SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2026 NIPIGON ICE FEST

40th ANNIVERSARY – MARCH 6th, 7th, 8th, 2026

Join Us for the 2025 Nipigon Ice Fest!

Canada’s longest running, premiere ice climbing festival features ice climbing clinics, presentations by outdoor adventurers, gear swap, fun games, and our legendary gear raffle.

First established in 1986, the Nipigon Ice Fest has always been run fully by volunteers with all the proceeds going right back into putting on the next year’s event.

Whether you’re a novice, intermediate, or expert climber, Unite, Learn, and Explore at the 2025 Nipigon Ice Fest!

Schedule & Events

Climbing Clinics

March 1st, 2025

Hosted by Outdoor Skills And Thrills

Beginners Ice Climbing Clinic

Intermediate Ice Climbing Clinic

Mixed Climbing Clinic

Women’s/LGBTQIA+

– click here to register and for more info –

Feature Presentations

March 1st, 2025 – 7:00pm-9:00pm EST

After a great day of climbing, warm up with the locals at a casual “Ice Fest Summit” and get inspired with presentations by outdoor adventurers and climbing enthusiasts, discuss Sunday’s climbing plans, and participate in the gear swap and raffle.

Feature Speaker: J.C. Dubeau

J.C. is a Canmore-based climber who began swinging ice tools in the late 80’s. Having spent many years extensively climbing throughout the Thunder Bay region and establishing many cutting edge new routes, J.C. is super excited to come back this year and share some stories with everyone about his journey and how he got to where he is today. An ice and mixed climber at heart, he has been known to occasionally swap out the alpine boots and crampons for comp boots. He has a never-ending lust for adventure, and when the ice disappears, he can be found on the crumbly limestone of the Canadian Rockies, developing new rock or dry-tooling routes for others to enjoy.

Gear Raffle

March 1st, 2025

The Nipigon Ice Fest has become well known for having some incredible prizes to win at the gear raffle. Check out the list of sponsors below who have come together in support of this year’s event! All of the proceeds from this raffle will go to supporting this event as well as help us bring great presenters to future events.

Food and Drinks

March 1st, 2025

FRYWAY: Did you know that there will be food available at the legion on Saturday night!? So go ahead, get that extra climb in because you can enjoy your dinner and the presentations at the same time! FryWay 11 will be accepting cash and cards at the legion. They will have chicken enchiladas for $10, Cowboy caviar salad for $6, and Tomato bisque soup for $5! Make it a combo for $20 tax in. They will also have an array of beverages for sale and some snacks as well.

LAKEHEAD BEER COMPANY: This year the ice fest will have a cash bar hosted by the Lakehead Beer Company providing local beer, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic beverages during our evening events at the Legion. Proceeds will go towards supporting next year’s ice fest!
Looking for somewhere to grab a wicked pizza or local drinks on your way through Thunder Bay, check out their location at 206 Park Avenue in TBay.

Social Gathering

February 28th, 2025

On Friday February 28th in the evening climbers can mingle at ‘The China Gardens’ at 30 Front St. This is not an Ice Fest event, it is just a restaurant and bar where people can mingle. The typical hangout place at the Nipigon Legion is not open to the public on this Friday evening, so we will be hanging out at The China Gardens this year on the Friday eve. See you all there!

Location: 30 Front Street, Nipigon – Ontario

Photo Contest

January 1st, 2025 – March 10th, 2025

We are holding a photo contest from January 1st – March 10th.

Share a picture of your most recent winter adventures for your chance to win a Nipigon Ice Fest Prize Package

(Contest not limited to NW Ontario, this is open to all Canadian and US climbers)

How to enter:

Share a picture online using the #Mylocalice hashtag
Tag Nipigon Ice Fest in your post or picture on Facebook and/or Instagram
Tag Wilderness Supply (and) Outdoor Skills And Thrills for an additional chance to win

*Reminder to make sure your post is public so that we can see & share it!

Prize will be awarded to a random winner

Nipigon Ice Fest Location

Driving Times to Nipigon from:

Thunder Bay, ON – 1 hour – 110 km (68 miles)
Wawa, ON – 4 hours – 365 km (227 miles)
Duluth, MN – 5 hours -420 km (261 miles)
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – 6.5 hours – 585 km (365 miles)
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN – 7.5 hours – 667 km (415 miles)
Winnipeg, MB – 8.5 hours – 800 km (497 miles)
Traverse City, MI – 9.5 hours – 870 km (540 miles)
Sudbury, ON – 10 hours – 900 km (560 miles)
Madison, WI – 10.5 hours – 950 km (590 miles)
Grand Rapids, MI – 11.5 hours – 1,062 km (660 miles)
Chicago, IL – 12.5 hours – 1,165 km (725 miles)
Toronto, ON – 13.5 hours – 1270 km (790 miles)