t make any of the arts festivals and events in Alberta this February, there are many free ways to enjoy the public art around the towns and cities.
- The Wainwrights Arts Festival is February 22-26 and will showcase a variety of media including poetry and literature, music, performance art, and art sales.
- Nordlys Film & Arts Festival will be back after a brief hiatus from February 17-19 and offers guests a huge variety of film genres.
- Calgary’s High Performance Rodeo which runs until Feb 5th. showcases local and international talent, performances, and exhibits.
Indulge in the Spas and Hot Springs
One of the most relaxing and luxurious ways to spend your time in the Rocky Mountains this winter is with a dip in an outdoor pool, and outdoor hot tub, or a natural hot spring. It seems odd to want to be outdoors in February in Alberta, but these spas and hot springs make it not only enjoyable, but memorable and luxurious.
- The Kananaskis Nordic Spa in Canmore has two accommodation options, and a one-of-a-kind winter spa experience. The spa offers five outdoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and outdoor fire pits.
- The Banff Upper Hot Springs are conveniently open daily and are an affordable way to enjoy this luxurious experience.
- The Jasper Park Lodge can offer a variety of spa treatments to enjoy before a dip in the Lodge’s heated outdoor pool.