25 things to do in Maine this winter

By Saisie Moore

Winter in Maine may seem like a quiet affair—that is, unless you’re in the know. Mark your calendar for a diverse array of festivities, festivals and outdoor pursuits to fill the colder months with energy and adventure.

Outdoor & Adventure

First Day Hikes at Maine State Parks

First Day Hikes, a nationwide initiative, hosts guided New Year’s Day hikes at these stunning state parks throughout Maine: Camden Hills State Park, Camden; Mount Blue State Park, Weld; Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Brooksville; Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth. Visit Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry’s website for the latest info.

Tubing at Black Mountain

Kids and big kids alike can enjoy a snowy adrenaline fix at The Edge, a thrilling two-chute tubing slope at Black Mountain of Maine. Tickets provide unlimited rides for riders ages 5 and up. The lodge offers refreshments and warm respite from the dizzying fun. 39 Glover Road, Rumford.

February Festival at Saddleback Mountain

February 21–23, 2025

Get those skis waxed and ready for the Annual February Festival at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley. Enjoy prime snow and special events on the Friday of school vacation week including live music, a torchlight parade down Grey Ghost Trail and a youth freestyle contest at Saddleback Terrain Park.

Dog Sledding in Northern Maine

March 1, 2025

Witness a winter tradition as you cheer on the mushers and their dogs at the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races on Main Street in Fort Kent, held annually at the end of February or beginning of March. If you’re inspired by the action, try a guided introduction to dog sledding with Mahoosuc Guide Service in Newry.

Two teams of mushers and sled dogs make their way through a snowy field surrounded by pines.

Dog sledding with Mahoosuc Guide Service. COURTESY PHOTO

WinterKids Downhill 24

February 27–28, 2025

Take to the slopes during the WinterKids Downhill 24. Every year in late February, this 24-hour sk-iathon invites teams of snow lovers to ski, snowboard and skin up Sugarloaf Mountain while raising funds to support WinterKids’ mission of furthering outdoor winter education in communities across Maine.

Ice Skating at Thompson’s Point Rink

Celebrate the return of the full-service Thompson’s Point Rink beside the Fore River in Portland. Or take a whirl at any of Maine’s frozen ponds. To be part of a community that shares the latest on ice thickness and general conditions, join the Facebook group “Maine and NH skating and ice report.”

Well-Being

Downtown Luxury in Portland

Book a private sauna suite at the Longfellow Hotel and enjoy a private rain shower and relaxation area for a taste of indulgence or unwind with luxury spa treatments or a 20-minute session in the Meditation Lounge. 754 Congress Street, Portland.

Interior view of sauna suite. The infrared sauna is divided from a seating area with a glass door. A counter and cupboards are stocked with towels and other spa supplies.

Private sauna suite at Longfellow Hotel spa. PHOTO: CARLY RUDD.

Heat Therapy with Cedar Grove Sauna

Cedar Grove Sauna’s mobile “Saltwater Saunas” travel along the coast of Maine, with locations announced on their website. Perched on the vast, sandy shores of Popham Beach, Spinneys Restaurant (987 Popham Road, Phippsburg) will host the two saunas throughout the Winter 2024-25 season. Secure an hour-long booking and allow the wood-fire heat to unlock deep relaxation. A quick dip in the cold currents at the mouth of the Kennebec River completes the invigorating experience.

Two pairs of snowshoes are wedged upright in the snow with a "YOGA" sign in front of them next to a red cabin.

Practice yoga and stay in a cozy cabin with Forever Wild Yoga. COURTESY PHOTO. 

Snowshoe & Yoga Retreat in Rangeley

Forever Wild Yoga invites you to “fuel your inner fire” during winter yoga weekend retreats. Enjoy  an invigorating mix of snowshoeing, yog and meditation before retiring to a cozy, catered cabin in the Rangeley Mountains.

Cold Plunges

Join a monthly full-moon dip with Two Maine Mermaids, at various swim spots across southern Maine. On Mount Desert Island, the Cold Tits, Warm Hearts group gathers to breach the icy surface of the Atlantic throughout the winter.

Nature Bathing in Yarmouth

February 1, 2025

Reconnect with yourself and nature during a free guided walk at Spear Farm Estuary Preserve in Yarmouth. The Mindful Observation Seasonal Series leads participants through grounding exercises, observations of various ecosystems and moments of reflection for a meditative morning of connection.

Stay, Drink, Dine

Alpine Feast in Carrabassett Valley

March 1, 2025

Hit the trails and ski, shoe show, hike or bike up to Stratton Brook Hut for an open-air feast hosted by Big Tree Catering, the hospitality powerhouse behind restaurants Eventide and Honey Paw. Tickets support Maine Huts & Trails.

A group of people mingle outside of a hut, while hot steam wafts up from a grill in the snow.

2023 Alpine Feast at Stratton Brook Hut. COURTESY IMAGE

Valentine’s Stay in Kennebunkport

There are fewer better backdrops for cute couple selfies than Kennebunkport in February, where locals “Paint the Town Red” for Valentine’s Day. Drop anchor at Hidden Pond—a haven of back-to-nature resort luxury— before dining, drinking and dancing your way around Kennebunkport thanks to Valentine’s restaurant specials, mixology classes and live music all week.

Tree Dwellings in Georgetown

Get close to nature (and the tree canopy) during a one-of-a-kind stay at Seguin Tree Dwellings, 25 Turtle Hill Drive in Georgetown. Three unique and exceptionally designed treehouses perched amid the pines offer luxury from an airy vantage, including rope bridges, wood-fired hot tubs and incredible views.

A woman in her 20s or 30s relaxes in a hot tub on a platform nestled in the treetop. She looks away from the camera at a scenic forest and water view.

Treetop hot tub in Georgetown. PHOTO: MELISSA KEYSER, COURTESY SEGUIN TREE DWELLINGS.

Trails & Ales in Oxford

Work up an appetite on 18 acres of mixed-use trails behind the Oxbow Beer Garden, with Nordic skis and snowshoes available for rent from Portland Gear Hub. After a few laps of the woods, return to the brewery’s 200-year farmhouse for beers and wood-fired sourdough pizza. Rent the attached farmhouse for a rustic-chic getaway and make a weekend of it. 420 Main Street, Oxford.

Smelt Season

During January and February, miniature villages of fishing shacks pop up along frozen rivers in anticipation of smelting season, when tiny anadromous fish called rainbow smelt travel upriver to spawn. Rent a hut on Merrymeeting Bay or at Worthings Smelt Camp on the Kennebec River, stoke the woodstove and catch your own. Smelt can be cooked and enjoyed much like anchovies or sardines.

Arts & Culture

Wabanaki Winter Market in Orono

December 14, 2024

Mark your calendar for the annual Wabanaki Winter Market in Orono. Shop basketry, beadwork, wood carving and birchbark items crafted by renowned Wabanaki artists, mid-December at Collins Center for the Arts.

A Wabanaki artist stands at his table with an assortment of baskets while attendees approach to view his art.

Attendees browse wares at the 2023 Wabanaki Winter Market in Orono. COURTESY PHOTO.

First Friday Art Walks

Discover creative talent each month at First Friday Art Walk events in Kingfield, Waterville, Rockland and Portland (where visits to the Portland Museum of Art are free on Fridays, 4-8 p.m.).

Winter Solstice Concert by Vigorous Tenderness

December 21, 2024

Vigorous Tenderness amplifies marginalized voices in classical music through immersive and experimental outdoor concerts, including a Winter Solstice program lit up by firelight and candles. Details to be announced on Instagram.

Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

November 29-December 31, 2024

Light up the night at Gardens Aglow, an annual celebration at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens,from late November to the end of the year. Meander the beautiful winter landscape illuminated by more than 750,000 LED bulbs, look out for the beloved giant trolls and awaken a child-like sense of wonder, no matter your age.

A young couple with a baby stroll down a stone pathway lit by yellow and blue holiday lights covering shade structure. To the side, a trio of older adults stand and mingle.

The whole family can enjoy holiday lights at Gardens Aglow. PHOTO: TRISTIN SPINSKI, COURTESY COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

Imersive Art in Rockland

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art hosts interdisciplinary artist Katarina Weslien’s i forgot to remember exhibition in the Main Hall. Visitors will experience “massive Jacquard tapestries, outsized letters draped over metal armatures, a wall of reflective disaster blankets, a room made entirely of felt, and a brass bell waiting to be rung.” 21 Winter Street, Rockland, through May 4, 2025.

Exhibits & Performances at Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

With three floors to explore, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine at Thompson’s Point in Portland is a hub of entertainment for kids (and a refuge for parents). The winter 2024-2025 season’s theatre productions include “Winnie the Pooh,” December 7-29, 2024 and “Pete the Cat,” February 1-23, 2025. Black culture and storytelling take center stage throughout February during Black History Month. Kids can engage with the work of one of Maine’s most beloved artists and illustrators during a visit to Ashley Bryan’s Beautiful Blackbird Exhibit, featuring interactive storytelling experiences.

Marcia Minter, a Black woman in a chambray dress with a bun, poses at the Beautiful Blackbird exhibit. Behind her are many pieces of framed children's book artwork on the wall.

Marcia Minter, co-founder of Indigo Arts Alliance and exhibit consultant for Beautiful Blackbird at the Children Museum & Theatre of Maine. COURTESY PHOTO.

Maine Events

National Toboggan Championships at the Camden Snow Bowl

January 31–February 2, 2025

Do you have what it takes to become a national champion—in tobogganing? Competitors and spectators flock to Camden Snow Bowl each year to watch toboggan teams hurtle down the icy chute and onto frozen Megunticook Lake in the hope of glory. Music and hot food and drinks warm up even the most stone-cold rivals in this raucous annual tradition, at the end of January / beginning of February.

Annual Ice Harvest in South Bristol

February 16, 2025

Journey 200 years back in time with Thompson Ice House Museum at the Annual Ice Harvest in South Bristol  during mid-Februrary and experience a slice of Yankee history. Try your hand at sawing ice blocks and guiding them along the conveyor using traditional tools and techniques that have been employed here since 1826. Hot snacks and camaraderie make this unique event a longstanding family favorite.

Belfast Ice Carving Festival

February 21–22, 2025

During the State of Maine Ice Carving Championships in downtown Belfast, teams and individuals compete to create masterpieces hewn from icy blocks, annually in late February. Wander the streets to admire the carvings, cheer on the winners and enjoy a drink from an ice bar for a memorable winter weekend.

Maine Maple Sunday Weekend

March 22–23, 2025

Smell that sugar-laced air and get ready to indulge on Maine Maple Sunday—now a maple weekend, annually in late March. Sugar shacks across the state will be boiling sap and opening their doors for guests to look, learn, and— most importantly—taste.

A hand holds a box of golden delicate, amber rich, and dark robust maple syrup (labelled) in front of a red barn with wood pile.

Visit a local maple syrup producer on Maine Maple Sunday Weekend. COURTESY MAINE MAPLE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION.

207 Day

February 8–9, 2025

An annual celebration inspired by the state’s area code, Portland Downtown hosts a family-friendly virtual scavenger hunt during a weekend near February 7 (2/07). Take a journey around the city to follow clues, solve riddles and enjoy $2.07 deals at downtown locations.

Wooden Ski Day

January 19, 2025

Celebrate the history of Nordic skiing while raising funds for the Maine Ski & Snowboard Museum, mid-late January at Carter’s XC Ski Center in Bethel. Free trail pass for those on wooden skis. Wear your vintage or retro Nordic ski clothing and join the costume parade (there will be prizes). Ski historian Glenn Parkinson will be on site to share his knowledge of Nordic ski history. Live music, food truck and brews round out the day.


Winter 2024-25 magazine cover

This article appeared in the Winter 2024-2025 edition of Green & Healthy Maine. Subscribe today!

Looking for more to do? Check out our community events calendar for more unique local happenings including workshops, webinars, festivals, volunteering and more!

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Exploring Maine’s winter wilds after dark