Brr, winter is certainly in the air! It’s time to pull out your favorite scarf and your coziest sweater and settle in for the chilly months ahead. Instead of spending your time daydreaming about warmer temperatures, why not embrace the frosty weather?
To celebrate the onset of winter, we spotlighted some of the coldest cities in North America. Across the U.S. and Canada, these are some of the coldest places to live, play, and visit.
Forget about hibernating all winter long. The following destinations take on the frigid temps with winter festivals and celebrations, which will have you actually wanting to venture out into the cold. You’ll find places that make sculptures out of ice and castles out of snow. You know what they say, if ya can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!
Top:Scott Prokop/Shutterstock.com; Bottom Left:takeshi82/Shutterstock.com; Center Left: Denali National Park and Preserve/Flickr.com; Bottom Right: Robert Linsdell/Flickr.com
International Falls, Minnesota
In 2017, International Falls broke the U.S. record for the lowest temperature recorded in the month of December. The mercury dropped to a bone-chilling -36 F degrees, recorded at 6 a.m. However, that reading seems relatively warm when compared to the city’s all-time low: -55 degrees, set in 1909!
Fondly referred to as the Icebox of the Nation, International Falls embraces its icy charm. Each January, the city hosts Icebox Days, a winter festival with a wide range of quirky events, activities, and competitions. Join the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run, go snowshoeing at midnight, and see for yourself what the locally invented sport of smooshing is all about. We’ll give you a hint: it involves racing with lumber on your feet!
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Yellowknife is the only city in Northern Canada’s Northwest Territories, and it certainly gets the brunt of cold weather. The average minimum temperature in January hovers around -15 degrees F, but reports say that the coldest day tends to fall on January 15, when the average low drops to a shivering -21 degrees F.
Yellowknife transforms into a magical winter wonderland. Even in March the weather is still freezing, and that’s when both the annual Long John Jamboree and Snowking’s Winter Festival take place. During the Long John Jamboree, the locals compete in all kinds of wintery activities, from snow beach volleyball and curling to ice carving and skijoring! As for the Snowking’s fest, all the celebrations surround the Snowcastle, where you’ll find concerts, kids activities, art exhibits, and more throughout the month of March.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is known as one of the coldest cities in the USA. During the coldest month, the city sees a minimum average of -16.9 degrees F. What’s more, the coldest temperature ever recorded there was -66 degrees F! We can’t even fathom how cold that feels.
With temperatures like that, you can either stay holed up inside all winter or make the most of it—and that’s exactly what the locals like to do! Each year, the area hosts the Denali Winterfest at the nearby national park. During the multi-day event, check out the cross-country ski races, take part in the ice carving demonstrations, or join a ranger-led snowshoe tour.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg may not break records for its temperatures, but it is one of the coldest major cities in Canada. In January, the temperature regularly dips to -5 degrees F, which has us shivering just thinking about it!
Pack your scarves and snow boots and make your way to Winnipeg for the annual Festival Du Voyageur. In honor of the Voyageur, Métis, and First Nations, the winter festival celebrates local traditions, while adding in some wintery flair with shows and snow sculptures. Canad Inns Winter Wonderland is another favorite in which you’ll experience 3 million watts of holiday lights at Manitoba’s largest drive-thru light show! There’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit.
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Bundle up in Grand Forks, which is often regarded as the coldest city in the continental U.S. With an average minimum temperature of -3.1 degrees F, it’s no wonder this city has earned a chilly reputation.
Each year, the city celebrates all things snow on Greenway Ski Day at Lincoln Drive Park. Get in the wintery spirit with a horse-drawn sleigh ride or go on a cross-country skiing adventure. Want to feel like a kid again? Go sledding down the snow-covered hills or enter the cardboard sled race! After attending ski clinics and ice skating, warm up at the lunchtime chili feed.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon is another major city in Canada that regularly slips below the freezing point. During the coldest of evenings, the mercury easily drops to around -22 degrees F—or even lower!
As long as you pack your thermals, parka, and mittens, you’ll be well prepared to take on the low temps during the Nutrien WinterShines Festival in Saskatoon. This multi-day event invites you to cheer on the ice games at Snow Park, explore the giant IGLOO, and even marvel at a collection of ice sculptures. Keep warm by the bonfire and don’t miss the evening shows and celebrations!
Fargo, North Dakota
We can practically feel our teeth starting to chatter just thinking of the winter weather in Fargo. Another North Dakota city to make our list, Fargo sees an average low temperature of 0 degrees F each January. What’s more, 50 inches of snow, on average, falls on the city each winter, so don’t forget your snow gear!
The locals take pride in their winter resilience, which calls for celebrating accordingly. At the end of January, Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo host Frostival to “embrace the cool of winter.” You’ll find a number of Frositval hubs, including Base Camp, Frozen Fortress, and Icicle Island, where you can register for a snow sculpture, venture through an ice maze, or even do snowga (snow yoga!). Between snow luges, sleigh rides, and beard contests, this wintery festival definitely earns points in the cool department.
Header image via Everst/Shutterstock.com
