6 Best Winter Activities in Edmonton: Festivals, Ice Sculptures & More (2023)

The city of Edmonton hosts more than 30 fun and exciting festivals every year, with themes focusing on sports, film, music, theatre, and more. These exciting events are major attractions for tourists and locals and are well-known throughout Canada, inviting all who are interested in fun and those keen on discovering the wonderful culture of this fine city. Here are six Edmonton winter festivals taking place this upcoming season.

Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival (January 21 & 22)

Kick off 2023 at Deep Freeze, one of the most interesting winter festivals happening at the coldest time of the year. Explore the Deep Freeze enchanted forest filled with unique sculptures by experienced artists. A village, live music, delicious food, and so much more will await you this year from noon to 10 p.m. 

Ice on Whyte: Chiseled (January 24–29)

Ice on Whyte: Chiseled is one of Edmonton's coolest winter events. This festival will feature all types of ice carving and will be held at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park. The festivities begin with an International Ice Carving Competition and move forward with all kinds of snow carving exhibits, fun for kids, the famous giant ice slide, ice carving lessons, games, and so much more.

An exciting festival with plenty of incredible sculptures, this Edmonton winter festival is one you should attend. There will be plenty of street performers, ice musicians, and activities for all to enjoy.

Flying Canoe (February 1–4)

Discover music, light, dance, and so much more at the Flying Canoe Festival at Mill Creek Ravine. This night celebration highlights the area's history and provides attendees with an experience they won't forget. There will be food for purchase, and events will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. outdoors and until 11 p.m. indoors. While there will be no canoe races or snow tubing this year, the festival plans to bring these activities back in 2024!

Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival (February 10–12)

The upcoming Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival is a premier event in Alberta. This festival will provide the opportunity for cross-country skiing with multiple events and distances. Get ready to attend Cooking Lake in Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area to enjoy the snow and appreciate one of the oldest sports of the season!

Silver Skate Festival (February 10–20)

Held at Hawrelak Park each winter, the Silver Skate Festival provides all kinds of winter fun. The pond is closed, but the city creates an ice rink covering 8,000 square feet. Come out and enjoy skating, live music, recreation, art, and more! The park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

Winefest (February 24-25)

Winefest at the Edmonton Convention Centre is one of the best events in the city for wine throughout the year. It may be the unique activity you've been searching for to surprise your partner for Valentine's Day.

This event is all-inclusive and allows attendees to try all types of wines. There will be more than 100 options available for sampling, including white, port, sparkling, dessert, reds, and more. Along with wine, there will be plenty of hors d'oeuvres for attendees.

Not only can you sample the wines, but you can also buy them. You will even get a Tasting Notebook with your ticket, which will help you decide which wine you want to purchase.

Get Ready to Celebrate Winter in Edmonton

If you're looking for winter festivals in Edmonton to begin your year, these selections are just a few of the best. All of them provide plenty of fun and unique winter activities, so make sure to add them to your calendar.