Top 10 February Events in New England
One-of-a-kind events in February help New Englanders and visitors embrace winter and celebrate romance. Here are New England Expert Kim Knox Beckius's picks for the top February 2015 events in New England.
Satre Hill, 80 Indian Cave Road, Salisbury, Connecticut | 860-850-0080
See America's best young ski jumpers compete at the 89th annual Jumpfest in western Connecticut. The competition for up-and-coming jumpers under age 17 is the highlight of a week-long Winter Festival in Salisbury that also features ice carving, a human dogsled race, the Snowball Dance, Restaurant Week dining deals and more.
More »
Camden Snow Bowl, 20 Barnestown Road, Camden, Maine | 207-236-3438
The 25th annual US National Toboggan Championships are a colorful spectator sport, held at the Camden Snow Bowl's toboggan chute in Camden, Maine. And yes, if you don't want to simply observe, you can enter a two-, three- or four-person team (register in advance, as participation is limited). The competition isn't just about speed: It's about zany costumes and toboggan craftsmanship.More »
Burr Pond State Park, 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington, Connecticut | 860-424-3000
For the ninth year, Connecticut's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) encourages kids to head outside for healthy winter fun. When we attended the No Child Left Inside Winter Festival last year, we couldn't believe how much there was to experience--all free... even marshmallows for roasting and sampling of fried fish. Volunteers teach kids how to ice fish, track wildlife in the winter woods, and more. Games, demonstrations and the opportunity to ice skate if conditions permit (bring your skates) make this a full day of invigorating family activity.More »
Central Square and Railroad Square, Keene, New Hampshire | 603-313-8585
Stroll the streets of downtown Keene marveling at ice and snow sculptures, and enjoy hot chocolate and food, magical and musical entertainment and seasonal fun including a snowball throwing contest and photo ops with a snowman, polar bear and ice princess.More »
Various locations, Newport, Rhode Island | 401-847-7666
The city by the sea does everything in grand style including turning the middle of February into a 10-day party featuring non-stop music, food and fun. Highlights of the 27th annual Newport Winter Festival include a Children's Fair, a Chili Cook-off, Wine-ter-fest at Newport Vineyards and the 5th Annual Winter Wonderful Dog Stroll.More »
Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts | 877-946-3976
With more than 2,000 wines to sip from more than 200 wineries, chef demonstrations and food tastings, the two-day Grand Tasting is the centerpiece of the annual Boston Wine Expo, which also features opportunities for serious wine connoisseurs to indulge in seminars and VIP tasting experiences. Escape winter, and treat your Valentine to a memorable day of discovering new favorites wines to share.More »
Thompson Ice House, Maine 129, South Bristol, Maine | 207-644-8808
The Sunday before Presidents' Day, the community in South Bristol, Maine, gathers to harvest ice the old-fashioned way... and you can help! It's a chance to handle old tools and to observe the process in action, as giant ice blocks are carved out of Thompson Pond and stored to provide ice for local residents all summer long.More »
Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut | 860-844-8461
Whatever the weather, it's spring inside the Connecticut Convention Center during the 34th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show. My photo tour from a previous show will give you a sense of this event, which features display gardens, seminars, horticultural competitions and... above all... inspiration for your own home plantings once New England thaws.More »
Participating inns and shops, Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire | 603-356-9920
Spend a Sunday cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or motoring between inns and businesses in New Hampshire's Mt. Washington Valley and savoring chocolate treats at each during the 26th annual Chocolate Festival. Proceeds from this sweet event benefit the non-profit Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation.More »
Sea Dog Brewing Company, 125 Western Avenue, South Portland, Maine | 207-775-2126
Order tickets for this yummy kick-off to Maine Restaurant Week, where chefs battle to prepare Maine's best breakfast dish.More »
1. Jumpfest Winter Festival: February 6-8, 2015
Satre Hill, 80 Indian Cave Road, Salisbury, Connecticut | 860-850-0080
See America's best young ski jumpers compete at the 89th annual Jumpfest in western Connecticut. The competition for up-and-coming jumpers under age 17 is the highlight of a week-long Winter Festival in Salisbury that also features ice carving, a human dogsled race, the Snowball Dance, Restaurant Week dining deals and more.
More »
2. US National Toboggan Championships: February 6-8, 2015
Camden Snow Bowl, 20 Barnestown Road, Camden, Maine | 207-236-3438
The 25th annual US National Toboggan Championships are a colorful spectator sport, held at the Camden Snow Bowl's toboggan chute in Camden, Maine. And yes, if you don't want to simply observe, you can enter a two-, three- or four-person team (register in advance, as participation is limited). The competition isn't just about speed: It's about zany costumes and toboggan craftsmanship.More »
3. No Child Left Inside Winter Festival: February 7, 2015
Burr Pond State Park, 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington, Connecticut | 860-424-3000
For the ninth year, Connecticut's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) encourages kids to head outside for healthy winter fun. When we attended the No Child Left Inside Winter Festival last year, we couldn't believe how much there was to experience--all free... even marshmallows for roasting and sampling of fried fish. Volunteers teach kids how to ice fish, track wildlife in the winter woods, and more. Games, demonstrations and the opportunity to ice skate if conditions permit (bring your skates) make this a full day of invigorating family activity.More »
4. Keene Ice & Snow Festival: February 7, 2015
Central Square and Railroad Square, Keene, New Hampshire | 603-313-8585
Stroll the streets of downtown Keene marveling at ice and snow sculptures, and enjoy hot chocolate and food, magical and musical entertainment and seasonal fun including a snowball throwing contest and photo ops with a snowman, polar bear and ice princess.More »
5. Newport Winter Festival: February 13-22, 2015
Various locations, Newport, Rhode Island | 401-847-7666
The city by the sea does everything in grand style including turning the middle of February into a 10-day party featuring non-stop music, food and fun. Highlights of the 27th annual Newport Winter Festival include a Children's Fair, a Chili Cook-off, Wine-ter-fest at Newport Vineyards and the 5th Annual Winter Wonderful Dog Stroll.More »
6. Boston Wine Expo: February 14-15, 2015
Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts | 877-946-3976
With more than 2,000 wines to sip from more than 200 wineries, chef demonstrations and food tastings, the two-day Grand Tasting is the centerpiece of the annual Boston Wine Expo, which also features opportunities for serious wine connoisseurs to indulge in seminars and VIP tasting experiences. Escape winter, and treat your Valentine to a memorable day of discovering new favorites wines to share.More »
7. Ice Cutting Sunday: February 15, 2015
Thompson Ice House, Maine 129, South Bristol, Maine | 207-644-8808
The Sunday before Presidents' Day, the community in South Bristol, Maine, gathers to harvest ice the old-fashioned way... and you can help! It's a chance to handle old tools and to observe the process in action, as giant ice blocks are carved out of Thompson Pond and stored to provide ice for local residents all summer long.More »
8. Connecticut Flower & Garden Show: February 19-22, 2015
Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut | 860-844-8461
Whatever the weather, it's spring inside the Connecticut Convention Center during the 34th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show. My photo tour from a previous show will give you a sense of this event, which features display gardens, seminars, horticultural competitions and... above all... inspiration for your own home plantings once New England thaws.More »
9. Chocolate Festival: February 22, 2015
Participating inns and shops, Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire | 603-356-9920
Spend a Sunday cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or motoring between inns and businesses in New Hampshire's Mt. Washington Valley and savoring chocolate treats at each during the 26th annual Chocolate Festival. Proceeds from this sweet event benefit the non-profit Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation.More »
10. The Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off: February 27, 2015
Sea Dog Brewing Company, 125 Western Avenue, South Portland, Maine | 207-775-2126
Order tickets for this yummy kick-off to Maine Restaurant Week, where chefs battle to prepare Maine's best breakfast dish.More »
