Coldsnap Winter Music Festival

Mark your calendars! Coldsnap’s free-to-attend daytime series of workshops and IceJams are back for Coldsnap 2026. For those unfamiliar, ‘IceJams’ are free-to-attend afternoon mini-concerts featuring Coldsnap artists, and workshops are more hands-on, education-based sessions led by Coldsnap musicians talking about the art of making music. A full schedule of events is available on our website – www.coldsnapfestival.com.

We kick off at noon on Wednesday, February 4, at Omineca Arts Centre (369 Victoria Street) with an inspiring songwriting workshop led by Linda McRae, designed to help creators of all levels find their unique voice. The momentum continues Thursday at noon at the Prince George Senior Centre (425 Brunswick Street) with Aleksi Campagne’s modern indie-folk fiddle-singing. At 5:00PM Thursday, there will be a performance at Omineca from Cariboo-raised artist Sam Tudor, whose melancholic and confessional songwriting offers a deeply personal listening experience.

Friday offers a full day of unique musical interactions, starting at noon with a cozy, “stripped-down” performance and Q&A by FONTINE at the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum (850 River Road). At 3:00PM, Heritage Hall at the Knox Performance Centre (1448 5th Avenue) turns into a lively Celtic Jam led by Brianna Lizotte, Morgan Toney, and Scott Duncan, where local musicians are encouraged to bring their own instruments to jam along. The day rounds out back at Omineca at 5:00PM with a storytelling folk performance by Alberta’s Arts Ambassador and Coldsnap alum John Wort Hannam.

Saturday is a celebration of rhythm and movement, starting with a family-friendly “Bookworm Boogie” at the Prince George Public Library (888 Canada Games Way) featuring children’s artist Beppie. Blues enthusiasts can then head to Omineca at noon to watch Jesse Roper and Garret T. Willie trade songs and styles in a casual workshop. The afternoon features a historic festival first: a community Square Dance in Heritage Hall at Knox Performance Centre at 3:00PM with JUNO winners Pharis and Jason Romero. Then back to Omineca at 5:00PM for a high-energy, nostalgic set by Kayla Williams & The Yacht Daddies at Omineca.

The festival wraps up on Sunday, February 8, focusing on the power of connection through song. At noon, Sarah Jane Scouten leads a harmony-singing workshop at Omineca, teaching attendees how to sing by ear in the folk tradition. Finally, Coldsnap 2026 concludes with an “Acoustic in the Round” session at the Knox Performance Centre, bringing Linda McRae, Aladean Kheroufi and friends together for a collaborative, heartfelt finale.