Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Canandaigua

Start: Saturday, February 21, 2026 11:00AM
End: Sunday, February 22, 2026 4:00PM

Bundle up and experience one of the Finger Lakes’ most celebrated winter events! The Canandaigua Fire & Ice Festival returns to Downtown February 21–22, with festival hours from 11am–5pm on Saturday and 11am–4pm on Sunday. Recently ranked a Top Winter Festival in the World by Forbes in 2024, this free, family-friendly event brings together art, fire, food, animals, and interactive fun for all ages. Professional sculptors from Ice Farm will carve breathtaking ice sculptures live throughout the festival, including demonstrations and the always-popular speed carving competition. Once complete, sculptures will line Downtown and remain illuminated at night for extended viewing. Festival highlights include interactive fire performances by a world-record-holding fire performer, a massive live snow sculpture created by world-record holder and Food Network guest Eric Jones, and hands-on mock demonstrations by the FLCC Logging Team, featuring fire building and competitive wood chopping. Families can enjoy up-close experiences with the Kindred Moon Siberian Huskies sled dog team, meet friendly animals from Lazy Acre Alpacas, and take free horse-drawn wagon rides through historic Downtown. Festival-goers will also encounter a juggling stilt walker, roaming winter-themed characters for photo opportunities, Wildlife Rockstars, bringing wild animals for meet-and-greets, and much more. Food lovers won’t want to miss the annual Chef Challenge, where Canandaigua’s top chefs compete in a live cook-off. Guests can purchase tasting tickets, sample incredible dishes, and help determine this year’s winner. Warm up along the way with the Comfort in a Cup Beverage Trail, featuring specialty drinks hosted by participating local businesses. Downtown Main Street will be filled with retail vendors, nonprofit organizations, sponsors, and food vendors offering everything from warm donuts and hot beverages to comfort-food favorites. Participating local shops will also host “Come Out of Hibernation” specials throughout the weekend. For schedules, updates, and festival details, visit www.downtowncanandaigua.com