Charlottetown Winter Festival: A Handy Guide to the Ice City Festival

Get in gear with some good ol’ fashioned outdoor fun! Jack Frost Presents the Ice City Festival is BACK in Charlottetown Jan 27 – Mar 5.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to plan a little getaway in the city, this is it! Experience the magic of Charlottetown when she’s dressed in her wintery best.

Read on for more info on making the most out of Ice City 2023.

1) Sugar Shack Weekends

Layer up! Take in Ice City’s Sugar Shack Weekends at the Charlottetown Beer Garden and/or the Pilot House’s outdoor patios. Featuring firepits, photo ops, maple sugar sticks, seasonal and hand-held food & beverages along with entertainment and more!

WHEN: Fridays from 5 – 9pm | Saturdays from 12 – 9pm | Sundays from 12 – 5pm (from Jan 27 – March 5)
WHERE: Charlottetown Beer Garden & Pilot House
HOW MUCH: Entrance is free, food and beverages at each location vary

2) UFIT, Ice City Style 

Everyone’s favourite fitness instructor/politician Gord McNeilly leads a very special UFIT class during Ice City Festival! Come move and groove and feel all the good vibes. Free for all to attend!

WHEN: Saturdays from 2:30 – 3:15pm through Jan 27 – Mar 5
WHERE: Lou MacEachern Upper Plaza at The Confederation Centre of The Arts (145 Richmond St)
HOW MUCH: FREE

3) Horse & Wagon Rides

Enjoy a traditional horse and wagon ride throughout the historic streets of downtown Charlottetown with Emerald Isle Carriage Tours.

WHEN: Fridays 4 – 7pm | Saturdays 12 – 4pm through Jan 27 – Mar 5 *excluding Feb 3
WHERE: Pickup at Founders’ Food Hall & Market (6 Prince St)
HOW MUCH: Walk-up only and cash only ($5 pp, under 2 free).

4) Flow in the Snow

Join Charlottetown Yoga’s certified instructors for Flow in the Snow, a refreshing, unique + free way to experience winter in Charlottetown! Suitable for all experience and fitness levels. No equipment or mats required. Most of the time will be spent exploring active movement to keep the body warm from the inside out – please dress for the weather!

WHEN: Every Saturday & Sunday at 11:30am through Jan 27 – Mar 5.
*From Feb 19 – Mar 4, enjoy EXTRA sessions during the Canada Games! 4:30pm every Mon, Thurs & Fri.
WHERE: Confederation Landing (2 Great George St)
HOW MUCH: FREE

5) Disco Skate at Founders’ Outdoor Rink

Get those skates sharpened because Founders’ Food Hall & Market’s outdoor rink is going to be BUMPING with live music by various local DJs – good vibes every Saturday night during Ice City!

WHEN: Every Saturday 6 – 9pm through Jan 27 – Mar 5
WHERE: Founders’ Food Hall & Market Rink
HOW MUCH: FREE

6) Snowshoes After Dark

Bring your adventurous spirit and your flashlight and explore Victoria Park’s beautiful trails after dark! The Charlottetown Parks & Recreation Department will be at the Victoria Park Ball Field Clubhouse from 6–8pm offering FREE snowshoe rentals. Drop by to pick up a pair and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.

WHEN: Every Friday 6 – 8pm through Jan 27 – Mar 5
WHERE: Victoria Park (Clubhouse: 5 Goodwill Ave)
HOW MUCH: FREE

PSSST, not a fan of the dark? Don’t fret.

Take a Sunday snowshoe stroll in the park from 1 – 3pm with all the same benefits!

WHEN: Every Sunday from 1 – 3pm through Jan 27 – Mar 5
WHERE: Victoria Park (Clubhouse: 5 Goodwill Ave)
HOW MUCH: FREE

7) DJs on the Plaza

Let the beats boost your mood while you’re out and about on Saturdays during Ice City with music from various local DJs on the Lou MacEachern Upper Plaza. Dancing while walking by is highly encouraged!

WHEN: Every Saturday 1 – 5pm through Jan 27 – Mar 5
WHERE: Lou MacEachern Upper Plaza at the Confederation Centre of The Arts (145 Richmond St)
HOW MUCH: FREE

8) Island Classics:

Explore the island’s roots with some ol’fashioned, traditional fun (Ice City style!)

HERE WE GO BARNDANCE at The Pourhouse

Join dance callers Ward MacDonald and Karine Gallant as they guide you through easy-to-learn square dances, round dances and of course the world-famous Souris Set. Fun for the whole family!

WHEN: Friday, Feb 3 at 8pm
WHERE: The Pourhouse (above The Old Triangle)
HOW MUCH: $20 at the door (children under 16 FREE)

Gordie MacKeeman And His Rhythm Boys at Trailside

There’s no other band around like Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys. Led by fiddling wiz Gordie “Crazylegs” MacKeeman, the roots quartet features all-star pickers and singers, with everything from down-home country to reckless rockabilly to intricate bluegrass.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb 12 at 11am
WHERE: Trailside Music Hall
HOW MUCH: $10 kids and $15 adults

9) Fat Biking Lessons with Meridian63º MTB

Learn to fat bike the safe and fun way! Join us in the Acadian Forest in Charlottetown this winter for beginner fat bike lessons with Meridian63º MTB. This one-hour introductory class will take you on a slow-paced, guided ride through the beautiful Acadian Forest trail network. Your registration will cover everything you need to ride; you just need to arrive ready to have a great time!

WHEN:February 18th & 19th + 25th & 26th | 10am, 11:15am and 12:30pm sessions
WHERE: East Royalty Acadian Forest
HOW MUCH:$35 + HST per person | REGISTER HERE

10) Take in the Art Installations

Tune into your creative side and pick your brain (day or night) with public art installations ‘Herd Community’ and ‘Winter Luminary’.

WHEN: Until March 5
WHERE: Lou MacEachern Upper Plaza at the Confederation Centre of the Arts (145 Richmond St)
HOW MUCH: FREE

11) Trapped In Ice City!

An ice spirit, Skelt, stalks the streets, freezing islanders into ice sculptures! Players must venture across Charlottetown, solve puzzles, and gather all nine lines of ancient spell to seal away the ice spirit. Are you up for the challenge?

WHEN: Feb 4th, 18th and March 4th at 12 – 5pm
WHERE: Begin at the food court in the Confederation Court Mall, then adventure around Downtown Charlottetown on-foot.
HOW MUCH: $25 adult | $20 student (with proof of ID) | FREE for kids 12 and under | BUY TICKETS HERE

12) Tunes & Tales

Tunes and Tales create and perform charming and engaging musical stories for children and grown-ups to enjoy together!

WHEN & WHERE:
• Jan 29th & Feb 12th, 11am at The Gallery
• March 5, 3pm at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre
HOW MUCH: FREE (but we encourage you to make a purchase to support the businesses further!)

13) Drag Brunches

Starring the Haus of Zhoosh Zsa Zsa Zhoosh, Demona Deville, and Tori, come for brunch, stay for the Queens!

A Magical Drag Brunch for the Whole Family

WHEN: January 28 (Doors open at 9am + show starts 10:30am)
WHERE: Salvador Dali Cafe
HOW MUCH: FREE – A first come, first serve event

Mini Haus Brunch: Drag Karaoke

WHEN: March 5 (Doors open at 9am + show starts at 10:30am)
WHERE: Salvador Dali Cafe
HOW MUCH: FREE – A first come, first serve event

14) Classic (and Cozy) Films at City Cinema

Stop by City Cinema, the city’s local and independent theatre, this winter for those warm & fuzzy feels. #Protip – The concessions are very reasonably priced, it’s licensed, and the popcorn is a must! BUY TICKETS HERE

WHEN: Various dates & times
WHERE: City cinema
HOW MUCH: Various prices

15) Feel The Rhythm with Upstreet

Karaoke on the Corner!

Spice up your Monday evenings and sing your heart out at Craft Beer Corner this February!

WHEN: Mondays, February 20th & 27th at 8pm-11pm
WHERE: Craft Beer Corner
HOW MUCH: FREE! Donations are highly encouraged

Double Down Disco: A Silent Dance Party

Two DJs will be on the decks at the same time – using the provided silent disco headphones, you can tune in to either one and switch back and forth all night long!

WHEN: Friday, March 3 at 9pm-12am
WHERE: Upstreet Craft Brewing
HOW MUCH: FREE! Donations are highly encouraged

16) PEI Comedy Allstars

Come enjoy the 3rd annual showcase of some of the best local stand-up comedians.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 22nd – Doors open at 6:30 | Show starts at 7:30 – 9pm
WHERE: Bar1911
HOW MUCH: Free (reserve a seat HERE)

And there you have it – grab your warmest winter jacket and hit the town! Check out the Ice City schedule of events here. Need a place to stay? Check out our amazing selection of accommodations. Curious what else to do around Charlottetown? Don’t miss a beat over on our events page.

Ice City Festival is a project of Capital City Events and made possible with support from the Prince Edward Island Events Innovation Fund, Prince Edward Island Government, The City of Charlottetown, Discover Charlottetown, and the Special Events Reserve Fund.