Winters in Nevada are definitely something special. From the breathtaking snowy scenery to the wide array of recreational opportunities, there's a lot to love about this time of year. You can experience the best of what the season has to offer when you attend the annual Fire and Ice Winter Festival in Ely. Coming up in just a few weeks, this beloved tradition features an ice and snow sculpture competition along with a bunch of other wacky and unique winter activities. Seeing the festival's giant snow sculptures will definitely become the highlight of your winter, so mark your calendars for this fun-loving event.

Here in Nevada, we believe that when life hands you lemons, you take them and make the tastiest lemonade. That's never been more evident than with the annual celebration of winter at the Fire and Ice Winter Festival in Ely.

Taking place this year from Feb 3 to the 13, 2022, the Fire and Ice Festival is far from your typical winter celebration. In fact, this might just be one of the kookiest spectacles in all of Nevada—but that's exactly why we love it.

First of all, the festival's location couldn't be any more scenic. Set upon the Whiteside Park near the town of Ely, festival-goers will be in the thick of some of the Silver State's dreamiest winter scenery. Be sure to bundle up!

At the forefront of the festival is the ice and snow sculpture competition. Snow sculptures can be viewed all day on the Sunday of the festival starting at 10:00 a.m. Created by teams of skilled sculptors, seeing these larger-than-life sculptures crafted completely from snow is a surreal experience.

All teams, both amateur and professional, are welcome to enter the snow sculpture competition. If you think you have what it takes, then you should definitely give it a go! Winners of the competition take home cash prizes along with sweet, sweet bragging rights.

However, snow sculptures aren't the only thing to love about this zany festival. The rest of the weekend includes other unique winter activities like ice golf, ice fishing, ice skating horseshoes, and even ice bowling. Be sure to bring your own gear if you'd like to take part in any of these exciting activities.

All of the Cave Lake activities take place on Sunday, January 19, but the festival really kicks off with a myriad of fun events in downtown Ely on Saturday, January 18. From the Fireworks Train that departs from Nevada Northern Railway to live music and karaoke in the heart of downtown, the festival's lineup guarantees a solid start to this memorable festival.

There's a lot to love about this unique winter celebration, from the massive snow sculptures to all family-friendly activities, so be sure to attend this year's spectacle. More information can be found here.

Are you excited about this annual snow sculpture festival in Nevada? We sure are! Explore more must-visit winter destinations in the Silver State by checking out this list of 7 Awesome Places To Visit In Nevada This Winter.