Winter might feel like the perfect time to rug up and go into hibernation, but it doesn’t have to be. Look at it as an opportunity to get out and enjoy the cool air and keep active during the cooler months instead. Here are seven of the most fun, heartwarming and exciting winter festivals around the world worth planning your next trip around.
One of the most popular festivals in Canada, the Montreal en Lumiere, brings the city of Montreal ablaze with colour and light. Each year more than 66,000 of square feet of the city’s public spaces light up with installations during 11 days of festivities. More than 800,000 people visit the festival each year, which is held between February and March.
When: February 22 to March 4, 2018
Where: Montreal, Canada
If you haven’t heard of Dark Mofo, then you’re in for a real treat, because this winter festival is a mysterious shock to the scenes. Held in Hobart, the winter festival uses food, light, music and other forms of art to take people on an emotional journey.
When: 8–21 June, 2017
Where: Tasmania, Australia
If you love your ice sculptures, then China is the place to go because the Harbin Ice Festival is the largest snow and ice festival in the world. The festival began as an ice lantern and garden show in the 1960s and is now held each year in winter between December and February.
When: 22 December, 2017 – February, 2018
Where: Zhaolin Park, Harbin, China
The history of the Sapporo Snow Festival dates back to the 1950s when a high school began building ice sculptures in the nearby Odori Park. More than 60 years later and the festival has grown into an exciting event that captivates the entire country and visitors from all over the world.
When: 5-11 February, 2018
Where: Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome, Sapporo, Japan
One of the most wonderful things to see and do during a white Christmas in Europe is to visit one of the many Christmas fairs and markets throughout the region. There are quite a few to pick from, but the Budapest Christmas Fair is a favourite. The wooden stalls are simply darling, and don’t forget to sample the mulled wine and traditional honey cookies while you’re here.
When: Mid-November until January 1, 2018
Where: Vörösmarty Square, Budapest, Hungary
On the last Tuesday of the month of January the town of Lerwick in Scotland comes alive with colour and fire in celebration of Up Helly Aa, the Shetland’s biggest fire festival held in the middle of winter. Nothing can stop this town from setting alight their bonfires, not even the threat of being washed out. Rain, hail or shine, the festivities go on. This is a celebration of Shetland culture as the locals carry the torch for Viking history.
When: Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Where: Lerwick, Scotland
The people of Reykjavik have concocted the perfect plan to encourage people to emerge from their cozy homes in the middle of winter. Rather than succumbing to the darkness of the cooler months, the city glows with light during its Winter Lights Festival. Held on the first weekend of February, the festival is a celebration of the cool temperatures, the darkness and the anticipation of the sun returning to brighten up our days.
When: 1-4 February, 2018
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland