Ice Magic Festival
The Ice Magic Festival is an annual event taking place over 2 weekends (January 16-27 2019) at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel, Deer Lodge, and Lake Louise ski area.
The main competition of the 2019 event takes place from January 16-18; starting at 8am on Jan 16 and finishing by 2pm on Jan 18, ten professional ice carving teams of two will use chainsaws to form huge ornate ice sculptures from 15 blocks of ice. This year’s theme for the competition will be Celebrating 25 Years of Ice Magic, and competitors are to choose iconic carvings to commemorate this milestone.
After the main competition ends on Jan 18th there will be a speed competition from 4.30pm to 5.30pm where professional carvers will have just one hour to turn a block of ice into a masterpiece.
From 6-8pm on Jan 18 there will be an awards ceremony, where judges will present prizes for the best creations.
Tickets will be required to view the ice sculptures between 10am and 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday, and can be purchased in advance from Ticketweb.ca or directly from outside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise on the festival weekend. These tickets are for 1.5 hour time slots, so it’s recommended to book in advance to get the time slot you prefer, and to save 25% off the on-site ticket price (adult $13, child $6, family $35 (2 adults + up to 4 children)).
*Guests staying at a Lake Louise hotel will receive a complimentary wristband from their accommodation for free access anytime. Guests staying at partner hotels in Banff will receive a discount code from their accommodation for a 50% discount when purchasing tickets in advance from Ticketweb.ca.
From January 21st-25th tickets are not required to view the ice sculptures midweek, likewise before 10am or after 5.30pm at the weekend, so these are the best times to visit if your schedule allows, as the site will be much quieter.
The weekend of January 26 and 27 is an opportunity to view the sculptures from the previous week’s competition at Chateau Lake Louise, while taking in the carving demonstrations by one of the competitors.
On both Saturday & Sunday tickets will be required between 10am and 5.30pm (see above for ticket information).
While it’s very impressive to see the ice carvers in action during the festival competition weekend, the magical sculptures can be viewed for several weeks after the event, as long as the temperatures stay low!
Ice Magic Hotel Packages in Lake Louise
If you are looking for lodging at a Lake Louise hotel during the Ice Magic Festival, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise cannot be beaten for convenience, as most of the events will be taking place right outside.
Click here for reservations.
To find more Lake Louise hotels for this event, click here.
Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup
Starting the last weekend in November 2018, the world’s best alpine ski racers will compete in the Lake Louise Audi FIS Ski World Cup, Canada’s only alpine skiing World Cup event, and the first downhill and super G races of this winter’s World Cup circuit. On November 24 the Men’s Downhill will take place starting at 12.15pm and the following day November 25 will be the Men’s Super G with a 12 noon start. The following weekend sees the women’s races, with the Ladies’ Downhill taking place on November 30 and December 1 with a 12.30pm start each day and the Ladies’ Super G on December 2 starting at 11am.
*Please note that the race schedule is subject to revision and details should be confirmed on the official race website.
The races will take place at Lake Louise Ski Resort and spectators can see the finish line from the base area free of charge, or with a lift ticket ski to view the races from various parts of the course. Although the race courses are obviously closed to the public before and during the World Cup, the majority of the ski hill is not effected and the rest of the slopes are usually uncrowded during these events.
As an added bonus, during both race weekends on Saturday and Sunday kids get to ski free, with 2 kids 12 yrs and under getting a free pass with the purchase of an adult lift ticket.
To find Lake Louise lodging during this event, click here.
For further information about the ski races, visit www.lakelouiseworldcup.com
Lake Louise Pond Hockey Classic
Now in its 8th year, the Lake Louise Pond Hockey Classic will take place February 22-26 2017, with two different tournaments. The “charity mid-week” tournament will take place on Thursday Feb 23 and Friday Feb 24, while the “weekend” tournament will be from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th. The word ‘Pond’ is used loosely here as the shinny tournament will take place on the majestic Lake Louise itself, making it perhaps the most scenic location in the world for outdoor ice hockey. Teams of four will go head to head in 30 minute games on all 4 days, with playoff games deciding the winners.
This event is lots of fun for the spectators and players alike.
To find out more about entering a team, click here.
Will and Kate Choose Lake Louise for Private Getaway
Ever since the announcement that newlyweds the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would visit Alberta as part of their royal tour of Canada, speculation has been rife regarding where in the province they would visit. Set in the spectacular Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park was always a strong contender for the royal couple’s itinerary, and indeed on the night of July 6 they chose to spend some private time at Skoki Lodge, a historic backcountry lodge and hiking mecca in the pristine alpine wilderness of Banff National Park, close to Lake Louise ski area.
While some rumours suggested that the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or the Post Hotel might be the accommodation of choice for Will and Kate, part of Skoki’s appeal was undoubtedly the secluded location, being an 11 km hike, mostly uphill, from the nearest road. Prince William and Kate Middleton were able to fly in by helicopter, which must have been an awe-inspiring journey over the Canadian Rockies, on what was a beautiful clear blue sky day in the Banff and Lake Louise area.
Shortly after lunchtime July 7, the couple travelled by helicopter from Skoki Lodge to the Lake Louise ski area where they were able to freshen up and change before their onward journey to Calgary International Airport where, according to the Government of Canada’s website for the Royal Tour, their official duties were due to resume at 4.30pm.
Charlie Locke, who with his wife Louise, owns both Skoki Lodge and Lake Louise Ski Area, said about the visit: “We believe we met their expectations with respect to providing the type of getaway they were looking for and that they enjoyed their time here. We hope that they will visit again.”
