Top 10 Winter Festivals & Carnivals
Summary: With the festive season upon us and the long winter ahead, I thought that we could all benefit from some lighter fare. This special edition of Event Coup is devoted to winter events, specifically winter carnivals and snow festivals. Sit back, relax and enjoy our virtual video voyage to the top 10 winter carnivals and snow festivals around the world. Along the way you may pick up some ideas to add a magical touch or two to your own winter events.
Top 10 Winter Carnivals & Snow Festivals
Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
It happens every year and 2010 is no diffferent. This morning, the first big snowstorm of the season arrived in Toronto. I'll admit it. Winter is not my favourite season. Maybe it's because I spent the first few years of my life in Jamaica. That couldn't be it though because Jamaica now has had an Olympic bobsled teams, a dogsled team and a one man ski team at the 2010 winter Olympics. Maybe it's because I spent too many frosty mornings waiting for the bus on windy street corners in Montreal where I grew up. I've always said that I enjoy snow best when sitting in front of a fireplace and watching it fall outside the window. I've also said that a blanket of snow that arrives on Christmas Eve and melts on January 2nd would be a perfect winter for me.
Last year, it got to the point that I was blogging about having tropical events in the winter and places where one could find snow in hot climates. Then, last summer it was blogs and tweets about fake lakes and beaches. I want to make sure I don't go stir crazy like that again. Before I head outside to shovel the driveway and scrape the snow off the car for the first time this season, I'm to try to capture the magic and fun of winter from day one. After all, in Canada, snow is with us for so much of the year.
Join me as I start in Canada and travel around the globe in search of the best winter festivals the world has to offer. These events are suitable for personal adventures, family fun and corporate events. Whether you live in one of these cities and you're searching for new ideas to reward your team or you're an executive in search of unique experiences to build into a sales incentive trip, winter festivals are available somewhere throughout the year. In no particular order, here are my:
Top 10 Snow Festivals & Winter Carnivals Around the World
- Winterlude, Ottawa, Ontario Canada
- Winter Carnival, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- La fête des Neiges, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Winter City & Winterlicious, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Yuki Matsuri, Sapporo, Japan
- Kamakura Winter Festival, Yakote, Akita, Japan
- Fastnacht (Carnival), Mainz, Germany
- Weihnachtsmarkt/Christmas Market, Mainz, Germany
- Queenstown Winterfestival, Queenstown, New Zealand
- Sydney Apline Winter Festival, Sydney, Australia
Canada
January
Ottawa
Winterlude in Ottawa
For over two decades, Canada's national capital has celebrated Winterlude. During 3 consectutive weekends, Ottawa is transformed into a winter wonderland, providing opportunities to enjoy the snow and everything created from it including:
- the Crystal Garden ice sculpting competition
- entertrainment in the Crystal Garden of ice sculptures
- sleigh rides
- ice climbing
- ice skating on the Rideau Canal
February
Quebec City
Quebec City Winter Carnival
Since 1894, Carnival has been celebrated in Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every night, ice sculptures are lit up, creating an exciting atmosphere. There is a parade, ice climbing, curling, music, and sliding. Bonnehome Carnaval, a giant snowman, is the official Quebec City Winter Carnival mascot.
Snow archways tower to over 5 meters. Crystal ice sculptures reflect the warm glow from decorative fireplaces. Hôtel de Glace, North America's only ice hotel has welcomed millions of visitors. It it is completed redesigned and rebuilt every year.
Montreal
La fête des Neiges de Montréal
On Île Sainte-Hélène, on festive Allée Carnavalesque in the heart of Parc Jean-Drapeau, enjoy tube-sliding, boot or ice hockey, kicksledding, and skating beside the St. Lawrence River.
Toronto
Winter City Festival @WinterCityTO
Every year, to encourage residents and visitors to experience Toronto'srestaurants and attractions during the typically tranquil winter
months, Toronto has a 14 day, city-wide celebration of art, culture and
cuisine. It includes Winter City at City Hall, Warm up and a gourmet event called Winterlicious.
- Winterlicious @LiciousTOFor several weeks, you can savour the gourmet delights of 150 of Toronto's best restaurants with special prix fixe menus at competitive prices.
Japan
Sapporo
Sapporo Yuki Matsuri/Sapporo Snow Festival
"A world plaza evokes a pristine snow fantasy"
For 7 days, every February since 1950, Sapporo is transformed into awinter dreamland of snow and crystal ice. It's a chance to enjoy
entertainment and see the hundreds of giant snow and ice sculptures and
statues that line Odori Koen (Park).
Yokote
Kamakura Matsuri
This festival dates back back hundreds of years to when roads would be impassable due to the heavy snowfall and large snowdrifts. Today, to spread a little cheer during the dark and dreary winter months, villagers in Yokote would build igloo-like snow huts called kamakura. Today, the tradition continues.
Each kamakura has an altar which dates back to the days when these shelters were designed to provide hospitality to wandering dieties who were stranded in the area due to the snow. Every night, the children of the village light candles at night, sit on straw mats, pray, and toast "o-mochi" sticky rice charcoal hibachi burners. They invite passersby to drink a sweet, nonalcoholic drink made of fermented rice called "amazake".
If you miss the festival, you can still see kamakura if you visit the Kamakura Friendship Center beside Yokote City Hall. A few kamakura from the last festival are preserved in a glass-sided refrigerated room. Visitors can wear winter clothing and enjoy amazake.
http://www.japanwelcomesyou.com/cssweb/display.cfm?sid=1255Germany
From February to March or April, Fastnacht (carnival) takes place throughout Germany just before Ash Wednesday. Here is more information:
I am going to focus on Mainz since it bring back memories of when I had the pleasure of enjoying a 4 day layover there, years ago, when I worked as an Air Canada summer flight attendant while attending university.
Mainz
Mainz Fastnacht
Here is a description from the official website:
"Parties, parades,costumes,brass bands,scathing political and social commentary,scanty outfits,normal citizens are kings and princes, knights and generals, while the pompous and pretentious are ridiculed by 'fools' and Court jesters. No sacred cows here as the wine and beer flow and high-proof distillates help the crowds indoors and out fend off Winter chills."
Weihnachtsmarkt/Christmas Market, Mainz
Chirstmas markets take place in many German cities. Celebrated in Mainz since 1788, here is a description of the Mainz Christmas market:
"The historic market square in Mainz is a blaze of lights. The air is scented with a Christmassy mixture of roast almonds, gingerbread, hot chestnuts and mulled wine. Large and small visitors gladly let themselves be enchanted by this pre-Christmas atmosphere. On a stroll through Mainz Christmas Fair, the stress and hectic pace of everyday life are quickly forgotten. Against the imposing back-drop of the over thousand year old Cathedral of St. Martin, showmen and craftsmen offer Christmas specialities and original presents. People saunter leisurely past festively decorated stands, collecting many suggestions for fine Christmas presents in passing. Home-made Advent garlands and straw stars, Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys, carvings, ceramics, candles and much more are on offer."
June - August
New Zealand
Queenstown Winterfestival
In 1975, a group of local residents decided to follow the example of their cousins in the northern hemisphere and use winter as a reason to party. The first Queenstown winter festival was born. It has evolved into a 10 day carnival with a Mardi Gras, fireworks, street parties, mountain biking on snow, and lots of winter fun.
Australia
Australian Alpine Winter Festival
Not to be outdone by their neighbours in New Zealand, in Australia, they've and bring winter festivals to Sydney, Bondi and Melbourne. Featuring ice skating, bratwurst, beer and Oomph-pa-pa bands, Australians can now enjoy a winter festival without getting on a plane.
Sydney Winter Festival
So there you have it. Around the world, event organizers are discovering how to capture the magic of winter. If you've ever experienced any of these events, please post your comments and tell us about it. Maybe one day you'll have the chance to experience a great winter festival firsthand. In the meantime, grab some of the ideas.... lights, colour, great music, fabulous cuisine, and outdoor activities.... and use them to add a sparkle to your next winter event. One more thing, next spring, please remind me to do an Event Coup feature devoted to the world's best tropical carnivals and summer festivals. Maybe by then, I'll have my seasons aligned.
Other Christmas Blogs:
- Top 10 Christmas Markets - A Virtual Video Voyage
- Christmas Event Planning: Places Where it's Always Christmas
Photo Credit: elPadawan
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