Enjoy an Ice Festival!

If you are looking for something free to see and do this winter, why not enjoy an ice festival!

Even if you live in a warmer climate, a lot of cities have some type of festival to enjoy winter festivals.  Most are great for family fun and feature many free events!

This weekend, Niles, Michigan had their annual Hunter Ice Festival.  This was my first time to enjoy the event, although I had passed through town a couple of years in the past, during the festival.

The festival included a timed sculpting competition, free hot refreshments, warming stations and cookies.  There were also historical displays, and sculptures on display throughout the city on the days after the competition.

Chicago's Snow Days is January 25th - 27th, at Navy Pier.  It will include Snow Sculpting Competitions with teams from around the world.  The sculptures will be displayed with illumination each night of the festival.  Kids snow painting competitions, a new interactive Snowboarding Experience, live entertainment and more!

If you will be visiting China, you might want to take time to visit the Harbin Ice Festival.  There you will be able to visit Polarland with your kids, see the Sun Sculpture Art Expo on Sun Island, or even visit Central Street to taste foods from all around the world.

Each year, Central Park in New York City has a free event called Ice Festival at Belvedere Castle.  The event includes the carving of Belvedere Castle in ice by a local art studio.  Urban Park Rangers give a tour of the park and tell how it was formed by glaciers.  Sip on hot cocoa, and more.

Although in a warmer climate, Boca Raton, Florida has an Ice Castle Festival each year.  The festival features the construction of a giant ice castle.  It takes place at Patch Reef Park, and admission is free.  The festival has lots of family fun things to do like a giant obstacle course, classic childhood games, activities and more.

The Cripple Creek Ice Festival, in Cripple Creek, Colorado, features a different artistic theme each year.  This festival has lots of interactive sculptures and lasts for two weekends!

The Bavarian Ice Festival in Leavenworth, Washington includes dog sled rides, live ice carving, ice fishing, Ice Cube Scramble, and much more fun for all ages.

Check your neighboring cities for an ice festival for you and your family to enjoy!