Blowing Rock WinterFest 2027: Walk to the Polar Bear Plunge from Our Chetola Condo

Blowing Rock WinterFest 2027 runs Thursday, January 28, through Sunday, January 31, 2027. It's the town's 29th annual celebration of winter. Its best-known event, the Polar Bear Plunge, takes place at Chetola Lake, and from our condo you can walk to the Plunge in about 5 to 7 minutes. No parking, no shuttle, and a warm place to change back into afterward. The Jungle House is a 3-bedroom, 3-bath condo inside Chetola Resort that sleeps seven, and downtown Blowing Rock, where the ice sculptures go up, is a 4-minute drive away. Already know your dates? Book direct and save 7% on the nightly rate.

WinterFest 2027 at a glance

The festival's official 2027 schedule lists:

• Thu, Jan 28: WinterFeast at Chetola. The Hendrick Car Hunt begins (3 PM).
• Fri, Jan 29: Artisan Ice Stroll downtown (4–8 PM).
• Sat, Jan 30: Polar Bear Plunge at Chetola Lake, the Chetola Cardboard Sledding Classic, the Rotary Chilly Chili Challenge, the WinterFest Beer Garden, the Ice Carving Demo in Memorial Park (10 AM–5 PM), and Hot Chocolate & Hayrides (noon–3 PM).
• Sun, Jan 31: The Hendrick Car Hunt ends (11 AM).
• Every night of the festival: The Chetola Festival of Lights, which stays up through Sunday, January 31.

The Blowing Rock tourism office says some festival activities are free and some are ticketed. Times and ticket details for several 2027 events haven't been posted yet, so check blowingrockwinterfest.com before your trip.

Walk to the Polar Bear Plunge at Chetola Lake (Sat, Jan 30)

WinterFest's signature event is a jump into the icy water of Chetola Lake on Saturday, January 30, 2027. You can take the plunge yourself or cheer from the shore. Either way, from The Jungle House it's about a 5 to 7 minute walk to the lake, so there's no hunting for a parking spot. Walk over, take the plunge, and walk back to a hot shower and a 2-person Jacuzzi tub.

Plungers register through the WinterFest website. The 2027 time and registration details hadn't been posted when we checked, so watch the festival site.

Right after the plunge, Chetola's sledding hill hosts the Chetola Cardboard Sledding Classic. Teams build sleds out of cardboard and race them down the hill. Entry is $20, and the festival lists it in the late morning of January 30. It's a great one for families and groups.

WinterFeast at Chetola (Thu, Jan 28)

WinterFest kicks off with WinterFeast at Chetola, a ticketed dinner on Thursday night. If you check in Thursday at 4 PM, you can unpack and still make dinner without a long drive. Seating times and tickets will be on the WinterFest website.

Ice sculptures downtown (Fri, Jan 29 and Sat, Jan 30)

On Friday, January 29, from 4 to 8 PM, the Artisan Ice Stroll puts ice sculptures in front of downtown businesses and in Memorial Park. Local businesses design them, and Artisan Ice Sculptures carves them. The festival notes that how long the sculptures last depends on the weather, so plan on an early-evening stroll. Then on Saturday, January 30, from 10 AM to 5 PM, Artisan Ice Sculptures gives a live Ice Carving Demo in Memorial Park on Main Street.

Downtown is a 4-minute drive from the condo, so you can easily stroll, shop, grab dinner and head back.

Chili, beer and hayrides (Sat, Jan 30)

Saturday is the busiest day of the festival:

• Rotary Chilly Chili Challenge: a WinterFest chili tasting. Check the WinterFest site for 2027 tickets.
• WinterFest Beer Garden: presented by The Speckled Trout, with local craft beer and a festive winter crowd.
• Hot Chocolate & Hayrides: a free family event from noon to 3 PM, sponsored by ServPro. It starts at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce (132 Park Ave) and includes a hayride through downtown.

The Hendrick Car Hunt (Jan 28–31)

Hendrick Automotive Group, WinterFest's presenting sponsor, parks four luxury vehicles around downtown Blowing Rock. Find them, snap a photo with each, and follow the entry steps on the festival site for a chance to win. It runs from 3 PM Thursday until 11 AM Sunday, so it's easy to fit around everything else.

The Festival of Lights is still on

Chetola Resort's free Festival of Lights around Chetola Lake runs nightly from dusk and stays up through Sunday, January 31, 2027, the last day of WinterFest. That means WinterFest guests at The Jungle House get the lights on the same resort as a bonus.

A sample WinterFest weekend (Thursday to Sunday)

• Thursday: Check in from 4 PM, then head to WinterFeast at Chetola.
• Friday: Take a slow morning with coffee on the balcony, maybe walk the trail to Bass Lake if it isn't icy, then catch the Ice Stroll downtown from 4 to 8 PM.
• Saturday: Walk over to Chetola Lake (about 5 to 7 minutes) for the Polar Bear Plunge (or watch it), then the Cardboard Sledding Classic. In the afternoon, head downtown for the ice carving, chili and beer garden. After dark, see the Festival of Lights and finish with a Jacuzzi soak.
• Sunday: Check out by 11 AM, the same time the Hendrick Car Hunt ends.

There's a 2-night minimum, so even a Friday-to-Sunday stay covers the big Saturday.

Why The Jungle House for WinterFest

• Walk to the Plunge. Chetola Lake is about a 5 to 7 minute walk from the condo. Chetola Resort, which WinterFest lists as its Premier Lodging Partner, also hosts WinterFeast and the Cardboard Sledding Classic. (The Jungle House is a privately owned condo on the resort, not an official festival partner.)
• Built for warming up. A 2-person Jacuzzi tub upstairs and downstairs, one in each suite, plus a floor-to-ceiling stone wood-burning fireplace. Please bring your own firewood if you'd like a fire; it isn't supplied.
• Room for a group. Three bedrooms and three full baths sleep up to seven: a king suite plus two rooms with twin beds, and one of the upstairs twin rooms also has a twin sleeper sofa. A whole plunge team can stay together.
• Close to everything. Downtown Blowing Rock is a 4-minute drive. A trail starts about 30 seconds from the front door and reaches the Bass Lake loop in about 3 minutes on foot. The loop is in Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park System.
• A real kitchen. Cook a big chili of your own, or get breakfast going for everyone before the plunge.

Blowing Rock WinterFest FAQ

When is Blowing Rock WinterFest 2027?

Thursday, January 28, through Sunday, January 31, 2027. It's the 29th annual WinterFest.

Where is the Polar Bear Plunge, and can I walk there?

At Chetola Lake, Chetola Resort, 185 Chetola Lake Drive in Blowing Rock, on Saturday, January 30, 2027. The Jungle House is inside Chetola Resort, about a 5 to 7 minute walk from the Plunge.

Are WinterFest events free?

Some are free and some are ticketed. Hot Chocolate & Hayrides is free, for example, while WinterFeast is a ticketed dinner. Check blowingrockwinterfest.com for 2027 tickets.

How far is The Jungle House from downtown Blowing Rock?

Downtown Blowing Rock is a 4-minute drive from the condo.

Is there a minimum stay?

Yes, 2 nights. Check-in is 4 PM and checkout is 11 AM. A Thursday-to-Sunday stay covers the whole festival.

Is the Festival of Lights still up during WinterFest?

Yes. Chetola's free Festival of Lights runs nightly through Sunday, January 31, 2027.

Can I bring my dog to WinterFest weekend at The Jungle House?

The Jungle House is a pet-free home, and it's also non-smoking with no parties or events.

Planning another season? See our Christmas in Blowing Rock 2026 guide and our fall colors guide, or browse all our guides. Learn more about the home, our location inside Chetola, and our FAQ and policies.

Book your WinterFest stay

If WinterFest is on your calendar, it's worth locking in your nights early. The Plunge is a short walk from the door. Check-in is 4 PM and checkout is 11 AM. The condo is non-smoking and pet-free, with no parties or events.

Book direct and save 7% on the nightly rate. You'll see your total before you pay.