
Montpelier Winterfest
Welcome to Montpelier's First Annual Winter Fest!
Join us from Friday, January 31, to Sunday, February 2, 2025, for a weekend of fun, connection, and community in the heart of Montpelier, Vermont. This free, family-friendly event is packed with activities for all ages.
Explore the outdoors as you learn to ride a Fat Bike, build and race your own Soap Box and enjoy sledding adventures.
Rather be indoors? Get creative with arts, crafts, and face painting.Cozy up with a good book in our downtown spaces. Shop and Dine in many of Montpelier's eateries and shops
Winter in Vermont can be long, but together, we can make it a season to celebrate. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors, and let’s make this weekend one to remember!
All Weekend Long! 
Find the groundhog hiding from the winter cold: Follow the Groundhog Map to find this cute little creature hiding in downtown businesses during Winterfest weekend. Get your map stamped every time you find a Groundhog and enter it for a chance to win a prize. Pick up your map at any business with a Groundhog poster in the window.
Check out the full schedule below and join the fun!
Friday, January 31st
- Walking Tour of Montpelier's Illuminated Bridges: Meet at 5:30 pm at the empty lot between Shaws and the Drawing Board on Main Street for a walking tour of Montpelier's illuminated bridges. Learn about the history of the City's bridges and the lighting design from Vivian Ladd, Montpelier Alive's Bridge Illumination Project Coordinator.
Saturday, February 1st
Country Club Road Activities
Hot Chocolate, Cider and light snacks brought to you by the Montpelier Senior Center (by donation)
- Onion River Outdoors Frozen Onion: 11:00 - 12:00 pm - Registration Required. Day of Registration opens at 10:00 am
- Stuffie Search along the ski trails at Country Club Rd: Saturday 11am - Sunday afternoon. Come and see how many stuffed animals you can spot hidden in trees and all around! Kids encouraged! Sponsored by Onion River Nordic Ski club / Bill Koch League kids ski program
- Onion River Onion Outdoors Fat Bike Demo - 12:00 - 3:00 pm FREE
- 1st Annual Cardboard Box Sled Derby (registration required) - Check-ins start at 12:30 pm and races start at 1:00 pm.
Get creative and design your own box sled. It must be made solely from cardboard and duct tape, designed to have one rider race down the hill. Themes are encouraged and they must be family friendly.
Two age group categories. Group 1 will be for contestants ages 6-9. Group 2 for contestants ages 10 and above. All contestants must register their box sled with the Rec Department. You can register online or at the Rec Center located at 55 Barre St.
Prizes for 1st and 2nd place in each age group.
For more information, please contact the Recreation Department at (802)225-8699.
- Adult Ski lessons --- Starting at 3:15pm - 4:30pm. Skate Ski Clinic and Classic Clinic at Country Club Rd. Sponsored by Onion River Nordic Ski Club. Please register in advance. Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqPxFuKZ7a7JsXs00Fc4WqJO2Z9B73IDbULAyxJvuUeFKe1g/viewform
- Sledding and Snow Activities: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Did you know that the Country Club Rd. Site has an amazing sledding hill? Come out and for a fun day of sledding and treasure hunting. If you have some sand toy shovels, those might in handy when you are searching for treasures. Hot Cocoa and treats will be available inside the building and brought to you by the Senior Center.
Downtown Montpelier Activities
- Horse Drawn Wagon Rides: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, leaving from the corner of State Street and Elm Street. Sponsored by North Country Credit Union
- Cozy Up at Kellogg Hubbard Library: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Including Free Hot Cocoa, a Puzzle Race (11am sharp!), Therapy Dog Visit, and more!
Puzzle Race requires pre registration, visit: Puzzle Race | Kellogg-Hubbard Library
City Center Activities (2:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
Come inside and warm up and join in these fun activities!
- Capital Community Church: face painting and crafts
- Let's Grow Kids brings a host of games for young kids
- TW Wood Art Gallery staff lead a Valentines Day Art Project
- Montpelier Recreation Center will have additional games to play
- Say hi to Skip from the Vermont Mountaineers at 2:00 pm before the movie Ground Hog Day, starts at 2:30 pm
and more.....
Sunday, February 2nd
- Ice on Fire, a celebration of deep winter: 2:00 - 5:00 pm at Country Club Road
Join in for Ice on Fire, the Central Vermont Winter Festival! Come one, come all to this wonderful festival, celebrating the warmth of community in the depths of winter. Dance, theater, music, storytelling, and poetry performed by local artists and community members, winter games, kids activities and more.
|