Update: The format for the 2025 Lake Louise Ice Magic has been changed. Access will only be available for participating hotel and guided tour guests. These measures have been put in place because the demand for the Ice Magic continues to exceed what is sustainable for the Lake Louise area. A limited amount of free tickets are available for locals on specific dates. More details can be found below.
The Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival is an annual event hosted 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 2025 ice carving competition is “Moments of Bliss in Banff National Park”.
The 2025 Ice Magic festival takes place from January 29 to February 2, 2025, with the grand finale being on the last 2 days, the weekend of February 1st and 2nd.
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 2025 Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival
January 29th to 31st – The carvers are in action creating their ice sculptures for the 2025 Ice Magic Competition
February 1st and 2nd – The completed ice sculptures can be viewed
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Guests Get Free Access
The easiest way to attend the event is by booking a hotel stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. Hotel guests will not have to obtain a ticket or be restricted to a viewing time slot. All day complimentary access is to the event is provided to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise guests.
How To Get Tickets For Lake Louise Ice Magic 2025
As previously mentioned the only other way to see the Ice Magic event is by obtaining a ticket with booking at participating hotels in Lake Louise and Banff. Or with a guided tour. With your booking you will receive a code to obtain a ticket. The tickets through these participating businesses are complimentary, but must be booked in advance for a specific one hour time slot. The viewing slots are from 10am to 9pm with the last viewing time being 8pm to 9pm. See Ice Magic Festival 2025 Information for a list of the hotels and tours.
Free Tickets For Locals
A limited amount of tickets are available for the dates of January 29th and 30th for local residents of Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore, Mînî Thnî, Lac Des Arc, Deadman Flats, Exshaw, Harvie Heights, Field and Kananaskis. Proof of residence will be required upon event entry. Details can be found here: Community Day Tickets For Ice Magic 2025
Shuttles And Parking For The 2025 Lake Louise Ice Magic
Note that there will be no on-site parking available for the event. The ticket you received from your hotel booking will include shuttle transportation that departs from the Lake Louise Ski Resort, where free parking is available. Speak with your hotel directly to receive shuttle details.
Can The Ice Sculptures Be Viewed After The Ice Magic Festival Is Over?
At this time it is unknown whether the ice sculptures will be available to view after the festival event is over. It is on the property of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. In the past the sculptures have been left 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 safety 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
- 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.
Banff National Park Snow Days Event
All is not lost if you won’t be able to attend the Ice Magic Festival, it’s just one event that takes place during what is called Snow Days in Banff National Park. It’s a celebration that is held to embrace the spirit of winter in the park. Daytime and night 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 2025 Snow Days will take place from January 17th to February 2nd.
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!