12 Vermont Winter Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss in 2026
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As tempting as it may be to hibernate through these short days and long nights, I can tell you from experience that if you live in Vermont (or visit often), the best way to get through winter is to embrace it!
There are oodles of things to do in Vermont in winter, but these Vermont winter festivals are celebrated by local communities across the state and are ideal for embracing the cold, snow, and ice.
Come soak up winter and then cozy up with your favorite person, beverage, or book near the fireplace for a memorable Vermont winter weekend.
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Vermont in January: Events and Festivals2Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration: Cabot, Vermont
January 2 – 3, 2026
Welcome to the fourth annual 12th Night Celebration in Cabot Village! This free Vermont winter festival wraps up the holidays perfectly with two days of live music, storytelling, hot cocoa, bonfires, a puppet show, a theater performance, a paper lantern parade, and a community sing.
Brought to you by Cabot Arts, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the performing literary arts and artists in the town of Cabot.
Where to stay near Cabot: With a population of fewer than 300 people, you won’t likely find lodging right in Cabot. This cute cabin is an exception and would make a perfect home base for the weekend.
Vermont Burlesque Festival: Barre and Burlington, Vermont
January 22 – 24, 2026
Get ready to heat up those cold winter nights with a spicy festival as you’ve never experienced.
Marketed as New England’s largest celebration of body positivity and the burlesque revival, the Vermont Burlesque Festival features a free event in Montpelier and the Granite City Showcase in Barre City. It’s been nominated by Seven Days as one of the “Best Live Arts Events in Vermont.”
For a full line-up of events and to buy tickets, visit the events page at Vermont Burlesque Festival.
Where to stay in Barre and Montpelier: In Barre, stay at Firehouse Inn, a renovated firehouse right across from the Barre Opera House (site of Friday night’s event). In Montpelier, check out the Capitol Plaza Hotel near the Vermont State House.
Winter Rendezvous: Stowe, Vermont
January 21-25, 2026
The Winter Rendezvous in Stowe is described as “five days of wintery bliss” on their website, and it’s the perfect way to fall in love with snowy Vermont winter. Eclectic Festivities include a VIP cocktail party, pool party, LGBTQ+ Winter Pride Festival (and Gay Ski Week), live music, drag bingo, theater, cocktails, and a huge dance party.
Two Vermont winter festivals in one — coinciding with Winter Rendezvous is the annual Stowe Winter Carnival from January 20-23, 2026. This is a family-friendly, town-wide event featuring ice-carving demonstrations and competitions, the iconic Snow Volleyball tournament, and stargazing at Trapp Family Lodge.
Where to stay in Stowe: If you have tickets to Winter Rendezvous, stay at Topnotch Resort and Spa, the event’s official host. Our second choice is Tälta Lodge Bluebird, which is located on The Mountain Road and very close to Stowe Mountain Resort for skiing.
North Bennington Wintefest: North Bennington, Vermont
January 24, 2026
This day-long festival in the heart of North Bennington includes a famous chili fest, a craft fair and bake sale, winter demonstrations, and an after-party at Lake Paran: warm drinks, fire pits, music, and community gathering as the winter evening sets in.
Where to stay in North Bennington: This dog-friendly Vermont farmhouse sleeps five people and is located right across from the Mile-Around-Woods trails.
Brookfield Ice Harvest Festival: Brookfield, Vermont
January 31, 2026
Head to the small village of Brookfield at the end of January to learn how ice was harvested on Sunset Lake at the turn of the century. The Brookfield Ice Harvest Festival features ice-cutting and ice boom demonstrations, an ice-hauling contest, ice sculpting, and a chance to try out homemade snowshoes.
Seasonal outdoor activities like sledding, skating, and broomball will depend on the weather. This free event is a great way to experience a piece of Vermont’s history.
Where to stay in Brookfield: Stay in one of these cozy log cabins right in Brookfield for a memorable winter getaway. Cozy Log Cabins is pet-friendly and sleeps up to six guests.
Waterbury Winterfest: Waterbury, Vermont
January 29 – February 1, 2026
Waterbury Winterfest is an epic collection of special events spread over four days. Outdoor events include a rousing game of winter bocce ball, fat tire demonstrations, an ice-skating disco, and a block party. Indoors, you can participate in beer tasting, wassailing, bluegrass night, and a game show.
Most activities are free, with a few exceptions, but many events require pre-registration. Visit Waterbury Winterfest to learn more.
Where to stay in Waterbury: We’ve enjoyed staying at the Fairfield by Marriott in Waterbury, which has a nice indoor pool, and you can’t beat the location.
Vermont in February: Events and Festivals
Curds & Curling: Greensboro, Vermont
February 7, 2026
When you’ve got a taste of February’s cabin fever, make plans to come to Greensboro for an eclectic festival featuring warming fires, live music, and a delightfully cheesy winter showdown. At Curds & Curling, a wheel of Jasper Hill cheddar replaces the curling stone for the cheesiest competition in the state.
Players slide their cheese, sweep their brushes, and hope for glory in Vermont’s own playful spin on this classic sport. You can watch the action unfold or jump in yourself, all while snacking on cheese tastings, gooey mac-and-cheese, and raclette (because of course).
This Vermont Signature Event is brought to you by Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro.
Great Ice!: North Hero, Vermont
February 13 – 15, 2026
Every winter, Great Ice! turns North Hero’s frozen city bay into a winter playground for all ages. Festival highlights include fireworks, bonfires, dog-sled rides, skating on lit rinks, cook-offs, and a snow-building competition.
Be sure to do the popular Over n’ Back trek, a 1.7-mile trek across frozen Lake Champlain to Knight Island State Park, where hot chocolate and refreshments await. The path is ungroomed, and figuring out the best way to get there is half the fun. Reliable snow boots work fine, but you can also ski, skate, fat bike, or be dragged on a sled. Whatever works!
Where to stay in North Hero: Winter lodging is very limited in North Hero. Try the Hampton Inn in St. Albans, which is within walking distance of shops and restaurants and has an indoor pool.
Annual Harris Hill Ski Jump Competitions, Brattleboro, Vermont
February 14 & 15, 2026
This year, the iconic Harris Hill Ski Jump Competition will celebrate 104 years of ski jumping in Brattleboro with two thrilling competitions. This long-standing Brattleboro tradition is held on New England’s only Olympic-size, 90-meter hill.
The Pepsi Challenge takes place on Saturday, February 14th, and the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament is on Sunday, February 15th.
If you’ve never witnessed the thrill of watching winter high-flyers, you’re in for a treat. A field of around 40 of the world’s top up-and-coming ski jumpers from the US and Europe is scheduled to compete this year. Jumpers launch from the takeoff and soar more than 300 feet at speeds of nearly 60 mph.
The event has a festive atmosphere for the whole family with food, music, souvenirs, a bonfire, and a beer tent.
Where to stay in Brattleboro: The Latchis Hotel provides affordable accommodations within walking distance of Brattleboro’s shops and restaurants.
Artful Ice Shanties: Brattleboro, Vermont
February dates: TBA
Check out Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s Artful Ice Shanties at Retreat Farm. The Artful Ice Shanties outdoor exhibit is a place-based celebration of artistic talent, creative ingenuity, and the rich history of ice fishing at the Retreat Meadows.
Newport Winter Festival: Newport, Vermont
February 21, 2026
Newport Winter Festival is a nostalgic step back in time where kids and adults come together to celebrate winter in Vermont. All-day activities take place at Prouty Beach and Gardiner Park in Newport and include skating, bonfires, tubing, sledding, winter swimming, snow sculpture contests, a scavenger hunt, and pond hockey.
All ages are welcome at this free event!
Where to stay in Newport: Newport City Inn & Suites features basic, comfortable rooms and an indoor pool.
No matter how you feel about winter, you’ll appreciate these Vermont winter festivals and events to help you make the most of the season.
Did we forget one of your favorite Vermont winter festivals? Send us an email, and we’ll check it out!
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