Lowell WinterFest Set for Feb. 28 as City Marks 200th Anniversary
Lowell will kick off its bicentennial year with a full day of events for Lowell WinterFest 2026 on Saturday, Feb. 28, from noon to 10 p.m. In addition to celebrations…
Photo: Lowell Winterfest/Facebook
Lowell will kick off its bicentennial year with a full day of events for Lowell WinterFest 2026 on Saturday, Feb. 28, from noon to 10 p.m. In addition to celebrations on Middle Street, Palmer Street, and in the Rockland Trust lot, the festival fun expands this year to Merrimack Street.
In honor of Lowell's bicentennial, celebrity Chef Buddy Valastro will bake a special bicentennial cake and host a bakery showcase in the main tent on Merrimack Street.
According to a City of Lowell news release, the day will feature a full lineup of activities:
- St. Anne's Chocolate Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Curling and air hockey on Merrimack Street, beginning at noon
- The Richard Rourke Memorial Soup Competition at the Masonic Center, beginning at noon
- The Experience Lowell Arts Market, produced by Mosaic Lowell, from noon to 8 p.m
- Live music in the Rockland Trust Music Tent from noon to 10 p.m.
- Fold-a-Lowla Workshop at Arts League of Lowell from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- A celebration of Lowell's bakeries hosted by Buddy Valastro from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Live ice carving on Palmer Street and fire performances throughout the event
- LED swings, photo opportunities, interactive art, and roving performers held throughout the day
- Fourth annual WinterFest Scavenger Hunt, all day Â
- Mosaic Lowell's Youth Mural Competition, with voting open all day
In addition to the above activities, guests are welcome to enjoy Nordic Jam Sessions and busker pop-ups at restaurants and dining establishments in downtown Lowell. These mini-concerts will occur on Friday, Feb. 27, and continue throughout Saturday, Feb. 28. Look for a Lowla Bear in front of these locations. A call for art for Lowla Bears, which will be displayed in front of these locations, is still accepting submissions. Artists of all experience levels and media are invited to submit their work at bit.ly/Lowla-Art.
Suffolk in the City, a collaboration between Suffolk University and NECN, will provide event coverage for WinterFest, alongside local media partners Inside Lowell, The (Lowell) Sun, Lowell Telemedia Center, and WCAP.
Accessibility remains a focus with family quiet spaces for neurodivergent individuals and nursing parents.
More information about WinterFest is available on the event website or by contacting the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events at 978-674-4260.
