7. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, New York
This is another oldie and goodie, providing winter merriment in the Adirondacks’ since 1897. The 10 day annual festival was named the #2 top winter carnival in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine in 2012, a big accolade for a homespun community carnival. It features wintry sports, varied performances, two parades and three sets of phenomenal fireworks. Arctic golf, a frying pan toss, snow rugby and snowshoe softball are just some of their unique events.
8. Frozen Dead Guys Days, Colorado
This one’s a little different, for those who need to laugh away the winter’s chill. It all started when cryonics-enthusiast Grandpa Bredo Morstoe died in 1989 and was left on ice in his grandson’s shed in Nederland, Colorado, hoping to thaw out in the future when medical advances could resurrect him. When legal issues started to arise, the family garnered a lot of publicity for their plight. Now the whole community has rallied around them and has created a hilarious off-beat festival around the dead guy. There are zany events like coffin racing, polar plunging, frozen salmon tossing and frozen turkey bowling. Don’t miss the Brain Freezer tent and the Blue Ball. Definitely one of the wackier winter festivals in North America.