Experience the Beauty of Ice Festivals  

Bergsjøstølen, Norway 

The ice music festival in central Norway has been held in Bergsjøstølen in recent years. The organizers took this ice festival to the next level by incorporating sound in each sculpture. As you wander from igloo to igloo, you will see musicians playing instruments that were carved from ice.  

The music sounds slightly unique, because the instruments melt once in contact with a person’s warm hands. So, the melodies may sound different than you are used to.  

Fairbanks, Alaska 

You don’t need to leave the US to find one of the best ice festivals in the world. The World Ice Art Championships festival is held in Fairbanks each year. Yes, this may seem to be a remote location to many. However, travelers from all over the world arrive to join in on the festivities.  

The ice sculptures created on the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds are crystal clear. They look like glass or Arctic diamonds. The sculptures are quite fragile, so you will see the artists working with care as they create masterpieces.  

Kiruna, Sweden 

The month of January brings the Kiruna Snow Festival in northern Sweden. This ice festival began in 1986 and has been a popular event since. Artists from all over the world arrive to create their best snow sculptures and enter the competition.  

When you are not looking at the snow sculptures, your family can spend time dog sledding, figure skating, and participating in many other winter activities.  

If this sounds like the perfect family trip, I highly recommend booking early so you can stay in the original Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi.  

Grindelwald, Switzerland 

Another ice festival held in January is the World Snow Festival in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Families like yours have been traveling to this area since the 1880s to ski in the Bernese Alps. The World Snow Festival was a wonderful addition that started in 1983.  

During the first festival, Japanese sculptors created a giant figure of Heidi, from the classic novel by Joanna Spyri. The theme of this festival changes every year, so you never know what types of sculptures you will be seeing when you arrive.  

Breckenridge, Colorado 

The International Snow Sculpture Championships take place in Breckenridge, Colorado for five days every year. Artists spend those five days chipping away at twenty-ton blocks of ice to create works of art.  

Artists simply use their imaginations to create reindeer, astronauts, fairytale characters, and so much more. The only rule that every artist needs to follow is that every sculpture must be carved by hand.  

Jelgava, Latvia 

Not too far from Riga, you will find the International Ice Sculpture Festival. This ice festival began when two brothers, Rinalds and Anrijs Opincāns, were asked to create ten ice sculptures to put on display in the city center.  

This event continues to get bigger each year. Now you will find an ice bar, children’s activities, live music, and fireworks.  

Hokkaido, Japan 

There are numerous ice festivals in the country of Japan. However, you will find the largest one, Sapporo’s Snow Festival, in Hokkaido. This ice festival began more than seventy years ago. There are more than one hundred ice and snow sculptures to see within Odori Park.  

Add in the ice rink, giant slides, and snow maze and you have a day’s adventure. If you really want to embrace winter and ice festivals in Japan, consider attending the Asahikawa Winter Festival, Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, and the Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival as well.  

These are the best ice festivals around the world. You should try to attend one of them during a family trip, so you can experience the beauty of an ice festival. You may even be interested in visiting one of the ice castles here in the US. As a travel advisor, I can personalize your family vacation for any of these ice festivals. This way you can see and do everything your family wants during this time away from home.  

So, are you ready to have me personalize your family vacation itinerary to attend ice festivals or visit another destination?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized family vacation planning session with me. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you. 

Not ready to receive a personalized family vacation itinerary? Sign up for my newsletter and always receive all the travel information I share.  

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Winter Events Around the World 

Christmas Markets 

Christmas markets are held every December in many cities around the world. You will discover numerous Christmas markets in Europe at this time of the year. Your family can focus on the markets in one area. Or you can choose to take a Christmas market river cruise for your family trip. Either option will have you making memories with your family while enjoying the sights and sounds of the season.  

Amsterdam Light Festival 

Head to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to attend the Amsterdam Light Festival. At least twenty light artworks are displayed within the city. You can view these light displays from the streets. However, I recommend checking them out from the canals. They seem even more breathtaking from the water.  

Red Crab Migration 

The Red Crab Migration usually takes place in late December on Christmas Island. If you time your family vacation just right, you can see millions of red crabs scurrying across this island to breed. It is difficult to determine exactly when this winter event will occur each year. However, a visit to this island will always have you experiencing something amazing, even if you miss the red crabs.  

Grindelwald Snow Festival 

The Grindelwald Snow Festival is held in Grindelwald, Switzerland every January. When you are not looking at the ice and snow sculptures, you may find yourselves skiing on the slopes of the Swiss Alps. There are many other winter activities waiting for your family here too. So, it is the perfect option if you all want to stay busy during your time away from home.  

Cordova Iceworm Festival 

The Cordova Iceworm Festival is one of the more unique festivals in Alaska every year. This festival was started back in 1961 to celebrate winter. It gave the locals something to do during the dark winter months to lift their spirits. The biggest event during this festival is the iceworm parade. And yes, a lot of people line up Conga line style to wear the inchworm costume.  

Up Helly Aa 

One of the most impressive fire festivals in Europe is Up Helly Aa in Lerwirck, Scotland. Choose to be a Viking for the day, as you watch a torch-lit procession that results in the lighting of a traditional Viking longship. The locals dress in traditional costumes and you may want to join in on the fun and dress up too.  

Plungefest 

Plungefest is held in Maryland each year during the month of February. You can celebrate winter in style by eating local foods and drinking local cocktails. Add in live music and entertainment in the heated ice lodge and you may forget that you should be jumping into freezing cold water at some point during this winter event.  

Mardi Gras 

There is no better way to celebrate winter than Mardi Gras, or Carnival, as it is known in some areas. You can choose to take a family vacation in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, or any other destination that celebrates this winter event. No matter where you take your family trip, your time will be spent attending parades, dancing, and wearing elaborate costumes.  

Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival 

There is nothing more beautiful during the winter months than watching the Northern Lights dancing across the sky. You will have the chance to see those lights, and much more, when you take a family vacation in Iceland. This winter lights festival is the perfect place to mingle with the locals, wander through the museums, and take a dip or two in a thermal pool.  

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 

There are too many winter activities to count when your family attends the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. This winter event is held every year in the month of February. It is best to spend a couple days attending this winter carnival, so you have the chance to do all the activities on your list. There are snowshoe races, snow rugby games, and fry pan toss. Attend the Firefighter’s Broom Ball before watching the fireworks go off over the lake for a night your family will never forget.  

Polar Fest 

Polar Fest is another one of the winter events that are held in the US. You will find this winter event in Minnesota. During Polar Fest, the locals celebrate Polar Pete. They do this by jumping into the icy water, golfing on the frozen lake, and running the Freeze Your Buns Run 5K.  

Fête du Citron 

Down in the French Riviera, you can attend the lemon festival. Fête du Citron was started back in 1895. This festival was created to celebrate the main fruit of the region. While also providing entertainment during the long winter months. Lemons are used to create massive sculptures. The best part is all those sculptures create a lemony scent throughout the area.  

These are the best winter events around the world, and they are definitely worth considering for your next family trip. Your family can choose the winter event they love the most and then I can personalize your family vacation itinerary accordingly.  

So, are you ready to have me personalize your next family vacation?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule your personalized family vacation planning session with me. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you. 

Not ready for your personalized family vacation itinerary? Sign up for my newsletter and continue to receive all the travel information I share.  

The post Winter Events Around the World appeared first on integritylawfirmcmr.com.