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Thu, Dec 21, 2024 12:00 AM
Winter Fun Facts
Winter officially begins with the Winter Solstice, which marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. This astronomical event occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun, signaling the start of winter in the hemisphere experiencing the solstice.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice typically falls on December 21st or 22nd, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs on June 20th or 21st. The exact date and time of the Winter Solstice vary each year due to the Earth’s elliptical orbit and its axial tilt, but these dates serve as a general guideline for the commencement of the winter season.
Popular Festivities and Events
- Fur Rendezvous | Anchorage, Alaska
- Saranac Lake Winter Carnival | Adirondacks, New York
- Whitefish Winter Carnival | Whitefish, Montana
- SnowFest | Tahoe City, California
- The Great Northern | The Twin Cities, Minnesota
- Wintersköl | Aspen, Colorado
- Fire and Ice Winter Fest | Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
- WinterWonderGrass | Colorado, California, and Vermont
- Oregon Winterfest | Redmond, Oregon
- International Snow Sculpture Championship | Breckenridge, Colorado
- Ely Winter Festival | Ely, Minnesota
- Winter Karneval | Leavenworth, Washington
- Okoboji Winter Games | Arnolds Park, Iowa
- Saint Paul Winter Carnival | St Paul, Minnesota
- Dartmouth Winter Carnival | Hanover, New Hampshire
- Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival | Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Oregon WinterFest | Bend, Oregon
- Newport Winter Festival | Newport, Rhode Island
- Stowe Winter Carnival | Stowe, Vermont
- Frostival | Fargo, ND and Moorhead, Minnesota
- NC Smokies Ice Fest Weekend | Haywood County, North Carolina