New York’s Can’t-Miss Winter Carnivals, Festivals and Events

Dec 31, 2025

Bring your appetite and get ready to chow down at Saratoga Chowderfest! Sample chowder from some of Saratoga’s top restaurants, each serving four ounce samples for just $2, then vote for your favorite to win. There will also be family-friendly activities and live music throughout downtown.

Feel the love this winter in Naples for Vintage Vines & Valentines! Embark on a tasteful journey sampling local wines, brews, and spirits from in and around Naples, and join in on village festivities including live music, vendors, and more.

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has been a snow season staple in the Adirondacks since 1897, offering 10 days of winter fun for the entire family! Walk through the iconic ice palace, made from giant ice blocks pulled right from the lake, and watch as fireworks light up the sky overhead. The jam-packed festival also features a variety of family-friendly events, live music, parades, games, exhibits, an accessibility day, and more.

Join more than 100,000 visitors this February to celebrate Syracuse Winterfest. Kick off this multi-day festival with a vibrant fireworks display, then check out the full lineup of events for activities like ice skating, ice sculptures, culinary competitions, cocktail mix-offs.

Looking for President’s Week plans? Indian Lake SnoCade promises mountains of fun geared towards snowmobiling enthusiasts. The week-long event lineup features guided snowmobile rides through snowy Adirondack forests, snow sculptures, outdoor human foosball, cardboard and duct tape sled races, a snowshoe softball tournament, and more. When you’re ready to warm up indoors, grab a bite to eat, explore the Winter Wonderland Craft Show, or watch live music and comedy performances.

Revel in the magic of Mayville’s Winter Festival this President’s Day weekend! Each year, this picturesque town goes all out on winter fun with an ice castle made from ice blocks pulled right from Chautauqua Lake, family-friendly activities, food trucks, a beer and wine tent, local craft vendors, horse-drawn carriage rides, a DJ, fireworks, and more.

When: February 13-15

Price: Full festival: $200-220/adult, $108-115/under 26, $180-200/seniors. Single session: $65-70/adult, $45-50/under 26, $55-60/seniors

Head to Saratoga Springs to experience one of the largest traditional participatory dance and music festivals in North America! Taking place each year over President’s Day weekend, the Flurry festival features around 400 performers. The festival highlights various genres of music and dance, from swing and square dancing to hip hop and waltz.

When: February 19-22

Price: $10-12/single day pass, $20-25/multi-day pass

Join thousands of anglers in downtown Niagara Falls for an expo focused on all things fishing! Catch one (or a few) of the fishing seminars, presented by Expert Anglers, focusing on a variety of topics like fly fishing, kayak fishing, open water trolling, and how to catch specific fish. You’ll also get to explore more than 170 fishing-related exhibitor booths from well-known fishing manufacturers, local fishing guides and outfitters, fishing clubs, and much more.

When: February 21-22

Price: Free

Each February, downtown Canandaigua comes alive with its annual Fire and Ice Festival! Melt away the winter blues with an unforgettable lineup of events, including professional ice carving and speed carving competitions, fire shows, snow sculpting, a dog sled team, fire-building competitions, horse-drawn carriage rides, and much more. Plus, many downtown businesses will be sporting special menus, experiences, and discounts throughout the festival.

When: February 27-March 1

Price: $50/person until January 1; $75/person after January 1

Photo courtesy of ORDA

Celebrate LGBTQ community in the Adirondacks at this three-day festival in Lake Placid! This magical winter weekend kicks off with a welcome celebration in downtown Lake Placid. On Saturday, hit the slopes of Whiteface Mountain and be sure to stick around for the Apres-Ski Party to enjoy dancing and even more fun. Admission also includes a Winter Passport for the Olympic Legacy Sites, discounted adult ticket pricing at Whiteface Mountain, admission to Saturday’s Drag Show at Twisted Raven, and more.

When: February 28

Where: Inlet

Price: Free

Each year on the last Saturday in February, the Adirondack town of Inlet comes to life with winter magic. Celebrate the snowy season and the outdoors with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, and more. Don’t miss out on the annual cardboard sled or outhouse races. When you’re ready to warm up, grab a free hot dog to enjoy around the bonfire and watch as fireworks light up the sky.

When: March 1, 2026

Price: Free

Credit: Joe Buglewicz

On March 1, get ready to welcome the Year of the Snake at the 28th Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival! Enjoy dragon dancing, stunning outfits, martial art performers, and more. Afterward, explore local storefronts decorated in red and gold.

When: March 10, 2026

Where: Auburn

Price: Free

Honor the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman at the annual celebration of Harriet Tubman Day in Auburn. Each year on March 10, the day of her passing, the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park hosts a reception featuring special guests, live music, commemorative posters, and more. Learn even more about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad at other sites in the area like the Harriet Tubman Home, Fort Hill Cemetery, NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, and Seward House Museum.

Holiday Valley Winter Carnival (Chautauqua-Allegheny)

When: March 14-15

Price: Included with ski lift ticket