Credit: Bracebridge Fire and Ice Festival
A list of festivals celebrating all things winter in Ontario.
Explore interactive ice displays, enjoy snow tubing, maple taffy, horse-drawn wagon rides, taste ice wines and more!
Only winter themed festivals are listed below. For theatre festivals, music festivals and other festivals taking place during winter, see Upcoming festivals in Ontario.
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Christmas / Holiday Light Festivals
From spectacular illuminations that transforms the Niagara Falls area to enjoying an evening stroll through picture-perfect postcard setting with close to one million lights at Upper Canada Village, Ontario is all aglow with magical lights during the Holiday season. Details
Where:
Across Ontario
When:
Through Early/Mid January
Niagara Icewine Festival
For three weekends in January the Niagara region is transformed into a wintry wonderland, in celebration of one of Canada’s most cherished products, Ontario Icewine. The Niagara Icewine Festival offers plenty for every taste – glamour and indulgence at the Niagara Icewine Gala, unique wine and food pairings at over 40 wineries, and vibrant outdoor street festivals. Details
Where:
Various venues, Niagara Falls Region
When:
January 12-14, 19-21, & 26-28, 2024
Fire and Ice Winter Festival
Fire & Ice Winter Festival
Rediscover the joys of the winter season and great Canadian outdoors with friends and family at the historic Alton Mill Arts Centre in rural Caledon! Pond hockey, food & drink, ice sculptures, a super snow slide, skating, art workshops … and more fun for the whole family. Don’t miss the festival highlight: a fire sculpture at dusk! Details
Where:
Alton Mill Arts Centre, 1402 Queen St. Village of Alton, Caledon
When:
January 27 & 28, 2024
Skate the Lake
Skate the Lake was first hosted in 2004 and has brought skaters and spectators from around the world to the small village of Portland.
Volunteers build 1km & 2.5km ovals on Big Rideau Lake and host speed skating races of varying distances to appeal to amateur & professional skaters, young & young at heart.
In 2024, the Skate the Lake festival is reinventing itself. Details TBA.
Where:
Hanna Park, Water Street, Portland
When:
TBA
Bracebridge Fire and Ice Festival
The festival offers a unique approach to a traditional winter carnival. “FIRE” features will include fire artist as well as fire pits throughout the Downtown. “ICE” features will include interactive ice displays, a downtown tube run and a new skating trail located in Memorial Park. In addition, there will be Winter “try-it” activities, road hockey tournaments and traditional carnival activities to complement the event. Details
Where:
Downtown Bracebridge
When:
Saturday, January 27th 2024
Stratford Winterfest
Enjoy spectacular winter programming. Enjoy demonstrations, ice sculptures, food trucks, scavenger hunt and more! Details
Where:
Lakeside Drive (Lower Queens Park), Stratford
When:
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Winterloo
Join the thousands of visitors who attend this annual event to celebrate all things winter. Activities include Ice sculptures, skating at the public square, horse drawn carriage rides, scavenger hunts, and sliding down the giant ice slide. Details
Where:
Waterloo Park, Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo
When:
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Barrie Winterfest
Enjoy spectacular ice sculptures, lumberjack shows, family entertainment, drop-in activities, skating & much more winter fun. Details
Where:
Various Venues, Barrie
When:
February 3 & 4, 2024
Hamilton Winterfest
Discover that Hamilton is a city that doesn’t hibernate in the wintertime! Explore the city for 18 fun-filled days, for winter-inspired neighbourhood celebrations, art exhibits, heritage, recreation programming, and so much more! Details
Where:
Various locations in Hamilton
When:
February 2 – 19, 2024
Wiarton Willie Festival
Credit: Wiarton Willie Festival
Visit Wiarton for a true Ground Hog’s Day experience. Wake up Willie with a spectacular fireworks display beginning at 7:00 am in Bluewater Park. Enjoy Prediction Morning festivities and entertainment, See Willie’s 2024 Shadow Cabinet, the McLaren Pipe and Drum Band, Wiarton Children’s Chorus, the Town Crier and of course Wiarton own weather prognosticator, Willie. Stay the weekend amd enjoy all the festivities the town has to offer.
Where:
Various Venues, Wiarton – Town of South Bruce Peninsula
When:
February 2, 2024
Winterlude
Come celebrate winter in Canada’s capital! Glide along the world’s largest ice skating rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway. Winterlude also features learn-to-skate clinics, a challenging winter triathlon, and lots of children’s entertainment. During the week, experience Snowflake Kingdom, a one-of-a-kind children’s snow playground! Foodies will enjoy unique culinary events including wine and food pairings, chef demonstrations and walkabout winter feasts – all created by some of Ottawa’s best restaurants. Of course, you definitely won’t want to miss Winterlude’s over-the-top, world-renowned ice sculptures: Get your ice cold on! Details
Where:
Downtown Ottawa
When:
February 2 to 19, 2024
The BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival — February 2 to 19, 2024
Shiverfest
A lot of the favourite activities including free public skate, magic show, pancake breakfast, sleigh rides, bingo, curling demos and Trivia Night and more! Details
Where:
Various Venues, Manotick
When:
February 2 to 3, 2024
PolarFest Selwyn
PolarFest is an exciting family festival, offering something for everyone. There will be fireworks, Snowman Building Challenge, candlelight skate, ice carvings and Polar Paddle.
Where:
Various venues, Township of Selwyn
When:
February 2 to 4, 2024
Goderich Winterfest
Beat the “winter blahs” with lots of fun events for all – candlelight walk, chili cook-off, snow-pitch tournament, children’s theatre, crafts, fireworks…
Where:
Various Venues, Goderich
When:
February 2 to 4, 2024
Ontario Winter Carnival Bon Soo
Winter fun for the whole family! Details
Where:
Various Venues, Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario
When:
February 2 to 10, 2024
Port Carling Winterfest
Take your whole family to this enchanting winter festival which offers a traditional winter carnival theme that’s fun for everyone. Events include: Skating in the Park Trail, Horse Carriage Rides in the snow, Figure Skating, Children’s Entertainment and many more! Details
Where:
Port Carling – Muskoka Lakes
When:
February 2 to 4, 2024
Sunnidale Winterama
Touting itself as “the greatest little show on snow” Sunnidale Winterama is a winter carnival that has celebrated winter since 1975 in the village of New Lowell on the first weekend in February. Enjoy the annual parade, Bed Races, Burning of the Green, Log Sawing Competition, Children’s Activities, Outdoor Skating, Sno-Pitch Tournament, Snowmobile Fun Run, and more! Details
Where:
New Lowell Recreation Park, County Road 9, New Lowell
When:
February 2 to 4, 2024
Richmond Hill Winter Carnival
Have a weekend of affordable fun and entertainment organized by volunteers to celebrate the community of Richmond Hill. Enjoy watching the ice carver, taking a pony ride or having pancake breakfast on Sunday morning in the Main Tent at the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival, and more! Details
Where:
Mill Pond Park, Mill Street, Richmond Hill
When:
February 3 to 4, 2024
Hike Haliburton Festival
Enjoy guided & themed snowshoe hikes, demonstration and events for all ages, interests and abilities.The Festival is more than just traditional snowshoeing/hiking; heavily integrating the arts, culture, heritage and foodie experiences to truly showcase the area. Details
Where:
Various Venues, Haliburton County
When:
February 3 to 4, 2024
Vaughan WinterFest
FREE outdoor stage entertainment, IceZone, Midway Zone, Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, and more! Details
Where:
Vellore Village Community Centre, Vaughan
When:
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Voyageur Winter Carnival
Where:
Fort William Historical Park
1350 King Road, Thunder Bay
When:
February 17 and 18, 2024
Breaking the Ice Festival
Winners of multiple Juno Awards and Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame inductees, Blue Rodeo and Burton Cummings, will lead the show-stopping line-up of iconic Canadian performers that have signed on to Wasaga’s Breaking the Ice Festival, which will celebrate the Town’s 50th anniversary and the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art, NHL-size arena and library. Details
Where:
Various Venues, Wasaga Beach
When:
February 10 to 19, 2024
Gravenhurst Winter Carnival
This longstanding Gravenhurst tradition celebrates everything the community has to offer, and features super-fun events. Events will include: Ignite Gravenhurst, Winter Carnival Music Night, Sculptures in Gull Lake Park, and more! Details
Where:
Various Venues, Gravenhurst
When:
February 15 to 18, 2024
Tweed Winter Carnival
The Tweed Winter Carnival is a winter wonderland of family-friendly winter events. Activities include the Snowman contest, maple syrup tasting, craft sale, demo derby, fireworks, bonfire and more! Details
Where:
Various Venues, Tweed
When:
February 16, 17, 18, 2024
Penetanguishene Winterama
Penetanguishene Winterama, the oldest winter carnival in Ontario. A celebration of Canadian seasonality, Winterama is an opportunity to renew an interest in outdoor activity; enhance community spirit and pride through people, partnership and products; share the heritage and culture of the community and welcome families, friends and visitors alike in a seasonal celebration. Details
Where:
Town Dock, 2 Main Street, Penetanguishene
When:
February 16 to 18, 2024
Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival
Snowball hosts a bevy of winter activities such as a pancake breakfast, skating, chainsaw carving demo, horse-drawn wagon rides, Wooden Plank Races, hockey shoot-out, kids vs adult hockey game, Hockey Night in Dorset and more. Details
Where:
Dorset Recreation Centre, 1051 Main Street, Dorset (Always the 3rd Saturday in February)
When:
February 16 to 17, 2024
FROST & FIRE
Taking place over the long Family Day weekend in February, there will be a mix of indoor and outdoor activities for people of all ages. Details
Where:
Various Venues, Perth
When:
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Peterborough Snofest
Snofest offers a wonderfully diverse range of events and activities for children, young people, families and seniors. These events and activities remind us how important it is to celebrate the seasons, embrace winter and remain active. Snofest is for everyone! Details
Where:
George Street N, Peterborough
When:
February 16 to 19, 2024
Cochrane Winter Carnival
Photo Credit: Cochrane Winter Carnival
Break up the doldrums of winter with the Cochrane Winter Carnival – the oldest of Ontario’s winter carnivals, the largest in Northern Ontario, and the second largest in all of Ontario. Once the Princess Pageant chooses this year’s Miss Chimo, she’ll kick off a week and half of icy fun and games, like the smash-up car derby, the fishing derby, outdoor dance under the stars and the three-on-three pond hockey tournament, right on picturesque Lake Commando. So, whether you’re testing your true Canadian mettle with the Polar Bear Dip or participating in the many exciting events, the Winter Carnival is bound to delight and entertain. Details
Where:
Commando Lake, Cochrane
When:
February 2024, Dates, TBA
Winter in the Wild Festival
Celebrate Algonquin Park in winter. Details
Where:
At various locations throughout the Highway 60 Corridor of Algonquin Park
When:
February 17, 2024
Terrace Bay WinterFest
Join in for the annual Terrace Bay WinterFest.
Activities include Snow Sculptures, Crokicurl, dance parties, bowling party, winter games, sliding and tubing, painting Sugar Shack, and more! Details
Where:
Various Venues, Terrace Bay
When:
February 15 to 19, 2024
Ontario Winter Festivals –
- Hiawatha SnowFest
- Port Sydney Winter Carnival
- Beaverton Winter Carnival
- Parry Sound SnowFest
- Brantford Frosty Fest
- Baysville Winterfest
- Dwight Winter Carnival
- Onaping Falls Winter Carnival
- Terrace Bay WinterFest
- Severn Winterfest
- Dryden Winter Festival
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Don't forget the Township of Schreiber's Annual Winter Carnival that happens the last weekend of every February.
2023 February 23rd - 26th