It might be the shortest month of the year but we think it’s one of the best. For many of us, with Half Term just around the corner, it’s the best time of year to ski with our families. We also have Pancake Day to look forward to and, of course, the 14 February is Valentine’s Day!
February is also an exciting time to be in a ski resort, with a host of top events to look forward to. Here’s our selection of the best events for this month:
1. GAIA – Stubai Mother Earth, Neustift
When: 2 February 2018
This one off special event where sport meets art is set to be spectacular. Well worth visiting from one of our nearby resorts such as Seefeld. GAIA is a ski and dance performance choreographed by famed dancer and choreographer Enriqu Gasa Valga.
The open-air performance will use a mixture of dance, music, multimedia and the natural scenery to tell a thrilling story of Gaia (Mother Earth) in battle with the forces of industrialisation and pollution. It will certainly provide you with a new perspective on the natural beauty of the Austrian Tyrol.
Are you interested in visiting Neustift in the summer? Inghams offer Lakes & Mountains holidays to Neustift from May through to September.
Find out more about Neustift >
2. White Turf Horse Race, St Moritz
When: 4, 11, and 18 February 2018
White Turf is an iconic international horse race that has taken part in St Moritz since 1907. Visually spectacular, the event takes place each year on the frozen lake. Watching the colourful displays and the horses racing on the white snow is a unique spectacle that you need to see at least once!
Great food, lively music, and art exhibitions accompany the event. White Turf runs across three dates on separate weeks in February, so you have a good chance of seeing it if you’re visiting the resort. St Moritz has a glitzy reputation and the stunning scenery forms an incredible backdrop to this top-event, making it an unmissable fixture in the annual ski calendar.
Find out more about St Moritz >
3. Carnival, Cortina d’Ampezzo
When: 10 February – 13 February 2018
Wednesday 14 February marks the start of Lent. This means, in the days running up, you can look forward to exciting festivals across Europe. Carnival is normally associated with Venice, where you would expect to see colourful masks and celebrations but if you’re skiing in Italy during this period, you won’t miss the fun either.
Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites is a fantastic ski resort where fashionistas in fur coats rub shoulders with skiers in salopettes. The Corso Italia, Cortina’s main street which runs through the heart of the village, hosts an exciting Carnival program from 10 February to the 13 February.
Expect music, food, sport, and (of course) plenty of masks. Taking place during half term week, it is the ideal event for families with young children.
4. Open Faces Alpbachtal, The Ski Juwel
When: 10 February 2018
Image courtesy Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau
The Ski Juwel area of Austria provides some of the most scenic skiing in the Alps. The area has a reputation for its wild beauty, just one of the reasons it is the ideal host for this qualifying round of the off-piste Freeride World Tour.
Open Faces Alpbachtal is an exciting spectator event supported with lively music and drinks. The event runs on Saturday 10 February, starting at 10am and finishing at 3pm.
Find out more about the Ski Juwel area >
5. 16th International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art, Courchevel
When: 15 February – 8 March 2018
Last but not least of the ski events we’re most looking forward to in February is the 16th International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art in Courchevel. Now a staple of the Courchevel calendar, the International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art is a huge crowd pleaser.
The world’s best pyrotechnics compete in this festival to put on the most magnificent fireworks displays. Throughout the duration of the festival, you can expect to see some wonderful nighttime shows illuminating the stunning Three Valley’s mountainside. This year’s festival has attracted teams from France, Belgium, the Ukraine, Spain and Italy.