New England Events: February 2012
It’s the middle of winter, so time for some romance, chocolate and wine! Check specific websites to confirm dates and times, associated fees, and parking information. Some events require advance ticket purchases.
For more New England events in February 2012, check the individual state web sites at the bottom of the page.
February Is For Lovers & CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA
February 1 – 29, 2012
Kennebunk/Kennebunkport, Maine
A month-long celebration of romance and indulgence in two enchanting seaside villages, including a Victorian Valentine lecture, wine and chocolate tastings and gallery stroll. Many Kennebunkport hotels and inns have special accommodation/dining packages for couples featuring chocolates, discounted dinners, shopping coupons, champagne and other treats. Come on February 1, 2012, for the Kennebunk Chocolate Extravaganza. Every year this event features a chocolate sculpture. In the past the sculptures have been a chocolate covered heart, a sand castle with an edible top, and a chocolate dipped man. Last year an eight-foot lobster was built and then covered in chocolate. How’s that for a Maine attraction? Think it can be topped? You bet! This year is a 10-foot tall white and dark chocolate Lighthouse with a working light.
Music & More – Cape Cod Museum of Art
Select Sundays from January 8 – March 25, 2012
Cape Cod – Dennis, Massachusetts
The Music & More series at Cape Cod Museum of Art returns for 2012. On select Sundays, come to enjoy intimate concerts with musicians from a vast variety of disciplines, including bluegrass, Dixieland jazz, acoustic folk pop, Celtic music, Latin and Brazilian, jazz standards and classical music. Following each performance, join the musicians for conversation and light refreshments. Tickets are $15, $12 for members. Reservations are recommended.
WENTworth by the sea winter Wine Festival
February 3 – March 17, 2012
Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Spa – New Castle, New Hampshire
This seven-week event caters to connoisseurs and novices alike. The Winter Wine Festival includes grand vintners’ dinners, flight nights, rare vintage tastings, celebrity chefs and winemakers, classes, Bubbles and Jazz Sunday brunches, and educational seminars. Now in its 6th year, the festival has grown by leaps and bounds, offering wine enthusiasts and gourmands the ultimate experience in entertainment and education along with the beauty of a luxurious historic grand hotel. Wentworth by the Sea is one of New Hampshire’s four historic grand hotels and is located on the picturesque Great Island of New Castle, just one hour north of Boston, Massachusetts, and one hour south of Portland, Maine
Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival
February 3-14, 2012
Salem, Massachusetts
This popular festival starts with a delicious Chocolate and Wine Tasting in Hamilton Hall on Friday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. and continues with beautiful ice sculptures throughout downtown Salem starting February 6 (weather permitting). This festival is free and fun for the whole family. Many downtown businesses will offer in- store promotions during the event ranging from free chocolate to great discounts.
16th Annual Snowshoe FestivaL & WINTER PARTY
February 4, 2012
Green Mountain Club Headquarters – Waterbury Center, Vermont
Come to the Green Mountain Club’s Snowshoe Festival and enjoy your favorite trails in winter! Bring friends and family for an invigorating day of free snowshoe demos, guided snowshoe tours to local peaks and trails, indoor and outdoor kids’ activities, educational workshops, nature walks, a raffle, hot chocolate, and more.
Antique Sleigh Rally at Old Sturbridge Village
February 4, 2012
Old Sturbridge Village – Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, is a journey through time to a rural New England town of the 1830s. Visitors are invited into more than 40 original buildings, each carefully researched, restored, and brought to the museum site from towns throughout New England. These include homes, meetinghouses, a district school, country store, bank, law office, printing office, carding mill, sawmill, gristmill, and pottery shop — plus blacksmith, shoe , and cooper shops. Come on this special day to experience a genuine New England Sleigh Rally in the fields of the Freeman Farm. See horse-drawn sleighs in action, including cutters and bobsleighs, as they compete for awards.
Burlington Winter Festival
February 4, 2012
Burington, Vermont
Come to Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain to celebrate winter. The Burlington Winter Festival includes the Vermont Snow Sculpting Competition, the Church Street Ice Walk, kids activities, live performances, art exhibits, and special merchant promotions. Go for a dog sled ride at the waterfront or head over to the Family Activity Expo at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. Other exciting activities include the Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge at the waterfront and Kids VT Camp and School Fair at the Hilton.
U.S. National Toboggan Championships
February 10-12, 2012
Camden, Maine
Come to the “Jewel of the Maine Coast” for this exciting event. Most of the 400-plus sledders who take part in the U.S. National Toboggan Championships will aim for the fastest time in their category. But some teams, like the trio who dress as the three little pigs each year, will be more interested in having a good time with friends. Two, three and four-person teams dressed in business suits, cow suits, clown suits and other creative costumes make watching the competition on the iced, wooden Jack Williams Toboggan Chute at Camden Snow Bowl all the more fun. Nearby you’ll find The Center for Maine Contemporary Art. The Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center due south in Rockland.
Ice Fishing Derby: Meredith, New Hampshire
February 11-12, 2012
Meredith, New Hampshire
The town of Meredith is the host of one of the Lakes Regions biggest winter events: the Great Rotary Fishing Derby. Every year ice fisherman from across the USA gather in Meredith for a weekend of fun and fishing. If there is a sense of fierce competition in the air, it must be near prize time!
Newport Ski Joring Competition
February 11-12, 2012
Newport, New Hampshire
Experience a taste of the Wild West in beautiful New Hampshire. Saddle up some horses, grab a rope, put on some skis and head out to the nearest ski joring competition. Whether you are a spectator or competitor, prepare for the most exciting winter equestrian sport in America today that brings horses, riders and skiers together.
Ogunquit 5th Annual Mardi Gras
February 17-19, 2012
Ogunquit, Maine
Visit one of New England’s most beautiful beach towns for Mardi Gras fun. There will be a hat and mini-float parade, along with the crowning of the Mardi Gras king and queen, musical entertainment, ice sculptures and more.
Chester Winter Carnival
February 17-19, 2012
Chester, Vermont
Fun for all ages! Events are guaranteed to get one outside for winter fun. Sled races, dogsled rides, skating outdoors and broom hockey warm one’s heart and evoke laughter on the coldest February days!
11th Annual Keene Ice & Snow Festival
February 18, 2012
Keene, New Hampshire
Bring the entire family to Keene’s annual Ice & Snow Festival. Enjoy ice and snow carving displays done by professionals and students, a bonfire and s’mores, fire truck display, food vendors and much more.
24TH Annual Newport Winter Festival
February 17-26, 2012
Newport, Rhode Island
With over one hundred and fifty individual events, this Festival has become “New England’s largest winter extravaganza.” Held in Newport, the sailing capital of the USA and home to historic oceanfront mansions and the famous Cliffwalk, the Winter Festival offers a unique winter experience combining food, music, and entertainment, with fun for all ages. Includes Sand sculptures, a Chili Cook-Off, city-wide Scavenger Hunt, an Ice Sculpting Competition, and a Children’s Fair. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum also features a variety of activities for the whole family during school vacation week, including scavenger hunts through the Museum, Wii Tennis, and QuickStart tennis.
2012 Harris Hill Ski Jump Tournament
February 18-19, 2012
Harris Hill Ski Jump – Brattleboro, Vermont
Harris Hill Ski Jump is the only 90 meter ski jump in New England and one of only six in the USA of this size and caliber. The Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition is a celebrated Brattleboro tradition that dates back to 1922. This event attracts world-class jumpers from the U.S. and Europe and thousands of spectators. Enjoy two heart-stopping fun-filled jumping days of music, tailgating, a climb to the takeoff for an up-close look at the jumpers as they fly by, and snow hills for the children to play on.
Sleigh Ride Week – Billings Farm & Museum
February 18-26, 2012
Billings Farm – Woodstock, Vermont
Horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding with jack jumpers; tour the dairy farm and farmhouse; farm programs and hands-on activities for all ages.
MOUNTAIN DEW VERTICAL CHALLENGE
February 21, 2012
Mount Sunapee – Newbury, New Hampshire
A fun, all-day event for the entire family, with a dual slalom race, prizes, giveaways, and après-ski awards party. This is a family party open to all that you won’t want to miss.
Bethel WinterFest 2012
February 23 – 26, 2012
Bethel, Maine
Come to Bethel, Maine and enjoy all that winter has to offer! Snow mountain for sledding, snowshoeing events, snow groomer rides, and more
Olde Mistick Village Cabin Fever Festival & Chowder Cookoff
February 25, 2012
Olde Mistick Village – Mystic, Connecticut
The main event of the day is the Charity Chowder Cookoff – twenty-one restaurants from Connecticut and Rhode Island serving up their brew of chowder. Tastes will be sold for $1 apiece; 7 tastes for $5; or 15 tastes for $10 and all proceeds support the Emergency Food Pantry at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center.
Lyman’s 40th Annual Winterfest!
February 25-26, 2012
Lyman Orchards – Middlefield, Connecticut
Come see the best ice carvers in America return to do battle in Lyman Orchard’s second annual Ice Wars Competition! Internationally renowned ice carver Bill Covitz tests his carving skills against other high-ranking and nationally-recognized ice carvers as they all vie for prestige and a First Place finish! Amid the whirring of chain saws, the blur of expertly wielded chisel and picks bringing icy details into focus, thousands of pounds of ice blocks will be magically transformed before your eyes into incredible sparkling ice sculptures! There’s more fun, too! Watch dog sled mushing demonstrations by the Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club, and, in the Apple Barrel, enjoy all the free samples you can eat!
Stowe Derby: The Oldest Downhill/Country Ski Race in America
February 26, 2012
Stowe, Vermont
The Stowe Derby is one of the oldest and most unique ski races in North America and draws crowds each year. It started in 1945 when the challenge was the same as it is today – a race from the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, to the historic village of Stowe. Today, the race attracts over 800 competitors, ranging from NCAA Champions to recreational skiers looking for a thrill. Over the course, participants ski through 10 miles of challenging terrain before reaching the finish in the village. The course has a total vertical drop of almost 3,000 feet. There is also a short course designed for children ages 6 to 13 or those who prefer to avoid the rigors of the main event. The race is approximately 6km.
Sweetest Day on the Trails: Annual Chocolate Festival
February 26, 2012
Intervale, New Hampshire
People come from great distances to cross country ski, snowshoe or drive from inn-to-inn along the trails of this 65 KM network to enjoy the spectacular scenery, warm hospitality, and great chocolate treats at stops throughout the network, most located along the trails. This may be the only day of the year when chocolate indulgence is totally guilt-free! Chocoholics cross country ski or snowshoe the trails to enjoy chocolate prepared every way imaginable. Many return year after year to enjoy the Chocolate Festival, often returning with a larger group of friends each time.
10th Annual Jay Peak Mardi Gras CELEBRATION
February 27 – March 4, 2012
Jay Peak Resort – Jay Peak, Vermont
Visit Jay Peak in Vermont’s breathtaking Northeast Kingdom for the 10th Annual Mardi Gras Week! This celebration is filled with authentic New Orleans food, live bands, events for kids and adults… including ice skating, great fun at the brand new Pump House indoor waterpark, and, of course, fantastic skiing and riding. There’s also ice carving, oyster shucking, Mardi Gras hat making, and parade and much more!
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