New England Winter Carnivals and Winter Festivals

In parts of New England winter is the longest season. While we know that winter is technically three months everywhere, in parts of New England, especially Northern New England, winter weather starts well before the winter solstice and lasts well after the spring equinox. Over the years hearty New Englanders have come to celebrate the long nights, cold temperatures, and snow that the season brings. Winter is not a season to escape. It is a season to embrace! What better way to celebrate than with a carnival or festival?

There are winter carnivals and / or festivals in all of the six New England states as residents of the region come up with new and creative ways to celebrate winter. What we list here are those carnivals and festivals that are clearly annual events.

So raise a glass of mulled wine to winter and make sure to catch one or more of these fun-filled festivals.

Connecticut Winter Carnivals and Festivals

• Lyman Orchards Annual Winterfest in Middlefield, CT
• Winter Carnivale on Main Street, Chester Village Center in Chester, CT
• Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, CT presented by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP)

Maine Winter Carnivals and Festivals

• Portland On Ice in Portland, ME
• Snowfest in Norway, ME
• Welcome to Winter Festival in Portland, ME presented by WinterKids
• Winter Festival in Auburn, ME

Massachusetts Winter Carnivals and Festivals

• Greenfield’s Annual Winter Carnival in Greenfield, MA
• Lowell WinterFest! in Lowell, MA
• Newburyport Winter Carnival in Newburyport, MA
• Winterfest Amherst in Amherst, MA
• Winter Carnival (PDF) in Lincoln, MA

New Hampshire Winter Carnivals and Festivals

• Dartmouth Winter Carnival at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH
• Keene Ice & Snow Festival in Keene, NH
• Merrimack Parks and Recreation Department’s Winter Carnival in Merrimack, NH
• Winter Carnival in Durham, NH
• Winter Fest at Prescott Farm in Laconia, NH

Rhode Island Winter Carnivals and Festivals

• Newport Winter Festival in Newport, RI

Vermont Winter Carnivals and Festivals

• Brattleboro Winter Carnival in Brattleboro, VT
• Burlington Winter Festival in Burlington, VT
• Ice on Fire – Central Vermont Winter Festival in Montpelier, VT
• Middlebury College Winter Carnival in Middlebury, VT
• Milton Community Winter Festival in Milton, VT
• Stowe Winter Carnival in Stowe VT