It's winter, so I guess you can either escape the cold by going to some tropical destination, or embrace it by going to an Ice Festival.  A few Ice Festivals coming up include:

Ouray Ice Festival
Ouray, Colorado
Friday, January 9 through Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Ouray Ice Festival is held at the Ouray Ice Park and features climbing clinics and fun competitions, such as the Ice Axe Throwing Competition, as well as ice climbing competitions by some of the best climbers in the world.  Vendors will also be on hand selling ice climbing equipment.  You can get more info at ourayicefestival.com. 

2009 Hunter Ice Festival
Niles, Michigan
Saturday, January 16 through Sunday, January 18, 2009

This is the fifth annual ice festival for Niles, in Southwest Michigan, which features some of the finest ice carvers in the nation.  There will also be wine and beer tastings, featuring local wineries and micro-brew beers, as well as a chili cook off. 

You can get more info by going to www.nilesmainstreet.org. 

Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival 2009
International Mountain Climbing School
2733 Main Street, Rt. 16
North Conway, New Hampshire
Thursday, February 4, 2009 through Sunday, February 8, 2009

This is the 16th annual ice festival held in the Mount Washington Valley, and features ice climbing clinics and courses for beginning waterfall climbing taught by such expert guides as:

• Matt Horner
• Dean Lords
• Majka Burhardt
• Zoe Hart
• Emilie Drinkwater
• Kevin Mahoney

There will also be one-day ascents of Mt. Washington and Mt. Madison, Jefferson or Adams in the Northern Presidential Range, as well as a Retro Knuckle-Bash dance party at the Black Mountain ski resort in Jackson on Saturday night.  You can get more info at ime-usa.com, the website of the International Mountain Climbing School.

Annual Water Fall Ice Festival
#69 South Fork Road
Cody, Wyoming
Friday, February 13 through Monday, February 16, 2009

The 11th Annual Waterfall Ice Festival in Cody, Wyoming features on-ice seminars at local waterfalls, as well as buffet dinners, slide shows and contests.  You can get more info at:  http://www.southforkice.com/event.cfm 

Cass Lake IceFest
Dodge State Park Number 4
4250 Parkway
Waterford, Michigan
Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 1PM to 10PM

The Cass Lake IceFest has many different activities celebrating ice, including an ice fishing contest, ice carving demos, an ice skating rink, and a sledding hill.  There's also food, entertainment and snowmobile drag racing.  Waterford, Michigan is just north of Detroit.