Winter Festivals - January 4, 2006

 

The weather outside may be frightful, but it's the right time to bundle up, leave the house, and attend a winter festival. 

Think of these hibernal celebrations as Fourth of July picnics, with the requisite golf and fireworks -- and five feet of snow. 

Even though the days are short, there's plenty to see and do: snowmobile races, eating and drinking, swimming, and ice sculptures -- lots of ice sculptures. 

Of course, winter festivals aren't limited to December and January: in the Southern Hemisphere, July's the time to play in the snow. 

Whenever winter comes, if you get too cold outside, you can hurry back to your cozy room at the local ice hotel.

Suggested Sites...

Harbin Ice Festival - annual Chinese event featuring cathedrals, pyramids, palaces and even the Great Wall carved out of ice. Winter Carnivals - links to winter carnivals and festivals in the Northern Hemisphere. Mount Washington Ice Festival - annual event where racers climb sheer ice walls, just for the heck of it.