Haywood County’s 2026 Ice Fest Weekend celebrates community & recovery

Discover what’s in store for the 2026 Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend, from local gems to an ice-themed schedule of events.

Four years ago, Maggie Valley in Haywood County hosted its first ice festival, drawing visitors from across the Southeast. With so much enthusiasm for winter activities and cold-weather sports, the event planners expanded the festival to Canton, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, and Waynesville.

In 2026, the Visit Haywood Ice Fest will take place from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, with even more activities, from ice skating and ice sculptures to shuffleboard and cool jazz. Haywood County, an hour west of Asheville, welcomes scores of visitors to the festival each year. Dollars spent at bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, and shops continue to support the community’s economy and recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene.

Local gems

While traveling through Haywood County, look for Blue Moon Books in Canton for used books and seating areas to curl up with your favorite author. Papertown Coffee, also in Canton, offers coffee, hot cocoa, sandwiches, and pastries from Four Sisters in Black Mountain.

The Terrace Hotel in Lake Junaluska provides affordable rooms with a hot breakfast in a serene retreat-like setting. During the Visit Haywood Ice Fest, guests may ride the shuttle to the festival’s signature events and enjoy an ice-themed brunch on Sunday. Lake Junaluska’s walking paths pass by a labyrinth, eateries, and shops.

Add a 45-minute tour of Winchester Creek Farm, a 20-acre farm in Waynesville, to your weekend. Meet Olaf and Sven, pygmy goats; Thor and Loki, dogs who protect the alpacas and sheep in the pastures; and Sam, the Golden Doodle that greets guests. The farm features a micro-miniature Scottish Highland cow (the second smallest in America), two belted miniature Galloway cows, and miniature donkeys. Most of the animals came from rescue situations.

Next to the Ice Extravaganza is Cabbage Rose, a 10,000-square-foot shop with an eclectic collection of gifts, Christmas decorations, flower arrangements, jewelry, and local art. Meet the owners, Troy Graves and Scott Nielsen, who have been operating the store for more than 35 years.

Throughout the weekend, local businesses offer drink specials and hotel discounts to guests attending the Ice Fest.

Visit Haywood Ice Fest Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 29

• Cool Jazz Concert featuring the Ben Rosenblum Trio, HART Theatre, Waynesville, 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $17 to $39.

Friday, Jan. 30

• Visit Haywood Ice Block Party, Waynesville, 5-8 p.m. Free.

• Canton’s Ice Rink, Canton, 4-8 p.m. Free to skate: Bring your own skates or rent skates for a fee.
• The Ice Garden at Lake Junaluska is free and open all day. The lights are best seen at night. Warm up with coffee or hot cocoa at Gifts and Grounds.

Saturday, Jan. 31

• Ice Extravaganza in Maggie Valley, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, 4-9 p.m. Purchase tickets online for $7 or at the entrance for $10. Kids 12 and under are admitted for free.
• Frosty 5K (walk or run), Clyde, 9 a.m. Free.
• Canton’s Ice Rink, Canton, 12-5 p.m. Free to skate: Bring your own skates or rent skates for a fee.

Sunday, Feb. 1

• Canton’s Ice Rink, Canton, 12-5 p.m. Free to skate: Bring your own skates or rent skates for a fee.
• Cool Jazz Concert featuring Walter Smith III Trio, HART Theatre, Waynesville, 2 p.m. Tickets range from $17 to $39