For five days in January and February, the distant locale of Kiruna transforms itself into what is possibly the most northerly fun festival in the world.
(TRAVPR.COM) UK - January 24th, 2013 - The Kiruna Snow Festival takes place north of the Arctic Circle itself - a full 140 kilometres north of it - in a place to which few Swedes ever venture. The Kiruna Snow Festival first took place in 1985 and was itself a celebration of a rocket launch from Esrange, a nearby space centre. From this rather unconventional beginning, the festival has developed into what remains today: an event that is truly unique in the annals of world fun festivals.
Winter sports and frolics are obviously to be expected at anything with 'snow festival' in the title; these are present in full force, including such activities as snowboarding, skiing and ice skating as well as the less common ways to pass the time of sleigh rides and reindeer racing. At the Kiruna Snow Festival, however, the activities on offer also include less predictable events such as a Mr Snowman Strong Man competition and a display of scooter jumping.
A festival favourite for many is the ice-sculpting contest, which provides participating teams with a huge cube of snow with each side measuring three metres. The enormous creations crafted from this beginning are simply breathtaking, year after year, encouraging some spectators to return once again to become a participant in the contest.
Perhaps most significant of all, however, are the parties that dominate the scene at the Kiruna Snow Festival. Many of these are hosted in massive igloo structures large enough to hold 200 festivalgoers at a time, while others make the Winterland space at the festival their home. Food is also an experience at the festival both bear steaks and reindeer kebabs are available.
For more details on atttending the festivities in Kiruna, visit the official event website athttps://www.kirunalapland.se/en/Events/Snow-festival-2013/.
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