Winter Festival
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13 Fun Things To Do This FEBRUARY IN MAINE

Mainers know how to celebrate winter, and Maine in February in Maine is the high point in the season for fun, frozen festivals, and romance in seaside towns such as Kennebunkport and Ogunquit.

If you’re looking for things to do in Maine in February, you don’t have to look too far. Maine has so many great, fun February events and festivals in Maine you have to “sea” to believe.

There’s no doubt that Maine draws huge summer crowds for amazing events, but Mainers know how to have a good time in February too and you can find plenty to do to beat the winter blues.

So bundle up, head outside, and prepare to have fun as you explore the best of Maine in February.

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Paint the Town Red | Kennebunkport

Paint the Town Red | Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport is “New England’s Most Romantic Town” in February – with month-long celebrations of love – red hearts, lights and “red tag” specials at boutiques and “red plate” specials at restaurants.

Kennebunkport hotels offer romance packages including chocolates, flowers, and late checkouts. The whole town lights up in red as part of Paint The Town Red. Ice bars, wine tastings, and Apres Ski Parties (and you don’t even have to ski) in Kennebunkport warm things up.

Kennebunk celebrates Winterfest in early February with ice skating and a chocolate and chili fest.

U.S. National Toboggan Championships | Camden

Each year, the Mid Coast Maine town of Camden becomes a winter wonderland hosting the US National Toboggan Championships at Camden Snowbowl.

This is a chance to watch some of the best sledders in the world and there are plenty of fun activities built around the three-day championships. This event traditionally sees sledders don festive costumes as they ride on toboggans vying for the title of champion.

The activity lineup includes a costume contest, open skiing and snowboarding sessions, a chili challenge, as well as live entertainment.

WinterFest | Biddeford

Biddeford WinterFest is an annual February event that offers a little something for everyone. This event has been going strong since 2012 and seems to get better every year!

Over three days, visitors can enjoy an adults-only sledding party, live performances, free cocoa, free hats and mittens, a bike giveaway, delicious food, a skating rink, and, of course, sledding for the kiddos.

US National Toboggan Championships_events
U.S. National Toboggan Championships

Flavors of Freeport | Freeport

Freeport, Maine celebrates February with three excellent Flavors of Freeport events:

  • Frosty Frolic kicks things off at Harrington House, part of the Freeport Historical Society. The event invites visitors to enjoy a fantastic outdoor extravaganza that celebrates fishermen, local food, music, and sea farmers. Nearly a dozen food trucks and purveyors are slated to participate.
  • Fare & Ice offers a chance for visitors to sample delectable food from some of the best chefs in Maine. A winter bar also offers frosty beverages, warming fires, live music, and so much more to help you beat the winter blues.
  • Motor Booty Affair offers attendees a chance to get their grove on Maine’s ultimate disco party! Dress up in your best funky costume, bring money for frosty drinks and food truck delights, and prepare to have a funky good time.

Tickets to the latter two events must be purchased in advance and you can buy tickets for one night or both.

February Festival | Rangeley

Saddleback Mountain is the place to be during the Friday of school vacation week at the end of February.

This annual festival, which started in 2022, promises family-friendly fun, including a Torch Light Parade, fireworks, bonfires, live music and so much more.

Pond Hockey Festival | Rangeley

Hockey and winter go together like peanut butter and jelly and this one-day event at Haley Pond Park is the perfect chance to get outside and watch a time-honored New England tradition.

The tournament usually sees more than two dozen teams compete across men’s, women’s, and 18+ divisions.

With picturesque Rangeley as a backdrop and hockey fanatics united together, this makes for a unique, competitive, and fun event. 

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Snowmobiling in Rangeley Lake area

Winterpaloozah | Rangeley

If you’re a Mainer who loves playing in the snow, this is the perfect excuse to do so!

This one-day event at Haley Hond Park pulls together all the things Mainers love about winter and snow. There’s a cardboard sled race, pond hockey, curling, horse and wagon rides, sledding, marshmallow roasts and so much more.

Bundle up, bring the kiddos, and prepare for an unforgettable day of fun.

Ice Carving Championship | Belfast

The dog days of winter can be tough to beat, but this is the perfect way to get out of the house and have some fun.

Grab a drink from a participating ice bar, get something to nosh on, and come walk through downtown Belfast, where you’ll marvel at magnificent ice sculptures. The State of Maine Ice Carving Championship is part of the festivities and it’s really something to see pros at work.

Past events have included ticketed Taste of Belfast events, live ice carving demonstrations, kids’ activities, popcorn and hot chocolate, and even screenings of the movie Ice Age.

Great Maine Outdoor Weekend | Bethel

Visit the Carters XC Ski Center for a spectacular winter event!

The biggest event during the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend is a scavenger hunt that takes place on the trails. Scavengers will have to keep their eyes peeled for Maine animal tracks and log them for a chance to win some great prizes.

The event is free to kids, but trail passes are required to participate.

Ice Carving

Portland 207 Day | Portland

Portland Buy Local and Portland Downtown made 207 Day a reality in 2022 as a way to celebrate Maine’s area code and everything that’s great about the state.

From the idea of 207 Day sprung the idea of the 207 Day Weekend Scavenger Hunt. This self-guided hunt was designed as the perfect way to bring Mainers out of the house and invite them to shop, eat, drink, and explore like a Mainer.

The 2022 event saw more than 400 scavengers participate and the fun saw everything from drinking blueberry-flavored drinks, shucking lobsters, solving riddles, and so much more.

Anyone can participate and eager participants are invited to download the Scavify app to download the hunt map.

Snow Tubing at Bradbury Mountain | Pownal

One of the best places to enjoy snow tubing (and for FREE) is Bradbury Mountain in Pownal.

Legendary Maine outfitter L.L. Bean has traditionally sponsored free snow tubing sessions at Bradbury Mountain State Park, allowing those who love snow to experience a safe, enjoyable, and thrilling ride.

Horse Skijoring Races | Topsham

Skijoring has been described as the “most exciting 30 seconds in Maine” and an event that you really need to see to believe.

What is skijoring? It’s a winter sport where a rider on skis is pulled by horses. The Topsham Fair Association held these races for the first time in 2022 and will bring them back again in 2023.

The 2023 event will feature races on a timed course with horse-drawn skiers, miniature horse skijoring races, a beer garden, food vendors, and more.

SnowFest | Somerset

Did we mention that Mainers love winter? At Somerset SnowFest in Western Maine, attendees can celebrate all things winter.

If you picture winter fun in your mind, there’s a good chance that Somerset SnowFest can bring it to life. Past festivals have included a kite-flying derby, downhill kayak races, ice-fishing derbies, and even winter triathlons.

Bethel, Maine
Snow-woman in Bethel Maine 2014

Get Out and Explore The Best of Maine in February

February may be thought of in some circles as an awkward in-between month of cold, snow, and ice as Mainers wait for spring to arrive. But trust us, February in Maine is one of the best times of the year to explore the state.

From Northern Maine to Central Maine to Midcoast Maine and everywhere in between, there’s tons of family-friendly fun to be had. Sure, February may be cold, but that doesn’t stop Mainers from having fun and you can find it in spades at any one of Maine’s awesome winter festivals.

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