Unique Winter Festivals Across the Country

Alaska

The Fur Rendezvous

Now in its 90th year, the Fur Rendezvous attracts visitors from around the world who come to Anchorage to enjoy more than 20 different cultural and sporting events. These include “The Blanket Toss,” an ancient Native Alaskan tradition, and  “Curling,” a popular Canadian and Fairbanks sport. Other crowd-pleasing events include the Rondy Fur Auction, the Rondy Carnival, the Grand Parade, outhouse races, snowshoe softball, the Frostbite Footrace, and the “Running of the Reindeer,” a mellower version of Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls, and the CJ Native Arts Market.

Iditarod

2026 also marks the 54th anniversary of the Iditarod, the 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, one of Alaska’s iconic winter events. In the weeks leading up to the Iditarod, mushers open their kennels for tours, and many offer to teach the tricks of managing a team of dogs. Visitors can also find opportunities to try dog sledding themselves and even follow the Iditarod race on flightseeing and snowmobiling tours.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground is Palmer / Anchorage North KOA Journey in Palmer, AK, which is open for RVers in winter. Amenities include a general store and a dog park.

California

North Lake Tahoe Snowfest

One of the Golden State’s signature winter events is the North Lake Tahoe Snowfest, Feb. 25 to March 8 in Tahoe City and other North Shore communities. 

Now in its 44th year, Snowfest features over 50 activities in communities across the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, including Gar Wood’s Annual Polar Bear Swim, the River Ranch Snow Sculpture Contest, Poppy’s “Brain Freeze” ice cream eating contest and a frozen pickleball tournament.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground is Truckee RV Park in Truckee, CA. This park is located only a few minutes away from world-class ski destinations, including Northstar California and Palisades Tahoe, formerly Squaw Valley. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast every other Saturday. The property also hosts a variety of seasonal events and activities for all ages.

Additionally, Tahoe Valley Campground in South Lake Tahoe offers RV sites as well as rental accommodations, including park models and convenient access to Tahoe area ski resorts, including Heavenly Valley.

Colorado

The Centennial State has three unique winter festivals in different parts of the state. These include:

1) The Ouray Ice Festival, January 22-25, in Ouray, 
2) The International Snow Sculpture Championships, January 24 to February 3 in Breckenridge
3) And the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Feb. 4-7, in Steamboat Springs

Ouray Ice Festival

The Ouray Ice Festival, now in its 31st year, takes place at the Ouray Ice Park, a site in the Uncompahgre Gorge where more than 250 sprinklers are used to create awe-inspiring walls of ice. The Ouray Ice Park contains over 100 manmade ice and mixed climbs, 11 distinct climbing areas, and more than three miles of vertical terrain. The Ouray Ice Festival features interactive and educational climbing clinics and ice climbing competitions as well as food, music, and nightly dance parties. 

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground is Ouray Riverside Resort in Ouray. This year-round resort features RV sites as well as rental accommodations, including park model RVs.

International Snow Sculpture Championship

The International Snow Sculpture Championship has taken place annually since 1991, although Breckenridge has had annual ice sculpture competitions since the 1970s. The international competition draws snow sculpting teams from around the world who hand-carve 25-ton blocks of snow into enormous, intricate works of art that are displayed in historic downtown Breckenridge.

Artists are only allowed to use hand tools, creativity, and inspiration to bring their ideas to life. No power tools are allowed. Sculpting takes place from January 24 to 30, while viewing is scheduled from January 28 to February 3.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground includes Tiger Run Resort in Breckenridge. This RV and park model RV resort is open in winter. 

Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival

Colorado is also the home of the oldest winter festival west of the Mississippi, the annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Feb. 4-7, in Steamboat Springs: Activities at this annual carnival, now in its 113th year, include parades, a snow sculpture contest, ski ballet, and ski jumping competitions.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground includes Steamboat Springs KOA Holiday in Steamboat Springs: This campground can serve as a base camp for attending the winter carnival as well as a variety of winter activities, from skiing at nearby ski resorts, including Steamboat Ski Resort, to snowmobiling, snow tubing, and winter horseback riding at Saddleback Ranch.

Florida

Gasparilla Pirate Fest

One of Tampa Bay’s most unique events, celebrated annually since 1904, the Gasparilla Pirate Fest takes place in Tampa, FL, on January 31. The event includes an invasion of pirates led by the legendary mythical pirate Jose Gaspar, who sails into Tampa to demand that the Mayor of Tampa surrender the key to the city.

The event is named for mythical Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, who is supposed to have tormented the west coast of Florida from the 1780s to the 1820s. The annual invasion of pirates is followed by a Parade of Pirates who march down Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard in what has become the third largest parade in the U.S. The event includes food and music.

ACCOMMODATIONS

One nearby campground is Bay Bayou RV Resort in Tampa. Amenities at this park include a spacious clubhouse and heated swimming pool and tiki hut as well as docks for fishing along Double Branch Creek, which is popular with kayaking enthusiasts. The park also has dog parks for large and small dogs and a dog wash station with hot water.

Another nearby campground is Tampa RV Park in Tampa, an 86-site park that is big rig friendly.

Michigan

Winter festivals in the Wolverine State include the UP200, Midnight Run, Jack Pine 30 Sled Dog Races, Feb. 13-16, in northern Michigan: These three sled dog races take place the same weekend in Marquette, Alger, and Schoolcraft counties.

UP200

The UP200 is one of the top 12-dog mid-distance races in the Midwest and is also an Iditarod qualifier. The UP200 trail covers 228 miles of challenging terrain from Marquette to Grand Marais, Michigan, and back again through forested land and near-wilderness. Mushers face hills, creek crossings, deep snow, and isolated trails.

The Midnight Run

The Midnight Run is an eight-dog, 82-mile race that starts in Marquette and ends just east of Harvey. This race is typically a faster race than the UP200.

The Jack Pine

The Jack Pine 30 is a six-dog race that covers 26 miles of snowmobile and woods trails. The race starts and finishes at the First Baptist Church in Gwinn, Michigan.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground is Rippling River Resort in Marquette. This park stays open in winter to accommodate RVers who come to enjoy cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, as well as downhill skiing and snowboarding on Marquette Mountain.

Oregon

Oregon Winterfest

Annual winter festivals in The Beaver State include Oregon Winterfest, February 13-15 in Bend. This festival includes live musical performances, a fire pit and ice carving exposition, wine tasting including wines from around the world, a 5K Hot Cocoa Run through the Old Mill District, and a mini marshmallow run for the little ones.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A nearby campground is Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver in Bend. Located on 283 acres, this Central Oregon campground offers river frontage, disc golf, miniature golf, pickleball, volleyball and horseshoes as well as hiking trials.