Making the Most of Winter’s Second Half
February 07, 2026
We’re officially halfway through winter. Astronomical winter hit its true midpoint on February 3, 2026, the day after Groundhog Day. We’re finally seeing more daylight and later sunsets across the Northern Hemisphere. (It feels great!).
Sometimes the colder February temperatures catch me off guard. The sunshine, longer days, and blue skies make me forget that we’re in the thick of winter. But below freezing temperatures snap me back to reality.
February is often the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere because of a “seasonal lag.” Seasonal lag relates to how the planet absorbs and releases heat.
-A decade ago Lake Champlain was frozen. What was I thinking riding that bike on ice?
February temperatures for the record books
The low temperature in Burlington was -3 degrees this morning. But that’s nothing compared to some previous winters in Vermont.
-Burlington’s coldest Februaries were in 1957 and 1979, when temps plunged to -30 degrees. Another cold snap was in 2015, when it was -19 degrees.
-A 12-day stretch in February 1979 had temperatures dip below zero in Burlington at night.
-Montpelier experienced a fairly recent extremely cold February in 2015 and again in 2016 with temperatures as low as -19 degrees.
-A little bit of Vermont history: A record low temperature of -50 degrees was recorded in Bloomfield in December 1933. Let’s hope we never beat that record.
Vermont ice rinks are having a banner year.
Things to Do in February in Vermont
This cold snap won’t last. And with winter in full swing, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the rest of the season.
Lace up your skates
Try the Ice Rink at Spruce Peak Village Center at Stowe Mountain Resort, or skate on Lake Morey in Fairlee, which has the longest skating trail in the United States.
If you want more of a community rink skating experience, try the Skatium Outdoor Ice Skating Rink in Waitsfield, Moore Park in Underhill, the Sharon Community Rink, the Derry Link in Londonderry, or the Callahan Community Rink in Burlington.
Be outside at an outdoor center
Outdoor centers let you enjoy winter activities without the crowds.
Great spots for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing include Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, Trapp Outdoor Center in Stowe, Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center in Goshen, Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center, and Craftsbury Outdoor Center.
Great Ice kicks off with a fireworks display in North Hero on Feb. 13, 2026. / courtesy photo
Vermont February Outdoor Events
Celebrate Valentine’s Day outdoors at the Tiki Torch Trek at Hartland Winter Trails or at the Evening Snowshoe Trek at Northwoods Stewardship Center in West Charleston. The day before, on Feb. 13, Billings Farm hosts its popular Torchlight Snowshoe in Woodstock.
Also on Feb. 14, you can watch torchlight parades light up the slopes at Bromley Mountain in Peru and Saskadena Six in Pomfret.
The legendary 104th annual Harris Hill Ski Jump competition returns to Brattleboro Feb. 14-15. The Great Ice festival returns Feb. 13-15 in North Hero.
-The Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. / courtesy photo
New Vermont Museum Exhibitions and Events
If want to spend some time indoors, Vermont museums have new exhibits to explore.
On February 10, UVM’s Fleming Museum of Art in Burlington opens its new exhibition, Photo-Secession, celebrating a bold group of early 20th-century photographers who forever changed the medium as we know it.
On Feb. 13, the Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph hosts an evening of live music, art, and community, featuring a quilt exhibition, community dinner, and a performance by acclaimed South African soul artist Nomfusi.
Chandler’s season kick-off begins Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. with “Stitched Together,” a quilt show in the Chandler Gallery. The exhibit focuses on how the tradition of quilting is used in contemporary artistic expression to record history and provide comfort.
Now open through April 19 is Middlebury College Museum of Art’s Beyond Boundaries: Rethinking African Art. The exhibition features a selection of historical and contemporary works from the college’s permanent collection, exploring them through four subthemes: Beyond Primitivism, Beyond Borders, Beyond Categories, and Beyond Sight.
Stay warm. Have fun.
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