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Bavarian IceFest in Leavenworth 2023

A cozy Alpine village celebrates all things winter

There is no better place to celebrate winter in the Seattle area than the Bavarian village of Leavenworth with its abundance of snow and outdoor activities. Every January, Leavenworth holds the Bavarian IceFest (Live Ice Carvings) within the larger Village of Lights: Winter Karneval event to showcase all the best things about the cold and snowy season.

The first thing that you notice during the festival is a magical illumination. Leavenworth is dressed in about half a million beautiful lights and various other decorations. Outdoor sports enthusiasts will love games like Frisbee Sweep, Ice Cube Scramble, Smooshing, Snowball Toss, and Ice Fishing. One of the biggest highlights of the festival is Snow Sculptures and Live Ice Carving Demonstration.

As always, there are plenty of skiing and snowboarding trails to explore at Stevens Pass and additionally a Snowshoe Demo Day at Ski Hill. The festival ends with the spectacular fireworks display at 6 pm.

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Last updated: by Olga Valchyshen