Por Expedia Team, el December 28, 2016

Festivales de nieve alrededor del mundo

For most fans like me, snow is something far away or from movies. The truth. That immense and endless snow that we see in Christmas photos of celebrities is not the same that we find in the Nevado de Toluca. At least it hasn’t happened to me. I was lucky to ski for the first time in Andorra, a small country between France and Spain and it was a wonderful thing. The cold takes second place. So, if you like me lacked snow to have fun or vice versa, you love it! And you went skiing every winter to Aspen and you want to know those places that take snow to another level, come on! This post is for you:


You may also be interested: Places with snow in Mexico


Snow festivals around the world – International Ice and Sculpture Festival in Harbin, China.

To create structures and ice sculptures you need cold, very cold! And this is precisely how Harbin, one of the coldest cities in China, gets, which even reaches 38 degrees below zero. This festival starts on January 5 and lasts a whole month, it is divided into two, the slide area, for the craziest and “The world of ice and snow” for the romantics. A place where, as its name indicates, there are gigantic ice structures illuminated with colored lights. A magic world. Do you know how they create these structures? With chisels and laser beams that cut through huge blocks of ice. The same that they bring from the frozen Songhua River. Don’t forget to visit the Great Wall of China, one of the seven new wonders of the world.

Snow Festival in Harbin, China Photo: http://www.harbinice.com/
Snow Festival in Harbin, China Photo: http://www.harbinice.com/

Snow festivals around the world – Quebec Carnival, Canada.

If we know anything about Canada it is that the cold arrives there and very seriously, therefore, it is best to take advantage of the situation. In Quebec City, a carnival is held that begins with the construction of an ice castle where a snowman named Bonhomme will reign. Like any king, he will need a queen, so during the inauguration, who will be his queen is selected to cut the ribbon that will start the festival. Among the main activities are ski competitions, toboggan runs, snow sculptures, and the famous snow bath; Perhaps the most important of the entire festival due to its crazy invitation to play or “swim” under the snow in a swimsuit … If you want something calmer, don’t miss the snow sculpture exhibition on the rue de Sainte Thérèse.

Travel to Quebec two weeks before Ash Wednesday to experience Canada’s biggest winter carnival, if you plan to visit some other cities in Canada, here are some recommendations.

Quebec Carnival Photo: carnaval.qc.ca
Quebec Carnival Photo: carnaval.qc.ca

Snow festivals around the world – Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido, Japan.

There are three areas where this festival takes place. Odori Park, which since 1974 has been the venue for the international ice sculpture contest; Susukino which is the center of the city and the Sapporo or Tsudome stadium which is further outskirts. At this festival you will enjoy huge ice sculptures from February 5 to 11 on the northern island of Hokkaido.

Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan Photo: welcome.city.sapporo.jp
Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan Photo: welcome.city.sapporo.jp

Snow festivals around the world – Horizon Festival, Bansko, Bulgaria

The perfect mix between music and snow. It is in Bansko, the most exclusive ski resort in Bulgaria, where the Horizon Festival takes place. A celebration of six incredible days filled with music and snow on the mountain. And since a music festival is not enough, there are more than 75 km of slopes for experts. If you want electronic music, skiing, and more than thirty independent parties around the resort, Bulgaria is for you.

Festival Horizon Photo: www.facebook.com/horizonfestivalHQ
Festival Horizon Photo: www.facebook.com/horizonfestivalHQ

Snow festivals around the world – Altitude Comedy Festival, Mayrhofen, Austria

Endless laughter in the mountains. This is how I would describe this festival that proposes the union between comedy and skiing. The Tyrolean resort in Mayrhofen offers a program unique in the world, with performances by the best comedians in the world surrounded by the Austrian mountains. The Altitude comedy festival has snowboarding, skiing, stand-up comedy shows, musical comedy, parties until late at night and a great atmosphere.

Altitude Festival Photo: http://www.altitudefestival.com/
Altitude Festival Photo: http://www.altitudefestival.com/