The Asahikawa Winter Festival is Hokkaido's other major snow festival. It usually runs in early February, around the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival, but feels more local and less overwhelmed by tour groups.
The main site near Asahibashi has large snow sculptures, stages, food stalls, and family snow activities. Heiwa-dori, the central pedestrian street, becomes an ice-sculpture gallery after dark.