Don’t Miss This Icy “Speed Rally” in a Tiny Alberta Town This Winter

By Britanny Burr on February 3, 2025.

One thing that Alberta can’t seem to get enough of is unique and unorthodox events. If you can dream it, you can find it in this province. So, if you love trying new things, that list of things will never end if you’re willing to do some digging. Or, better yet, keep letting us do the digging for you–all you need to do is read along and mark your calendars. Now, let’s talk about an event like no other.

The Lac La Biche ICE Festival of Speed is a must-see annual event, and this year, it will take place from February 28 to March 2, 2025. Tucked away in northern Alberta, Lac La Biche is a charming lakeside community about 200 km northeast of Edmonton. Known for its welcoming community and friendly vibes, this town transforms into a buzzing hub of excitement each winter for this one-of-a-kind event.

The Lac La Biche ICE Festival of Speed has been a staple winter event for over 40 years, drawing visitors across Alberta and beyond. If you’ve experienced it for yourself, you know the drill, but for the newbies out there, we’ll assume you’ll need a bit more information.

During the event, the frozen lake comes alive with the roar of engines, laughter, and cheering crowds. The festival showcases a variety of high-octane ice races, including cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, and mega trucks, all tearing across a carefully prepared road course-style track. If you've never experienced an ice rally, it's an energetic mix of skill, speed, and plenty of sideline action. The cars race all weekend, earning points toward the championship.

While the races are the weekend's highlight, the festival offers a whole lot more. There are charity races, a solo ice slalom race, an introduction to snowmobiling, and even an aircraft Fly-In, where airplanes fly high above the lake before landing so that spectators can meet the pilots and tour the planes.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained. Think ice sculpting, a kid's carnival, axe throwing, sleigh rides, a Snowball Snowmobile Race, and a vintage Snowmobile Show'n'Shine display. Live music, food trucks, and concessions will serve up everything you might want to eat or drink, including a traditional Cabane á Sucre if you’re feeling especially Canadian (which you will be, obviously).

The lake is one of the largest in Alberta, and it is a year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts. During the Ice Festival, it becomes a centrepiece for all of the magic, offering a unique opportunity to explore the lake and surrounding area in a new way.

The Lac La Biche ICE Festival of Speed has something for everyone. With over four decades of history and a lineup that keeps getting bigger and better, this is one winter tradition you don't want to miss. Mark your calendar, rev your engines, and head to Lac La Biche this winter. Trust us. You need to see this one for yourself.

Britanny Burr is a freelance writer and a contributor to Great West Media. This story was written for the Great West Media & Southern Alberta Newspapers Cool Winter Guide advertising feature. The Cool Winter Guide is a special feature about winter activities, bucket list adventures, winter attractions, events, and road trip-worthy food & beverage destinations across Alberta. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.

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