What better way to get through the long winter days than by leaning into the beauty of the season and planning a trip that embraces the elements? Savvy travelers know that you can beat the winter blues by taking a vacation that revolves around a festive winter carnival or festival.

Need help getting started planning your itinerary? We got your back. From celebrating seasonal regional foods to making the most out of the natural weather elements of the season, here’s our list of some of the best winter carnivals with plenty of snow, ice sculptures, and more!

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival — China

The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is one of the largest winter carnivals in the world, attracting millions of people from all over the globe each winter. When you visit, you’ll get to enjoy ice lantern art fairs, ice bars and restaurants, snowmobiling, skiing, and more. Brightly colored lamps and elaborate ice sculptures will surround you as you walk through a winter wonderland. Climb, skate, and slide on the ice to your heart’s delight. Then, enjoy ice-themed performances from acrobatics and clowns to magic shows and dances. Lastly, you’ll definitely want to check out Sun Island to see the large ice sculptures that people have entered into the competition.

World Ice Art Championship — Fairbanks, AK

If you want to admire some of the world’s most stunning ice sculptures, you should definitely head to the World Ice Art Championship in Fairbanks. This event is billed as one of the world’s largest ice sculpture competitions, featuring some of the most renowned artists showcasing their skills on one stage. The festival got its start in 1990 and has since grown into a premier ice art event, attracting thousands of visitors each year. In addition to the formal competitions, you will also find a host of winter activities designed to appeal to visitors of all ages, including ice slides, ice mazes, ice houses, and ice playgrounds. All of this fun is set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska’s winter landscape.

Sapporo Snow Festival — Japan

Looking for literal mountains of pure snow? Head to Sapporo, Japan! The Sapporo Snow Festival started in 1950, growing in size and popularity with each passing year. The modern day show is spread out over three sites, each offering a cornucopia of events, activities, shows, and contests. For instance, the Tsudome Site features large snow slides for children, snow rafting (which involves large rubber rafts being towed behind a snowmobile), and more. You can also go to the Odori Site to enjoy its massive ice skating rink and display of snow sculptors. Lastly, the Susukino Site is where visitors go for the ice sculpture show and contest, beautifully illuminating the night skies.

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival — The Adirondacks, NY

Nestled in the snowy Adirondacks of New York state you will find the ever-festive Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a beautiful winter celebration that includes a little bit of everything: arctic golf, downhill ski races, woodsman exhibitors, curling competitions, a parade, fireworks, and a classic spaghetti dinner, to name just a few. Billing itself as the nation’s longest-running winter festival, the Saranac carnival features enough activities to keep you busy for days.

Whitefish Winter Carnival — Whitefish, MT

Few places can beat Montana when it comes to spending a winter weekend, and the famous Whitefish Winter Carnival is arguably the best example. This long weekend event pays homage to the Nordic god-king Ullr. The town of Whitefish celebrates the legend of Ullr with a variety of activities, including an art expo, a parade, a snow sculpture contest, and more. You will undoubtedly fall in love with the welcoming vibe of Whitefish, located just minutes from Glacier National Park. 

Carnaval de Québec — Québec City

Clearly, Canadians don’t need to go international to enjoy winter to its fullest. The legendary Carnaval de Québec first debuted in 1894 as the first winter event of its kind. Since that time, visitors have flocked to the world’s snow capital to participate in a celebration of the best parts of the season. The event’s official mascot, Bonhomme, welcomes visitors to take a spin on an ice skating rink, go ice swimming, visit the iconic Ice Palace, check out the expert snow sculptures in a magical setting that is spread out throughout the city. Everyone in your travel party will have a great time at the Carnaval de Québec.

Did we miss your favorite winter festival? Tell us about it in the comments below!