Update: For the first time since 2020 the Lake Louise Ice Magic will be held again in 2024. Check the schedule for other events that will continue during Banff National Park’s Snow Days held in January 2024.
The Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival is an annual event held on the grounds of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel near the shoreline of frozen Lake Louise. Professional ice carving teams come from around the world to compete. They carve intricate masterpieces in a shape that depicts the current years theme. The theme for the 2024 ice carving competition is “Moments of Bliss in Banff National Park”.
The 2024 Ice Magic festival has been changed from the way it was held in the past. The even is held on the two consecutive weekend of January 26th to 28th and February 2nd to 4th. The general public can purchase a ticket for a time slot between 6pm and 9pm to view sculptures illuminated with lights. Tickets include a shuttle to access the event, it leaves from the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
The Ice Magic Festival is just one event taking place during what is called Snow Days in Banff National Park. It’s a 12 day celebration that is held to embrace the spirit of winter in the park. Activities and entertainment can be enjoyed along with massive snow sculptures in downtown Banff. With Banff Snow Days and the Ice Magic festival in Lake Louise there are plenty of things to keep you busy throughout the park during this time.
The main carving for the Ice Magic Festival takes place during the first few days of the event. The carvers have a total of 30 hours to create their masterpieces out of stacked blocks of ice that weigh over 300 pounds each. The participants brave frigid temperatures while they do their work.
The dog mascot for the Fairmont Chateau likes to check out the action at the festival. He looks quite stylish with his warm coat and his booties that help to keep his paws from freezing on the frozen ground.
Event Schedule For The 2024 Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival
January 26th and 27th – The carvers are in action creating their ice sculptures for the 2025 Ice Magic Competition
January 28th – The award ceremony is held announcing the winners of the 2024 Ice Magic Competition. There’s also a live carving demonstration.
February 2nd to 4th – The completed ice sculptures can be viewed along with live ice carving demonstrations.
General Admission Tickets
Tickets must be purchased in advance to view the sculptures on the two weekends you can purchase a ticket for a time slot from 6-9pm for the weekends of January 26th to 28th and February 2nd to 4th.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Your Ice Magic 2024 experience will start at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, where a complimentary shuttle will take you to the event
- Adult: $14
- Youth (3-12): $7
- Senior (55+): $9
- Under 2: Free of charge
Purchase Lake Louise Ice Magic 2024 Tickets
Lake Louise Ski Resort Guests Discounted Tickets
Jan 26th to 28th and Feb 2nd to 4th from all Lake Louise Ski Resort guests will receive a 50% discount on Ice Magic tickets and exclusive early viewing timeslot available from 4pm to 6pm before the event opens to the general public from 6pm to 9pm.Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact the Lake Louise Ski Resort for further details. A complimentary shuttle is required to access the event.
- Adult: $7
- Youth (3-12): $3.50
- Senior (55+): $4.50
- Under 2: Free of charge
Banff Accommodation Guests Limited Free Tickets
Jan 26th to 28th and Feb 2nd to 4th from 6pm to 9pm. Guests staying in Banff accommodation during the event period will receive complimentary Ice Magic tickets. Limited tickets are available and must be reserved in advance. Please contact your hotel for further details. A shuttle is required to access the event.
Lake Louise Area Hotel Guests Free Tickets
Jan 26th to 28th and Feb 2nd to 4th from 11am – 2pm. Ice Magic tickets are complimentary for all guests staying at Lake Louise Inn , Mountaineer Lodge, Baker Creek Mountain Resort, Storm Mountain Lodge and Emerald Lake Lodge. Tickets must be reserved in advance through your hotel, please contact them directly. A shuttle is required to access the event.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Guests Free Access
Jan 26 – Feb 4. All day complimentary access to the event site for Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise guests. Tickets are not required.
Parking And Shuttles Provisions
If you plan on arriving by car, take note that onsite parking is not available for the event. However, your pre-purchased ticket gives access to the shuttle services running from the Lake Louise Ski Resort parking lot. Shuttles will operate continuously from the ski hill car park from 3:30pm – 9:30pm on event days.
General Admission, Banff Hotel Guests & Lake Louise Ski Resort Guests
General admission, Banff hotel guests and Lake Louise Ski Resort guests that are attending the Ice Magic events will be required to park at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and use a shuttle to get to the event site. There will be no parking available at the Lake Louise Lakeshore for this event, except for guests with disabled access requirements.. Shuttle reservations are included in cost of your ticket purchase.
Alternatively guests travelling from Banff can take the Roam Transit Route 8X . Tickets for this transit must be purchased separately and included with the Ice Magic tickets. Banff-Lake Louise Roam Bus Route
Lake Louise Area Hotel Guests
Lake Louise area hotel guests staying at the following accommodation will have a complimentary shuttle provided from dedicated pick up points.
- Lake Louise Inn
- Mountaineer Lodge
- Baker Creek Mountain Resort
- Storm Mountain Lodge
- Emerald Lake Lodge
Speak with your hotel directly to receive shuttle details.
Can The Ice Sculptures Be Viewed After The Ice Magic Festival Is Over?
The ice sculptures are best viewed during the first week or two after their initial carving. After the festival is over the sculptures will remain for as long as the weather and temperatures allow. They may last into the month of February, but in some years if the the temperatures become too warm and the hotel has to take them down for saftey reasons as thee begin to melt and become unstable. they begin to melt.
There’s no guarantee of how long they will remain up after the festival. If you are driving to Lake Louise specifically to see them contact the Chateau Hotel beforehand to get information about their current condition or whether they are still standing.
Optimal times to visit the sculptures would be during mid-week after the two weekends of the festival event are over.
When Is The Best Time To Take Photos Of The Ice Sculptures?
- The best photos are taken in the evening, under the light of the night sky and when the sculptures are lit up. – Dress for winter with lots of layers, mitts, scarves, and hats so you can enjoy it as long as you like
- After visiting the carvings and strolling around, stop in at the Lakeview Lounge at the Chateau Lake Louise for a warm-up appetizer and hot toddy.
- Bring your skates, or rent them from Wilson Mountain Sports, so you can skate around the iconic ice castle built near the shoreline of Lake Louise.
Dress Warmly For Viewing The Ice Sculptures
The temperatures can be bitterly cold in January, dress appropriately. Layering your clothing underneath is very helpful in staying warm. Winter boots, coat and a warm hat and gloves are a must. See the winter packing section of our post for more information on what to wear: How To Pack For A Visit To The Canadian Rocky Mountains
Other Winter Activities In Lake Louise
While attending Ice Magic it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of Ice Skating On Lake Louise. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more scenic ice rink! Or experience a traditional Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride. For more things to do check out our post on: Winter activities in Banff and Lake Louise for non-skiers.
Sculptures From Past Ice Magic Festivals
Ice Magic Festival Sculptures At Night
The sculptures take on a completely different look in the evening. In fact we think the sculptures look their best at night when they are illuminated. It allows for some spectacular photography. The Fairmont Chateau hotel will continue to light the carvings for as long as they are still intact enough for viewing.
We were disappointed upon arriving in Lake Louise to view the ice sculptures to find no sign of them. Yet on this site it states they are best observed during the weeks of the festival. But due to weather conditions can be observed well into the month of February. We came on the 3rd if February and no sign of any of the sculptures just the snow pads they were created on.
What a huge disappointment. We have come the last several years and this was a true disappointment.
Sorry to hear the sculptures were not there when you arrived. They are available to view into February “depending” on the temperature and weather conditions. I just checked on the facebook page for the Fairmont Chateau hotel and unfortunately although the unseasonably warm winter temperatures have been welcomed over the last while, it didn’t favour very well with the sculptures. It looks like the hotel has taken them down, as they have not only been looking shabby but would also become a safety concern. Sorry that you missed out on them, but hopefully you enjoyed the rest of the beautiful winter scenery at the lake.
There’s only the one place to park near the lake and that’s the official government parking lot for Lake Louise. However on the two weekends of the event this year Parks Canada will be directing people to park down in the village and take the shuttle once the parking lot starts to get full or if the traffic is becoming too much. If you are arriving by 9am you should be able to go up to the lake parking lot without any issues.
It is a bit of a walk from the government parking lot to the lake and where the sculptures are. I think the easiest option for the person in your party with disabilities is to drive them right up to the front of the hotel where the lobby is. From the lobby they will want to get down to the lower floor and make their way to the doors that open right out to where the sculptures are. There is an elevator to the lower floor if they can’t do the stairs. After the drop off the driver can go park the vehicle at the government parking lot and walk back to the lake to meet up. Enjoy the sculptures!