Ten Winter Festivals happening in the Bay State
Don’t let winter’s chill keep you indoors all season. Bundle up and beat cabin fever at these ten wintry celebrations happening across Massachusetts in February
Greenfield Winter Carnival
Friday, Jan. 31 to Sunday, Feb. 2
This frosty fete is a longstanding tradition in the Western Mass., where folks have been coming together for nearly a century to stave off the winter blues at a weekend-long festival. Just over an hour from Worcester, this seasonal celebration is worth the drive with live ice carvings, a parade of lights, and fireworks. Groove to live music, hop on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, check out art exhibits and more. Kids can enjoy breakfast with Olaf and seasonal favorites like sledding, ice skating, and ice bowling. Warm up with hot cocoa by a bonfire. If you go, be sure to drive down Main Street at dusk to see the intricate ice sculptures all lit up. More info
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Cabin Fever Winter Festival
Saturday, Feb. 1
Sledding, s’mores, and treasure hunts through wooded trails await at the first-ever Cabin Fever Winter Festival, happening on the town common on Bolton from noon to 4 p.m. Put on by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, the event will feature a snowman contest, sled parade, corn hole, and a chili cook-off. Kids can take a break from the wintry fun and climb on vehicles at the touch-a-truck portion. $15 per person, or $40 for a family of 5. More info
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Winter Carnival at NARA Park
Saturday, Feb. 1
Bring your own sleds and skates to the Nathaniel Allen Recreation Area in Acton for sledding and ice skating at this free, family-friendly event. No snow? It’s still a go. Toast marshmallows by the bonfire, boogie at a DJ dance party, enjoy children’s games, food vendors and more, from 4 to 7 p.m. More info
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WinterFest Amherst
Saturday, Feb. 1 to Saturday, Feb. 8
The Pioneer Valley's Largest Winter Carnival features over 35 events scattered across Amherst over eight days and seven nights. The week-long festivities kick-off with the Luminaria on the Town Commons, a public display of over 1,500 flickering luminarias, and end the week with the signature Grand Finale events. Ice skating performances, hockey games, sledding, live music events, art classes, and much more is in store. Keep an eye on their online calendar or WinterFest Amherst on Facebook for details. More info
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Concord Winter Wonderland
Saturday, Feb. 8
Emerson Field in the historic town of Concord transforms into a winter wonderland for this annual one-day event. Bring the family to enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, live music, delicious food and more. Warm up by a roaring bonfire. The fun gets started at 1 p.m. and lasts through the evening. The best part? It’s free! More info
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Northampton Ice Art Festival
Friday, Feb. 14
This family-friendly winter tradition brings acclaimed ice artists to the streets of downtown Northampton, allowing the public to watch them as they create temporal works of art. This year marks the tenth annual festival, and promises to be a record-breaking year with more artists carving stunning designs from chunks of ice than ever before. Carving begins in the early morning hours; bundle up and head out to watch as they work throughout the day. Completed works of art will be on illuminated display during Arts Night Out - and for as long as the weather permits!More info
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North Adams WinterFest
Saturday, Feb. 15 & Sunday. Feb. 16
Take a trip to the Berkshires to shake off those winter blues. WinterFest in downtown North Adams features wintry fun like ice sculpting, horse-drawn wagon rides, and ice skating (skate rentals available). Wander through a large winter farmer’s market and find a treasure at the local artisan’s market. Get toasty with roasted marshmallows, decadent hot cocoa and creamy clam chowder. More info
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Lowell WinterFest
Friday, Feb. 21 & Saturday, Feb. 22
Featuring everything from a carousel and free ice skating to an all-you-can-eat chocolate festival, the annual Lowell WinterFest offers something for everyone. You can count on lots of food, live music and family fun at this two-day downtown event. See stilt-walkers and fire dancers, enjoy street performances, and peruse the Winter Market with crafts, fashion items and specialty foods. Come hungry -- aside from an array of food trucks, you can hit up the annual soup competition to taste a variety of soups from local restaurants and vote for your favorite. More info
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