This Canadian festival turns Banff National Park and Lake Louise into a winter wonderland, featuring massive snow sculptures, skijoring, and sleigh rides.

Today, the most breathtaking locations in the world are typically protected as national parks, ensuring equal access for all who are willing to travel and pay the entrance fee. Banff National Park, Canada’s first and a highlight of the national park system, is famed for its majestic peaks and turquoise glacial lakes. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, underscoring the exceptional beauty of this region in Canada.

Alongside ski resorts and hiking trails, two communities within the park serve as long-standing bases for visitors’ Banff National Park adventures: the resort town of Banff and the charming hamlet of Lake Louise.

During winter, these towns truly come alive with the annual SnowDays celebration, turning them into a picturesque snow globe. 

This season, SnowDays will take place from January 19 to February 4, 2024, featuring cold-weather events in both Banff and Lake Louise. Highlights include a skijoring showcase along Banff Avenue, where skiers and snowboarders are towed through a course by a horse and rider. Enjoy ongoing winter activities, such as a gallery of giant snow sculptures, downhill and cross-country skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, and ice skating on the most beautiful rink in the world: Lake Louise. 

The launch of the snow sculptures and the SnowDays Play Zone, both located in the town of Banff, will kick off on January 19. The former features creations from snow artists worldwide who carve masterpieces from massive snow blocks, while the latter is a winter fun area packed with every imaginable snow sport—from sledding to curling and fat-tire biking. 

While activities like the snow sculpture tour and play zone run continuously, other events are scheduled for specific times. One standout event, skijoring, showcases Alberta cowboys and cowgirls riding horses along a snowy track while towing a skier or snowboarder. The event on January 20 in Banff is a must-see.

In Lake Louise, the Ice Magic showcase is held on the grounds of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This official International Ice Carving Competition, celebrating its 30th year along the lake's shores, will feature world-class ice carvers competing in creativity and skill. The live ice carving competition occurs on January 26 and 27, with evening viewings of the illuminated sculptures on January 28 and during the weekend of February 2-4. Ice carving demonstrations will also take place from February 2-4, offering a unique chance to witness the artistry of ice carvers and stroll among the lit sculptures at night. 

In addition to the special SnowDays activities, ongoing downhill skiing is available at the area's SkiBig3 mountains — Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mt. Norquay, and Banff Sunshine — along with horse-drawn sleigh rides and dog sledding adventures.

All SnowDays events are free, except for Ice Magic on Lake Louise, which requires advance online reservations. The cost is $14 for adults and $7 for children ages three to 12. Skiers at Lake Louise Ski Resort during those weekends receive half-price access, while guests staying at hotels in Banff or Lake Louise enjoy complimentary entry.