Winter Festivals (1/4/06)

The weather outside may be frightful, but it's the right time to bundle up, leave the house, and attend a winter festival. Think of these hibernal celebrations as Fourth of July picnics, with the requisite golf and fireworks -- and five feet of snow. Even though the days are short, there's plenty to see and do: snowmobile races, eating and drinking, swimming, and ice sculptures -- lots of ice sculptures. Of course, winter festivals aren't limited to December and January: in the Southern Hemisphere, July's the time to play in the snow. Whenever winter comes, if you get too cold outside, you can hurry back to your cozy room at the local ice hotel.