Welcome to winter! Today is the winter solstice, better known as the first day of winter. What better way to celebrate than a list of 25 fun things to do when it snows?

This post was originally published in December 2020 and updated in November 2023.

This might sound like a very un-Canadian thing to say, but I’m not a fan of winter. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the north of England, but I never really embraced winter sports or outdoor activities. Considering it can be cold and snowy here in Canada 6 months of the year, finding ways to keep busy is key to surviving winter.

Putting my dislike of winter aside, I admit there are things I like about a fresh, white snowfall. Snow is pretty and it brightens up the dark, grey days of winter. It’s also really peaceful to go for a walk during a snowfall.

As I shared in Dreaming of a white Christmas, we have about a 50% chance of a white Christmas in the area where I live. Even if it doesn’t snow for Christmas, we’re guaranteed to see some of the white stuff before the spring weather arrives about 4 months from now.

So, when it does snow, we might as well find ways to enjoy it. Here is my list of 20 fun things to do outdoors when it snows. And, for people like me, I’ve got a list of 5 indoor activities to help you get through the winter.

20 outdoor activities for snow days

If you’re brave enough, put on your warm winter clothes and get outside.

1. Bundle up and go for a walk. As a bonus in the Christmas season, snow makes the Christmas lights look brighter and more sparkly.
2. Make snow angels.
3. Go skiing.
4. Make a snowman. Even more fun, make a snowman family.
5. Have a snowball fight.
6. Go snowshoeing.
7. Build a snow fort.
8. Go tobogganing or sledding.
9. Hit the trails on a snowmobile.
10. Go skating on an outdoor ice rink.
11. Build snow sculptures.
12. Make maple taffy by pouring hot maple syrup on fresh white snow. You can find details on how to make this true Canadian treat here.
13. Look for animal tracks in the snow.
14. Catch snowflakes on your tongue.
15. Have a snowball throwing contest.
16. Enjoy a winter campfire.
17. Look at the stars in an outdoor hot tub.
18. Go snowboarding.
19. Blow bubbles and watch them freeze.
20. Put up a bird feeder and watch the visitors. One of my favourite birds to watch in winter is the cardinal. I love how the bright red stands out against the white snow. I snapped this photo in our garden a couple of years ago.

Despite my dislike of winter, I have managed to do 14 of these 20 things at least once in the past. I’ll have to make a point of trying the rest.

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5 indoor snow day activities

If you’d rather be indoors, here are some indoor activities to pass the time in winter.

1. Sit inside by the fire, drink wine or hot chocolate, and watch the snow fall.
2. Read a good book.
3. Plan a family game night.
4. Have a pyjama day.
5. Binge watch a new series.

Dreaming of … spring?

Finally, if the idea of winter is more than you can bear, look on the bright side. Spring officially arrives in 90 days.

What’s your favourite thing to do in the snow? Tell us below.