If you’re looking for some winter fun in the mountains of North Carolina, look no further than Haywood County Ice Fest Weekend! This four-day celebration runs from late January through the first of February!
Event highlights include signature celebrations in Waynesville and Maggie Valley, and fun festivities scattered throughout the county.
Haywood County Ice Fest is also an excellent opportunity for us to support the local businesses and vendors involved. Many are event sponsors, and you’ll also see them staying open past their typical business hours, so be sure to visit many as possible!
This guide will break down everything you need to know about Haywood County Ice Fest, including when, what to do, and where to stay. We also share more things to do in the area, whether you’re in town for Ice Fest or not!
Table of Contents
Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do In North Carolina (Your NC Bucket List)
When is Haywood County Ice Fest Weekend?
2027 Event Dates: January 28-31, 2027
Official Event Website
Haywood County Ice Fest kicks off each year at the end of January. It’s held throughout Haywood County, North Carolina, just west of Asheville and within a few hours’ drive of Charlotte and Atlanta.
This area is home to some of our favorite towns, including Maggie Valley, Waynesville, and Lake Junaluska, among other special spots. Canton and Clyde are two of them, and they also take part in Haywood County Ice Fest Weekend.
We’ve added this special occasion to our events calendar and highly recommend you add it to yours as well!
Find More Things to Do in Haywood County
Ice Fest Weekend Events
Haywood County Ice Fest includes the following events:
- All Weekend
- Ice Garden at Lake Junaluska: An exciting, newer addition to the Haywood County Ice Fest is the Ice Garden, tucked within the “secret” Susanna Wesley Garden at Lake Junaluska. Hundreds of light-up snowflakes, icicles, and ice lanterns will illuminate this peaceful space.
- Canton’s Ice Rink: Open all weekend, Canton’s Ice Rink is an excellent chance for you and your kids to show off your skills, but there’s no pressure for perfection, because there won’t be any judges in attendance!
- Life-Sized Snow Global Trail: The Maggie Valley plays host to a series or larger-than-life snow globes, the perfect backdrop for wintry photos as each one offers a unique seasonal scene.
- “Anything but Snow” Snowman Contest: Show off your creative side (or involve the whole family!) by constructing a snowman out of unexpected materials, or vote for your favorite contest entrant.
Read More: Restaurants in Waynesville
- Thursday, January 28, 2027
- Cool Jazz Concert at HART Theatre (7:00 pm): There are two Cool Jazz Concerts at HART Theatre in Waynesville, starting on Thursday at 7:00 pm. Experience the Ben Rosenblum Trio’s world-class jazz performance on Thursday evening.
- Friday, January 29, 2027
- Mill Around Town in Canton: Casually stroll through historic downtown Canton to experience live performances, vendors setting up shop, and cozy local businesses. More details coming soon!
- Saturday, January 30, 2027
- Ice Block Party in Downtown Waynesville (3:00 pm to 9:00 pm): On Saturday, walk around downtown Waynesville, which will be lined with ice sculptures. Local businesses will stay open late, so don’t forget to stop by and show them your love, too!
- Cool Jazz Concert at HART Theatre (7:00 pm): For the second installation of the jazz series at the HART Theatre in Waynesville, join Asheville-based Pleasure Chest Band for “funky but chic” performance with influences ranging from rock to blues.
We hope you’re able to make it to Haywood County Ice Fest. If you do, we’d love to hear about your experiences (and even see your photos) in the NC Tripping Community Feed.
Where to Stay
Haywood County is home to some truly spectacular places to stay. There are a variety of rentals in the area, and we’ve enjoyed hosted stays at properties managed by Buffalo Creek Vacations.
Cataloochee Ranch is a one-of-a-kind mountain escape perched on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Maggie Valley. Initially founded in 1933, this historic ranch has been beautifully reimagined, blending rustic charm with refined luxury.
Honorable Mention: Cataloochee’s sister property, The Swag, is a 250-acre mountaintop retreat overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounded by epic beauty. It’s closed during Ice Fest but reopens for the season in
Find More Places to Stay in Haywood County (via VRBO)
More Things to Do in Haywood County
Haywood Ice Fest is a special event, but there’s even more to do in the area.
Local Businesses
Visit Haywood includes more businesses on their official event page, but we have thoroughly enjoyed these places:
- Canton
- Maggie Valley
- Waynesville
Read More: Waynesville Map of 30+ Attractions (+ 6 Surrounding Counties in Western NC!)
Outdoors
You might also be eyeing the kid-friendly Tube World (pictured above) and the slopes at Cataloochee Ski Area, and we say “go for it!” Cataloochee is one of North Carolina’s most popular ski resorts, and Tube World is among our favorite places for snow tubing.
Part of the Blue Ridge Parkway also passes through Haywood County, resulting in some truly stunning views and hikes. Graveyard Fields is one of our favorite hikes in North Carolina. Sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County may be inaccessible if winter weather has passed through.
Read More: Day Trips from Asheville
More Haywood County Travel Guides
We’ve featured many of the places mentioned above (and more!) in our collection of NC Travel Guides. Here are a few to help you explore this fantastic piece of Western North Carolina.
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