Carneval de Quebec - Quebec City, Quebec - Jan. 27th to Feb 12th 

Quebec City is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, with its distinct historic features that include walled fortifications and  modern parliament buildings. This is not only the stomping ground of the famous Bonhomme but also the province's capital city, and the epicenter of French Canadian culture. Carneval is the biggest winter festival in the world, and it might be the oldest and longest running winter festival in Canada, as robust winter festivities have been held here since the first days of French colonization more than 200 years ago. 

The first official Carneval de Quebec took place in 1894, and the mascot Bonhomme was introduced in 1954. Currently, activities and events at Carneval include an international ice sculpture competition, a number of parades, live outdoor musical and dramatic performances, and a stunning ice palace. The festival takes place in 2017 from January 27th to February 12th, in various locations throughout Quebec City.

Snowking Winter Festival - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - March 2017 

For those who are searching for a real Arctic adventure, there's the Snowking Winter Festival north of the 60th parallel. Follow the ice road from Alberta, which is also known as Highway 3, to the snowy shores of the vast Great Slave Lake. Every year in March, when the rest of the world is just waking up to spring, the vast Arctic tundra is still steeped in the cold winter and Yellowknife hosts the Snowking Ice Festival. 

The centrepiece of this unique festival is a massive snow and ice palace, the Snowcastle, designed and built as the festival headquarters. For the duration of the festival, usually running about four weeks, the Snowcastle is a home for art, entertainment, and community gatherings. Activities like hockey, snow angels, face painting, and ice skating make up the better part of the festivities, and it all takes place under the windswept glow of the Northern Lights.   

Festival du Voyageur - Winnipeg, Manitoba - February 17th to 26th, 2017 

The history of Canada is distinct, featuring the saga of the Fur Trade and stories of the brave and hardy "voyageurs" who paddled canoes filled with trade goods from the Arctic Circle to the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Lake Winnipeg, and the various waterways that criss-cross over the province of Manitoba, was one of their main transit points. Situated in the geographic centre of North America, where many of these brave traders and explorers met and did business, is the modern city of Winnipeg which hosts the Festival du Voyageur every February. 

Musical entertainment, culinary delights, historic re-enactments, and the art of snow are combined during this festival, which takes place in Winnipeg's French Quarter. Another local festival venue is the reconstructed fur trade post, Fort Gibraltar, highlighting unique local history. Voyageur Park becomes an outdoor wonderland of snow sculptures and authentic teepees. The festival also features a trade post that sells souvenirs made by local artisans, inspired by the trade goods and festive clothing of the historic inhabitants. 

Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous - Whitehorse, Yukon - February 17th to 26th 

The mountains and forests of the Yukon have always been a place of adventure, and the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous recalls the cultures and memories of those exciting frontier days. What began as Yukon Carnival Week in 1945 has evolved into a modern festival of art, food, music, and northern culture. Originally a festival of winter sports, the program changed over the years to include costume balls, light displays, and beard growing contests. 

The event has been called the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous since the 1960s and integrates features of past festivals into modern celebrations. The carnival site includes an ice palace and traditional log home, and is inhabited by a number of colourful characters, such as Mr. and Mrs. Yukon, and dancing troupes such as the Snow Shoe Shufflers. The Carnival Queen also presides over the festival with her court in attendance until a new monarch is chosen the following year. 

Winter Festival of Lights – Niagara Falls, Ontario - ends January 31st, 2017 

The biggest display of lights in all of Canada happens only minutes from the American border, near the iconic Niagara Falls. The entire city is integrated into the display, turning the small town of Niagara-on-the-Lake into a glittering electric palette consisting of thousands of multicoloured lights. Aside from being a celebration of the season, the displays are made up entirely of LED lighting, which is more environmentally friendly and power-efficient.

There are almost 30 exhibits of lights that make up the festival, and the variety includes everything from Christmas lanterns to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Each neighborhood is lit up with colorful displays, some featuring local themes. The Dufferin Islands lights create images that mimic the Great Canadian outdoors, including Arctic wildlife. The Niagara Parkway, which also provides a view of the famous falls, lights up many of its commercial and municipal buildings with varied and elaborate displays. 

Winterlude - Ottawa, Ontario - February 2nd to 20th, 2017 

Ottawa, hosts this celebration for three weekends every year. In 2017, the festival will take place from February 2 to 20th. Most of the fun and excitement takes place outdoors in public venues like in Jacques Cartier Park, which houses the Snowflake Village, and Confederation Park, where visitors can find an igloo building workshop and snow mazes. 

The annual event is also commonly referred to as the Rideau Park Festival, most of it takes place on the Rideau Park Canal. During the winter, this urban canal becomes a "skateway" that hosts sporting events, ice and snow sculpture contests, musical performances, and dramatic presentations. Other contests and games include an ice hockey tournament and the quirky Accora Village Bed Race, in which contestants race elaborately decorated beds along the canal. 

Don't let concerns about expenses or a fear of the cold weather keep you indoors this winter. Stay home, enjoy the many kinds of unique winter entertainment available and avoid the jolt of unattractive currency exchange rates.

References: 

Carneval de Quebec; carnaval.qc.ca/visit/go-to-the-carnaval
Winterludem Ottawa Tourism; www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-insider/winterlude/
Winter Festival of Lights; www.wfol.com/the-lights/
Yukon Sourdough Rendevous; www.yukonrendezvous.com/
Snowking Festival XXI; snowking.ca/
Festival Du Voyageur; festivalvoyageur.mb.ca/en/
The Canadian Encyclopedia, "Winter Festivals."
From www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/winter-festivals/