2012 WINTERFEST SCHEDULE
New event listing for 2012!
Events are now color-coded and listed by date & time followed by a category:
Family-Friendly
Arts & Entertainment
Food/Dining
Events and times are subject to change. Please visit this page often for updates.
Thursday, February 9
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
6PM - 8PM | Public Skating
Free public skaing continues at Tsongas Center - please bring your own skates (rental skates are available for a fee). Location: Tsongas Center
8PM - 10PM | NEW for 2012! Broomball Tournament on Ice
Spectators welcome! See 5-6 teams compete in the 1st Annual Lowell Winterfest Broomball Tournament! This is a single elimination tournament for a first prize of $300 in VISA gift cards. Each team is comprised of 6 participants. Come cheer on a team! Location: Tsongas Center
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
6PM - 9PM | NEW for 2012! Gallery and Museum Walk -- Click here for PDF of walking map and site information!
Visit Lowell's art galleries and museums after hours on this self-guided walking tour! FREE admission all evening!
Participating locations are: COOL Pop-Up Gallery at 66 Merrimack Street, New England Quilt Museum, Revolving Museum, UnchARTed, Brush Gallery & Artist Studios, Ayer Lofts Gallery, and ALL Arts Gallery.
7PM - 8:30PM | NEW for 2012! “Looks of Lowell” Fashion Show -- Click here for PDF of event flyer!
Watch fashionistas strut their stuff at WinterFest's first-ever community-produced fashion show! Location: LHS Auditorium, 50 Father Morissette Blvd.
7:30PM | Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) presents "Daddy Long Legs"
See MRT's beautiful new musical from the co-director of "Les Miserables" and the creators of "Jane Eyre." Show runs from February 9 - March 4. For tickets and information, visit MerrimackRep.org.
FOOD/DINING
5PM -10PM | NEW for 2012! WinterFest Wine & Dine
Discover a few Lowell's hot spots for great food and drink! The following restaurants will feature these great specials:
Athenian Corner -- Cocktail: Greek Kiss | Appetizer: Athenian Bruschetta | Dessert: Baklava Sundae
Blue Taleh -- Cocktail: Chocolate Cream Pie Martini | Appetizer: Shrimp Tempura | Dessert: Creme Brulee Torte
Centro -- Cocktail: Centro Martini | Appetizer: Tuscan Style Sauteed Calamari | Dessert: Tiramisu
Cobblestones -- Cocktail: Peanut Butter Cup Martini | Appetizer: Wild Mushroom Flatbread
Fuse Bistrio -- Cocktail: The Nutty Nog | Appetizer: Crispy Babyback Ribs | Dessert: Peanut Butter Bomb Cheescake
Lowell Beer Works -- Drink: Milk Chocolate Stout | Appetizer: "Infamous" Giant Nachos | Dessert: Apple Blueberry Crumble
Ricardo's Cafe Trattoria -- Three-Course WinterFest Prix Fix Menu (details below):
Cost: $24.95/pp + tax & gratuity *
*First Course (Choice of ONE)
Meatball Parmesian Soup OR Fresh Maine Mussels Sauteed in a Lobster Cognac Broth OR Blood Orange Salad
Second Course (Choice of ONE)
Pork Schnitzel topped with Swiss Chard & Peppato Asiago Cheese accompanied by Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes & Vegetable of the Day OR Spaghetti and Meatballs served with Grilled Garlic Bread OR Fresh Lobster Ravioli Topped with Lobster Sherry Cream Sauce and garnished with Asparagus and Shrimp
Third Course: Light Chocolate & Hazelnut Cannoli served with Fresh Berries
* Add a glass of wine to your meal for an additional $4 (Sensi Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon) or a Chocolate Covered Snowman Martini for an additional $10.
7PM - 10PM | NEW for 2012! Microbrew Showcase & Competition
Limited tickets are available! Tickets may be purchased at the door, CASH ONLY! Enjoy live music by Alan and the Alligators Trio as you taste delectible beers from some of the areas finest micro brews -- be sure to VOTE for your favorite! First 100 guests through the door receive a commemorative beer mug! Admission: $20/pp (ID required, 21+ event). Location: Masonic Center, 79 Dutton Street
Friday, February 10
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
6PM - 8PM | Lowla’s Kids' Party
Moms, dads and kids are welcome to warm up inside historic City Hall with face painting, music, and a LIVE magic show! Special guest appearance by magician Peter O'Malley. Location: City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street
6:30PM - 9:30PM | National Human Dogsled Competition
The competition begins! Come cheer on your favorite Human Dogsled Team as they try for the coveted prize of National Champion! Location: Arcand Drive
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
6PM - 9PM | NEW for 2012! F.O.B.'s Clothing Pop-Up Shop on the new COOL Bus
Step on to the Cultural Organization of Lowell's (COOL) brand new "mobile venue and event-maker," the COOL Bus! Meet local apparel designer F.O.B.'s Clothing who will debut their line of Valentine's Day wear in time for the holiday. All their great items will be on sale! Location: Arcand Drive
6:30 - 7:30PM | Fire Dancers of Sunshine Fire Entertainment
See an unforgettable performance by Veeka and Keegan of Sunshine Fire Entertainment incorporating various elements in the art of fire manipulation. The exhilarating show features fast-paced stunts with eye-dazzling pillars of flame, whirling snake torches, and blazing hula-hoops that envelope the performers in curtains of fire!
Showtimes: 6:30PM (Human Dogsled Track) and 7PM (JFK Plaza/City Hall)
7PM - 11:30PM | Polar Party @ Club Celsius - LIVE MUSIC!
21+ only, $5 cover charge
Warm up with food, beverages and great live music in WinterFest's giant heated tent -- the place to be! Location: Arcand Drive
Club Celsius Live Music Schedule:
6:45PM - 8:30PM - Sugarfoot and the Brass Kickin' Horns
9PM - 11:30PM - Joshua Tree (premiere U2 tribute band)
7PM | College Hockey at Tsongas Center
Riverhawks vs. Merrimack. Meet Boston Bruin Rich Peverley IN PERSON! Location: UMass Lowell Tsongas Center, 300 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
7:30PM | Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament
The Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament is now in its 67th year! For tickets and information, visit LowellAuditorium.com. Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 E. Merrimack Street
8PM | Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) presents "Daddy Long Legs"
See MRT's beautiful new musical from the co-director of "Les Miserables" and the creators of "Jane Eyre." Show runs from February 9 - March 4. For tickets and information, visit MerrimackRep.org.
FOOD/DINING
5PM -10PM | NEW for 2012! WinterFest Wine & Dine
Discover a few Lowell hot spots for great food and drink! Participating restaurants will feature a variety of menu specials -- please see THURSDAY'S listing for complete details!
6PM - 9PM | Hot Roasted Marshmallows
Sponsored by the Lowell Rotary Club. Donation: $3 per stick. Location: Arcand Drive
7PM - 9PM | North Bowl Soup Competition
Sixteen of the area’s finest chefs, restaurants and caterers compete for two top prizes: People’s Choice and the Juried Prize. Admission: $5/pp. Location: Masonic Center, 79 Dutton Street
Saturday, February 11
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
8AM - 10AM | NEW for 2012! Animal Tracking Program
Learn what animal tracks are making their way through the woods this winter and how to easily recognize them. Registration required! Presented by Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust. For more information and to register, visit LowellLandTrust.org.
11AM - 4PM | All-You-Can-Eat Chocolate Festival
Event includes free kids activities. Admission: $5 (kids under 5 admitted free). Location: St. Anne's Episcopal Church Hall (behind the church), corner of Merrimack and Kirk Streets
12 Noon - 4PM | Winter Sleigh Rides
Get bundled up and tour downtown Lowell on a traditional horse-drawn sleigh. Departure location: Corner of Merrimack & Kirk Streets, Downtown Lowell
12 Noon - 5:30PM | Mittens & Museum Madness
Face painting, balloonists, visit with Lowla Bear, kids games and activities, and more! Location: Lowell High School Cafeteria, 50 Arcand Drive
12 Noon - 5PM | Lowell Fire Department "Safe House" Demonstration
Learn all about fire prevention and how to safely exit your home during a fire emergency! This dynamic "real life" exhibit and demonstration will engage and educate visitors of all ages!
1PM - 3PM | FREE Family Movie Matinee - "The Smurfs" (103 mins, 2011)
Warm up inside the Pollard Memorial Library with a family matinee. About the film: When the evil Wizard, Gargamel, chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world into New York City's Central Park!
1PM – 2:30PM | Charles Dickens Birthday Party
Come celebrate the 200th birthday of beloved author Charles Dickens with book giveaways and a display of 200 delicious custom-made cupcakes to be given away FREE to all guests! Come get a sneak peek of the upcoming Dickens in Lowell celebration, a seven-month slate of exhibitions, performances, speakers, and family programs (March 30 – October 20, 2012). For information on Dickens in Lowell, visit www.uml.edu/dickens. Location: Brush Art Gallery, 256 Market Street.
2PM - 3PM | 119 Gallery presents a special Artist Talk with Patrick Pierce & Alyshia Lien
Visit Lowell's renowned 119 Gallery, a contemporary gallery and performance venue, for a poetry and video performance by local artists Patrick Pierce and Alyshia Lien as part of their current exhibit, Gravity : Stop. Free admission, donations accepted. For full details, visit 119Gallery.org. Location: 119 Gallery, 119 Chelmsford Street, Lowell
3PM - 5:30PM | National Human Dogsled Competition FINALS
The competition comes to a close! See the final competitors and cheer on your favorite -- only one team will win the title of National Champion!
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
12 Noon - 6PM | NEW for 2012! F.O.B.'s Clothing Pop-Up Shop on the new COOL Bus
Step on to the Cultural Organization of Lowell's (COOL) brand new "mobile venue and event-maker," the COOL Bus! Meet local apparel designer F.O.B.'s Clothing who will debut their line of Valentine's Day wear in time for the holiday. All their great items will be on sale! Location: Arcand Drive
12 Noon - 11:30PM — Polar Party @ Club Celsius - LIVE MUSIC!
Free admission & all ages before 6PM! After 6PM, 21+ only and $5 cover charge
Warm up with food, beverages and great live music in WinterFest's giant heated tent! Location: Arcand Drive
Club Celsius Live Music Schedule:
1:30PM - 3PM - UMass Lowell Local Bands Showcase
3:15PM - 3:45PM - UMass Lowell Local Bands Showcase
4PM - 5:30PM - The Flip / Merrimack
5:30PM - 6:30PM - TENT CLOSED FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAY
6:30PM - 8PM - Brandy
8:30PM - 11:30PM - Parrotbeach (Jimmy Buffet tribute band)
12:30PM- 2:30PM | Meet 'n Greet LIVE Dogsledding Huskies with Northern Exposure Outfitters
The Northern Exposure Outfitters are back again this year for a fun demonstration on the adventures of dogsledding! Come meet actual dogsled mushers AND their beautiful trained team of Husky dogs! Location: Arcand Drive
12 Noon - 4PM | Ice Sculpture Demonstrations
Be dazzled by ice artistry as you view ice sculptures being carved before your eyes! Be sure to greet the artist! Location: Arcand Drive
5PM - 8PM | 2nd Annual "I Think I _____ You" Spoken Word Performance featuring FreeVerse!
Come watch as FreeVerse! fills in the blank with all the fun, hatred, and love that is a relationship as they touch upon all the stages and emotions that come with being with someone. Last year was a great success -- people laughed, cried, and reminisced. Join them for a memorable live performance! Suggested donation, $5. Location: UchARTed Studios & Gallery, 126 Merrimack Street
7PM | College Hockey at Tsongas Center
River Hawks vs. Maine. Location: UMass Lowell Tsongas Center, 300 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
8PM | BLAST! at Lowell Memorial Auditorium with Special WinterFest ticket promotion
Fifty-eight talented young men and women blow horns, pound drums, and throw flags in this Tony & Emmy-nominated LIVE performance! Part of the 2011-2012 Lowell Five Performing Arts Series. Use the code "WinterFest" and get 10% off your tickets! For tickets and information, visit LowellAuditorium.com.
8PM | Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) presents "Daddy Long Legs"
See MRT's beautiful new musical from the co-director of "Les Miserables" and the creators of "Jane Eyre." Show runs from February 9 - March 4. For tickets and information, visit MerrimackRep.org.
FOOD/DINING
12 Noon - 6:30PM | Hot Roasted Marshmallows
Sponsored by the Lowell Rotary Club. Donation: $3 per stick. Location: Arcand Drive
1PM - 4PM | North Bowl Soup Competition
The competition continues! Come vote for your favorite hot soup at one of WinterFest's premiere events!
5PM -10PM | NEW for 2012! WinterFest Wine & Dine
Discover a few Lowell hot spots for great food and drink! Participating restaurants will feature a variety of menu specials -- please see THURSDAY'S listing for complete details!
Saturday Night WinterFest Wrap-Up Events!
NEW TIME! 5:45PM — Fireworks Extravaganza
Don't miss WinterFest's traditional fireworks display behind the Tsongas Center, visible from anywhere in Lowell!
The Party Continues at Club Celsius through 11:30PM!
End the night with live music at Club Celsius! Please see our late-night musical lineup listed above!