Incredible Winter Festivals for Adventure Lovers in Ontario

There’s a reason Ontario holds such a special place in the hearts of adventure lovers. Not only do we get unparalleled access to tons of natural features, but every few months the weather shifts and transforms our outdoor playground into something new entirely.

Winter in Ontario is so much more than a change of scenery. It means skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping. It means cold hikes that end with hot tea, and crisp adventures in the powder-filled backcountry. Winter brings a whole new world of opportunity, and these festivals celebrate all things wonderful about outdoor adventure in Ontario’s snow country.

10 Incredible Winter Festivals in Ontario 

Bon Soo Winter Carnival

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

February 7 - 15, 2025

Celebrate the return of winter with Algoma’s famous Mr. Bon Soo, the snowball. Bon Soo Carnival began in 1963, and since then, this week-long winter festival has been held annually across multiple locations in Sault Ste. Marie. With a packed week of outdoor programming, the festival hosts bum sliding competitions, winter obstacle courses, ringette challenges, a polar bear dip and a lot more. With a Bon Soo button, you’ll gain access to many local adventures, like a night skiing trip to Searchmont Resort or the Lantern Ski on the Hiawatha Highlands cross-country trails. Come spend a day, or find accommodations and enjoy multiple days of festivities. Each year, the festival offers awards and prizes, and this year they are giving away a brand-new sauna to one lucky attendee.

While you’re here: Plan an unforgettable night of moonlight snowshoeing with a guided snowshoe tour in Hiawatha Highlands. You’ll explore key points of the forest, guided by moonlight and headlamp, before being treated to hot chocolate.

Where to stay and eat: Stay at the Bellevue Valley Lodge in a cozy winter chalet or their bed and breakfast. The lodge has access to a Finnish sauna and offers access to trail systems and guided backcountry skiing adventures. Stop in for a visit to Northern Superior Brewing Company. Not only are they an official sponsor and venue for Bon Soo Carnival, but they have a great selection of local beer and appetizers like their warm pretzels with beer cheese dip.

The Onaping Falls Winter Carnival

Onaping Falls, Ontario

January 31 - February 2, 2025

A half-hour west of Sudbury, the Onaping Falls Winter Carnival is the perfect place for winter enthusiasts to bring their families. Take part in partners ice skating races, the toboggan derby, ice hockey shootout contests, cornhole, shuffleboard, curling and more. Make sure to check out the festival’s annual vintage snowmobile show for a glimpse of some sled relics. Some events are hosted in Windy Lake Provincial Park at the Onaping Falls Nordics Ski Club. The club offers free skiing to children, so you can spend the day skiing or snowshoeing on their trail systems in a winter wonderland.

While you’re here: Bring snowshoes and take a hike to see the beautiful frozen waters of the Onaping Falls.

Where to stay and eat: Stay in this cozy winter yurt at Windy Lake Provincial Park to experience a winter getaway with an incredible secluded backdrop. For a modern stay in Sudbury, book a one or two-bedroom suite at the highly-rated Copper Kettle Guest House in Sudbury. Grab dinner or spend the night at the Windy Lake Motel Restaurant; they offer quiet accommodations, all-day breakfast and they’re snowmobile friendly.

Winterlude

Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada
January 31 - February 17, 2025

Spanning Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec, the annual Winterlude festival transforms the nation's capital region into a winter wonderland. At its heart is the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink, stretching 7.8 kilometers. Glide along the historic canal and stop at rest areas for steaming hot chocolate and iconic BeaverTails pastries.

Off the ice, visit Crystal Garden in Confederation Park, where expert sculptors carve intricate ice masterpieces. In nearby Jacques-Cartier Park, Snowflake Kingdom offers families snow slides, tubing hills, and larger-than-life snow sculptures. For those craving a more active experience, try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing along scenic trails in Gatineau Park.

While you're here: Don’t miss ByWard Market, where you can shop for local crafts and warm up with a bowl of hearty soup. Afterward, head to Parliament Hill for nightly light displays that celebrate Canada’s frosty beauty.

Where to stay and eat: For a splurge-worthy room, stay at the historic Fairmont Château Laurier, steps from the canal, for an elegant winter retreat. For a more budget-friendly option, check out Les Suites Hotel Ottawa, offering spacious suites perfect for families or groups. Finish your day with a meal at Riviera, a high-end spot serving up seasonal Canadian cuisine, or Chez Lucien, a gastropub known for its cozy vibe and creative burgers.

Kenora Winter Weekend of Wonder

Kenora, Ontario

February 28 - March 2, 2025

The annual Winter Weekend of Wonder, held in Kenora, Ontario, is a prime example of what happens when winter adventure lovers get together to make something incredible happen. Held the first week of March, this festival hosts a series of events like: nordic skiing, tubing, downhill skiing, ice fishing, ice biking and indoor swimming. The festival also highlights local vendors at the Matiowski Winter Market, hosts an après at local watering holes, and hosts an annual snow sculpture competition. Come get your fill of cold-weather excitement on the slopes and trails, or learn to curl with the whole family.

While you’re here: One of Kenora’s unique winter attractions is their popular Ice Road Cycling. With groomed ice roads and custom ice bike rentals, visit Mosswood Adventure Rentals to experience this unique winter spin on cycling. Spend the day cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or tubing at Mt. Evergreen or Kenora Nordic. Both locations have an impressive range of trails and facilities and offer rentals and day passes.

Where to eat and stay: Art lovers should grab a latté and a baked good from Iron and Clay. For some classic appetizers, mains and drinks in a lively environment, visit The Vault Social House.

For an immersive winter experience, stay in a yurt at Minaki Yurt Adventures, 45 km north of Kenora. They have traditional Mongolian yurts with wood heat, ski trails and wood fire saunas. An hour’s drive south of Kenora, stay in a cozy year-round motel room or a cozy cabin at Muskie Bay Resort, and make sure to take advantage of their saunas and hot tubs.

Nipigon Ice Fest

Nipigon, Ontario

March 1, 2025

If you are an ice lover—or better yet, an ice climber—this festival was made for you. Nipigon Ice Fest is Canada’s longest-running ice climbing festival and takes the term adventure festival to new heights. The festival is open to all levels of climbers, from enthusiasts to pros, and features a series of climbing clinics, guest speakers, games, gear swaps and more. This festival also features a “legendary gear raffle” that you will not want to miss out on. Come hang out with ice climbers from all over the world at this extreme winter festival. Photographers with an eye for adventure shots can enter this year’s photo contest, taking place from January 1 - March 10, 2025. Enter a photo of a recent climbing trip to win a prize and quiet bragging rights.

While you’re here: Book an unreal ice fishing trip with North Superior Charters. Stay in a comfortable ice fishing cabin and hunt for 40-pound lake monsters in the heart of Northern Ontario. Or, choose from an assortment of guided winter hikes, climbs, or snowshoe adventures with Thunder Bay-based Outdoor Skills and Thrills.

Where to stay and eat: For thoughtful pizzas, sandwiches and soul food, visit Ducky’s Diner in Nipigon.

Cochrane Winter Carnival

Cochrane, Ontario

February 8 - 17, 2025

The Cochrane Winter Carnival is an annual festival that brings winter lovers together in the cold of Northeast Ontario. The festival features an exciting array of outdoor events like snowmobile drag racing, tubing, polar bear dip, a winter demolition derby and a massive torch parade. Come celebrate community with festival-goers as they participate in over 35 unique winter events in the Cochrane region. Other events include a charity hockey match, a “wingathon”, a pancake breakfast and karaoke.

While you’re here: Take your once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the world’s greatest predators in a protected habitat at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. This is a truly unique experience to tour the facilities that house and protect this vulnerable species. For a day of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, don’t miss a trip to Cochrane Cross Country Ski Club.

Where to stay and eat: Snowmobiling fans can experience a unique stay at Flood’s Landing. During the winter, the lodge, cabins and trail systems are open to snowmobilers looking to stay somewhere beautiful and rustic. You can also stay in one of three Polar Bear Cabins in the nearby township, Glackmeyer. For a hotel option in Cochrane, stay at the Best Western Swan Castle Inn. For a pan-seared pickerel and a beer in a friendly community atmosphere, visit 49th Parallel Kitchen and Bar.

Winter in the Wild Festival

Algonquin Highlands, Ontario

February 15, 2025

Hosted by The Friends of Algonquin Park, the 2025 Winter in The Wild Festival is all about creating shared memories amongst outdoor enthusiasts while embracing the incredible opportunities for adventure that winter brings. This unique festival takes place in Algonquin Provincial Park and is held at various locations throughout the Highway 60 corridor. The park offers winter camping clinics, wildlife-spotting snowshoeing excursions, guided night walks, ice skating, bonfires and talks from adventurers. The day concludes with a communal barbeque and a chance to socialize with other winter adventure lovers. If you love the snow, good people and hanging out looking for winter wildlife, this event is an absolute must.   

While you’re here: Book a guided snowshoe and ski tour with Voyageur Quest. Their Algonquin Winter Expedition is a fantastic three-day journey that involves backcountry winter camping in hot tents, a stay in their warm wilderness lodge and some unmatched ski exploration.

Where to stay and eat: Hardy winter campers can reserve one of Mew Lake’s campsites, while local town Huntsville offers standard accommodations in chain hotels. For coffee, a sandwich and some of the best sweet treats around, visit The Farmer’s Daughter in Huntsville and Henrietta’s Pine Bakery in Dwight, just on the edge of the park.

Voyageur Winter Carnival

Thunder Bay, Ontario

February 15 - 16, 2025

For outdoor lovers who appreciate history, the Voyageur Winter Carnival is a yearly event you won’t want to miss. Hosted at the Fort William Historical Park, this festival explores the area’s history and celebrates Indigenous cultures and traditions. Spend the day interacting with artisans, snowshoe makers, toboggan builders and sash weaving experts. Then, go snowshoeing, tubing, skating, or join a game of Snow Snake. The festival also has horse-drawn sleigh rides, dances, concerts and local food vendors.   

While you’re here: Book an exhilarating adventure with Borealis Sled Dog Adventures to spend a day exploring the frozen lakes on a mode of transportation unlike any other. Borealis also offers overnight dog sledding expeditions and custom multi-day adventures. If dog sledding isn’t your thing, spend the day skiing the 17 runs and 750 feet of vertical drop at Loch Lomond resort just outside of Thunder Bay. And for a great family outing, check out the farm sleigh rides at Gammondale Farm.

Where to stay and eat: For some warm ambience, fine food and a great wine list, visit Caribou to see what chef Craig Vieira has in store. Located 40 minutes from Thunder Bay’s downtown, Mink Mountain Resort rests on Lake Superior and provides spectacular winter views of the frozen shoreline. Book one of their lodges with a jacuzzi and a fireplace for the full winter chalet experience.

Le Carnival Des Compagnons

North Bay, Ontario

February 2 - 8, 2025

When I think about winter festivals in Canada, the Quebec Winter Carnival is usually one of the first that comes to mind. In a similar spirit, Le Carnival des Compagnons was founded by a group of french-speaking North Bay residents who were inspired to create a festival that celebrates Ontario francophones. The festival has been operating since 1963 and is the perfect place for winter adventure lovers to attend. Not only does the festival include a range of outdoor winter activities like ice skating, axe throwing, snowshoeing, winter obstacle courses, drop-in hockey games and ringette, but it places you smack-dab in the middle of a winter adventure hub. When you aren’t taking part in the festivities, you can find yourself skiing or snowboarding at Laurentian Ski Hill, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at North Bay Nordic, or taking part in a nighttime fat biking adventure with Remedy Rides Fat Bike Adventures. Come hang out with the friendly Bonhomme de Neige mascot, eat some maple syrup on snow and plan your winter excursions. This year, the festival is giving away an incredible ice fishing kit that is worth $2,000, so make sure to sign up for their raffle.

While you’re here: Plan an ice fishing trip with Lake Nipissing Outfitters to spend a few days hanging out in a heated ice fishing bungalow, as you fish the waters well-known for their perch, pike, muskie, herring, burbot, bass and whitefish.

Where to stay and eat: About 45 minutes east of North Bay, rent a cozy snow-covered cottage at the Mattawa River Resort and have dinner in their beautiful lodge at the Cardinal Restaurant. Or, stay in a geodome as the snow falls at Otter Pointe Resort. These unique accommodations blend nature and modernity to create a perfect, cozy winter stay. 

Fire and Ice Festival

Bracebridge, Ontario

January 25, 2025

The Fire and Ice Festival in Bracebridge, Ontario, began in 2013 when toboggan-loving locals got together and decided to create something special. Each year, this town, in the heart of Muskoka, transforms its main street into one giant luge slope for winter-loving Ontarians to tube down. Gain speed on your tube, then warm up as you take in a performance from one of their fire artists. Ice skate, enjoy some seasonal treats and make sure to visit the Algonquin Outfitters on the main street. Bracebridge is also known for its cross-country skiing, hiking and snowshoeing, so make the most of your stay with a few day trips. Passes to the festival are $10 each.

While you’re here: Book a guided winter adventure to go hiking or to try ice climbing and fat biking with Liv Outside. A little further north on Highway 11, you can go ice skating through the frozen woods at Arrowhead Provincial Park’s 1.3 km ice skating trail. Just be sure to reserve your day pass for this popular attraction early.

Where to stay and eat: Book a five-thousand-star room at the nearby Muskoka Dome, a luxurious eco-getaway best enjoyed after a long day of outdoor fun. Festival passes are included in your stay at the Quality Inn when you book through the festival website.

Start Planning Your Winter Festival Experience Now

Choose a winter festival that excites you and then plan your stay, day trips, meals and winter outings around it. There are so many enticing winter adventures to enjoy and only a few months to do so. Lock in your trip now, and have something to look forward to as the snow falls. 

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