Started by Rick Wilcox and Nick Yardley in 1993, the Mt. Washington Valley Ice Fest has been the premier ice climbing event in the northeast ever since. The founders were inspired by other events in the country which featured ice climbing clinics, slideshows, and of course beer and a fun community atmosphere (read: a big party of climbers).

This event is eagerly anticipated by ice climbers in the Eastern United States and is considered one of the premier climbing events in the country. It is a celebration of ice climbing and winter mountaineering, and the people that make it a part of their lives. It continues to provide a great opportunity for those attending to network, socialize, try new gear and participate in multiple day courses, one-day technical clinics and privately guided climbs. MWV Ice Fest welcomes climbers from all different backgrounds and offers multiple affinity space clinics for the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Adaptive and Veterans communities, among others.

The Mount Washington Valley is one of the finest waterfall ice climbing destinations in North America. Each year we offer a variety of skills-based clinics and exciting slide shows with featured climbers and guides from the New England area and around the world.

2026 Ice Fest is February 5th - 8th! That's not a typo…Ice Fest is 4 days in 2026! Check out the Schedule.

• Ice Fest takes over the Mount Washington Valley
• Ledge Brewing Company serves as Ice Fest Base Camp. Clinic registration, demo gear, food, beer, live music, workshops, chair massage, after party, etc. 
• All Mt Washington Ascents, Alpine Climbs, and Thursday Clinics meet at IME/IMCS. 
• Friday and Saturday evening presentations are at the Theater in the Wood / Believe in Books Literacy Foundation. 
• Clinics are spread out across the many area crags. Specific locations are determined to best fit each specific clinic.
• See the schedule for times and locations throughout the weekend.

Ice Fest is run by the International Mountain Climbing School (IMCS) in partnership with International Mountain Equipment (IME).

Clinics are taught by IMCS guides and a stacked line-up of guest guides and professional athletes from near and far.

No! Ice Fest is for everyone. We have clinics catered to all ability levels.

No. One of the staples of Ice Fest is the demo equipment available from our sponsors. This means that when you arrive for your clinic, after you check in, you’ll head into Ledge where you’ll be able to take out demo equipment for the day from our amazing sponsors. For example, you could try boots from La Sportiva, ice tools from Black Diamond, crampons from Petzl, a pack from Hyperlite, a puffy jacket from Arc'teryx, gloves from Rab, a harness from Blue Ice, and shell pants from Mountain Equipment. Oh and did we mention that the gear demos are FREE?

Head to the clinic pages or if you’ve already signed up, check your confirmation email for a gear list that is specific to your clinic.

TBD. We’ll let you know as soon as we know.

Evening shows often sell out so buy tickets in advance to ensure you get in. If there is still space, we will have tickets at the door but it’s best not to risk it.

There is no festival fee to participate! One-day clinics vary from $165-215, two-day clinics are $410, and evening shows are $25 per night. Workshops are free and open to the public, and wellness offerings vary in price.

Clinics open for registration in mid-October. Sign up to the Ice Fest email list to get advanced information about clinics and shows!

There’s plenty of options all weekend to attend workshops, wellness, check out the Silent Auction items at IME, or visit with our sponsors. North Conway is also a hub for eating, shopping, and other outdoor activities—view the local Chamber of Commerce for more!

There is no overarching festival fee to participate. You can drop into any workshop or attend social events. But if you’d like to watch a show, it’s best to get your tickets in advance!

We have a number of lodging partners who offer Ice Fest discounts. Check out our Lodging page to see this year's deals.

Yes. Our affinity space clinic selection has been growing over the last few years and we are excited to offer a variety of clinics for the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Women, Adaptive, youth, and Veterans communities.