Boston Events for February 2018
The Boston Event Calendar for February 2018 includes the Boston Beanpot hockey tournament, Disney on Ice, the huge New England Boat Show, and Chinese New Year celebrations to welcome the Year of the Dog.
February brings 2 big holidays: Valentine's Day on February 14, and President's Day on February 19, with most schools in New England on winter vacation for the entire week of the 19th.
Weather during February can be a mix of snow and sunny days.
Embrace the wintry weather by ice skating on Frog Pond, skiing or snowboarding on a nearby slope, or walking around the city when freshly fallen snow turns it white and sparkling.
Inside, the theater season continues in full swing, concerts take place almost every night, and the Boston Bruins and Celtics attract crowds of fans to TD Garden.
Boston hotels continue to give you their cheapest discount rates of the year during February. This the perfect time to enjoy the city's world-class museums, restaurants, and concerts.
More to look forward to during February: the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival. And if the Patriots' have another Super Bowl win this year, another Victory Duck Boat Parade!
Bruins February 2018 Home Game Schedule at the Garden
Get your Boston Bruins tickets for February home games, and head over to TD Garden for some fast action on the ice.
The Garden's convenient location next to North Station and close to Faneuil Marketplace makes it super-easy to get to.
Don't miss the chance to see Boston's hockey team, winner of 6 Stanley Cup championships!
Ticket Discount Codes:
TicketLiquidator - Enter TLFALL to get $10 off orders of $250+
TicketNetwork - Enter TNTIX to get $10
off orders of $300+
Find more Bruins tickets for February
Park: Garages near TD Garden
Celebrate: Best sports bars and clubs near TD Garden
More: TD Garden
Hotels near TD Garden
Coming to an event at the Garden? Spend the night or the weekend at a nearby hotels, such as the glamorous Onyx (shown in photo), part of the Kimpton hotel family:
More top hotels near the Garden:
Boston Theater & Shows for February 2018
Love Never Dies - Boston Opera House
Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream -Agganis Arena
Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen - Wang Theatre
Waitress - Boston Opera House
Schedules & Tickets:
Ticket Discount Codes:
TicketLiquidator - Enter TLFALL to get $10 off orders of $250+
TicketNetwork - Enter TNTIX to get $10
off orders of $300+
More shows for February
Top Hotels near Boston's Theatre District
Enjoy your Boston performance or show experience to the fullest when you stay in one of the nearby Theatre District hotels, such as the hip and glamorous Revere Hotel:
More top Theatre District hotels:
Boston's February 2018 Disney on Ice Show: Dare to Dream
You'll love Dare to Dream, an enchanting presentation where Mickie Mouse and Minnie Mouse share the exciting stories of five courageous Disney princesses, enacted by the dazzling performers skating across the ice.
You'll thrill with the adventures of Rapunzel, Snow White, Cinderella, Moana, and Princess Tiana, plus all of their animal friends, Fairy Godmothers, and even the seven dwarfs.
Tickets
Ticket Discount Codes:
TicketLiquidator - Enter TLFALL to get $10 off orders of $250+
TicketNetwork - Enter TNTIX to get $10
off orders of $300+
More Disney on Ice Show Performances
Special February Tours of Boston
These fun trolley tours, bus tours, and indoor destinations will let you enjoy the best of the Boston even when February weather is chilly!
Winter Break Week Activities in Boston
When public schools through New England close for a week's holiday in February, Boston is the most popular destination.
The annual Children's Winter Festival will take place on Boston Common on Thursday, February 23 from 10am to 3pm. Look for snow slides, toboggans, a snow maze, snowshoeing lessons, music, snacks, games, and arts and crafts.
The Highland Foundation will sponsor free ice skating at Frog Pond on the Common throughout the week as part of their Winter Camp. You can find more details on their website: www.highlandstreet.org/programs/community-events/winter-camp
Hotels offer their lowest rates for the year during the winter months, you'll find plenty of winter outdoor activities, lots of shows and performances, museums, shopping, and more. Find our recommendations for what to do in Boston during winter break week.
More to check out:
Valentine's Day Weekend - 2018
When: Wednesday through Sunday, February 14-18
Valentine's Day is big in Boston, with lots of different ways and places to celebrate all weekend.
Here's a quick cheat sheet for planning a celebration to remember:
1. Check out all the different Valentines Day events and celebrations going on in Boston. Find out more
2. Book a night or two in a Boston hotel for a romantic weekend in the city. Find out which Boston hotels are offering special Valentine's Day packages
3. Get tickets for a fun show, concert, or game:
Ticket Discount Codes:
TicketLiquidator - Enter TLFALL to get $10 off orders of $250+
TicketNetwork - Enter TNTIX to get $10
off orders of $300+
Champagne Dinner Dance & Valentine's Brunch - 2018
The Boston Wine Festival, underway from January through early April at the Boston Harbor Hotel, offers a special Valentine's Dinner Dance on February 10 featuring live music, dancing, and incredible food matches with memorable Champagnes from Moët & Chandon.
Alternately, opt for Champagne, a lavish brunch buffet, a New Orleans jazz band, and great Boston Harbor views at the Valentine/Jazz Brunch on Sunday, February 11.
Celtics Basketball at TD Garden - February 2018
The Garden's convenient location next to North Station and close to Faneuil Marketplace makes it super-easy to get to.
Get ready for plenty of action at the net from Boston's champion basketball team.
Get your tickets now:
Tickets for other months: Check for great prices, great seats, and sometimes discounts
Where: TD Garden
Nearest public transportation: Green Line/Orange Line or Commuter Rail to North Station, next to the Garden
Where to stay: Hotels near TD Garden
Where to Stay near TD Garden
Shopping Tour for February
A free VIP coupon book offers you additional savings.
Boston Concerts & Shows - February 2018
Robert Plant - Orpheum Theatre
Steve Earle - City Winery
Jeff Dunham - Agganis Arena
Tao - Berklee Performance Center
Chinese New Year - Berklee Performance Center
Marilyn Manson - House of Blues
Schedules & Tickets:
Ticket Discount Codes:
TicketLiquidator - Enter TLFALL to get $10 off orders of $250+
TicketNetwork - Enter TNTIX to get $10
off orders of $300+
More Concerts & Shows for February
Boston Concerts & Shows throughout the Year
Chinese New Year Events - Lion Dance Parade & Chinese Cultural Villages - 2018
Chinese New Year officially starts on February 16th to welcome the Year of the Dog.
One of the most popular Chinese New Year activities in Boston is the huge Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown featuring Lion Dances, drums, and firecrackers - truly an awesome event!
Two Cultural Villages also take place each year to celebrate the New Year.
When & Where:
- Chinese New Year Parade: Sunday, February 25, 10am- 4pm - Parade kicks off at the main stage in Philips Square (corner of Harrison Ave and Beach Street), and continues on Essex Street and other nearby streets in Chinatown, Boston
- Chinatown Cultural Villages take place also on February 25 at 90 Tyler Street (10am - 4pm) and China Trade Building at the corner of Boylston and Washington Streets (11am - 3pm)
Closest T station: Orange Line/Chinatown (or walk over from any Downtown Boston T station
Cost: Free
Both Cultural Villages feature free fun activities - calligraphy, dough characters, dance, music, origami, balloons, and more, with a different mix at each location.
Boston Beanpot Hockey 2018 - TD Garden
The legendary Boston Beanpot rivalry pits teams from Boston's 4 major hockey schools against each other in a battle on the ice at TD Garden during the first two Monday nights in February. The winner gets ... (drumroll) ... the Beanpot trophy.
Here's how it works: Week 1 features 2 games, as the teams pair off against each other. In Week 2, winners battle each other for the championship and #2 slot, while the losers play each other to see who will be in 3rd place.
Beanpot Schedule & Tickets:
How do the schools stack up? Here are the number of Boston Beanpot Hockey Championships won by each team since the tournament began in 1952:
- Boston University - 30 Championships
- Boston College - 20 Championships
- Harvard - 11 Championships
- Northeastern University - 5 Championships
Discount Tickets for Boston Events in February
Save BIG on half-price & discount tickets from Goldstar
- Fall Foliage Cruise - Charles Riverboat Company - Goldstar $25; Full price $37
- Live Music @ City Winery - Goldstar $10-$25; Full price $22-$50
- Black Pearl Halloween Cruise @ Spirit of Boston - Goldstar $10, Full price, $20
- Salem Horror Fest @ Cinema Salem, Salem MA - Goldstar $5-$13, Full price $10-$25
- Chocolate 101 Class & Tastings @ Foundation Kitchen, Somerville - Goldstar $25; Full price $50
- Fenway Halloween Pub Crawl - Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co -
Goldstar $0-$6; Full price $12
- Cirque of the Dead - Oberon - Goldstar $18-$36; Full price $30-$50
- Frankenstein @ Central Square Theatre, Cambridge; - Goldstar $20-$29; Full price $44-$59
- Salem Seance Mystery Theatre - Hamilton Hall, Salem - Goldstar $23, Full price, $45
- Scared Stiff Halloween @ The Kinsale - Goldstar $22, Full price, $35
- Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker - Emerson Culter Majestic Theatre - Goldstar $29-$40; Full price $57-$80
- Tipsy Chocolate Tours - Boozy walking tour in Boston's Back Bay - Goldstar $48; Full price $68
- Huzzah! Tavern Nights - Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum - Goldstar $41; Full price $55
- New England Revolution Soccer - Gillette Stadium - Goldstar $25-$42; Full price $40-$63
- Sh*t-Faced Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew - The Rockwell - Goldstar $15; Full price $25
Boston Insider Tip: More Winter Activities in Boston
- Best winter Boston tours - Don't let cold weather slow you down!
- Indoor winter activities - Fun things to do while staying warm in Boston
- Outdoor winter activities - What's the best way to beat the cold? Embrace it!
- Rainy day activities - You always need a "Plan B" for Boston weather
- Where to ice skate in Boston - Best rinks in Boston!
- Winter break in Boston - Fun February activities
- Skiing near Boston - Where to enjoy the snow!
- Extreme Boston Weather - Want to know more about blizzards & nor'easters?
Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival
When: February 19 - 17, 2018 ("The 'Thon" runs from noon on the 18th through noon on the 19th) (dates to be confirmed for 2018)
Where: Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville
Closest T (subway) station: Red Line/Davis
Parking: Forget parking around Davis Square. If you must drive, park at the Alewife parking garage in Cambridge, only 1 T stop away from Davis Square
Cost: Single ticket prices TBD ($8 last year); $65 for fanatics attending the "24-hour 'Thon'"; $130 for 11-day Festival
More information: www.bostonsci-fi.com
The 42nd annual Boston Sci-Fi Festival features 11 days of features and shorts from all over the world, plus a 24-hour marathon, "The 'Thon," that separates mere fans from committed fanatics on the final day of the fest. Can you sit through 1,440 minutes of sci-fi classics, premiers, cartoons, and more? The 'Thon is not for the faint-hearted!
If you're coming to the Sci-Fi Film Festival from out of town, you'll find the most convenient hotel options close to the Red Line of Boston's subway in Cambridge.
Check rates at these hotels near Cambridge T stations:
- Alewife T station: Freepoint Hotel
- Harvard Square T station: Harvard Square Hotel, Hotel Veritas
- Kendall Square T station: Le Meridien, Boston Marriott Cambridge
Not Sure about Boston Neighborhood Locations?
This neighborhood map should help you get oriented. You can find a list of top attractions in each neighborhood here.
Need a more details? Here are our favorite free and low-cost Boston maps.
2 Easy Ways to Save BIG in Boston on Tours & Attractions
Best way to save in Boston. Save up to 50% on museums, the New England Aquarium, plus admission to other attractions, tours, day trips, and cruises. Compare to find out which one is best for you.
Cooking Classes for February - 2018
Best way to chase away the winter blues: take a cooking class from some of Boston's top chefs, and sample the results:
- Sofra's Bakery & Cafe - Award-winning Chefs Ana Sortun and other instructors from Sofra and Sarma conduct almost-weekly 2 1/2-hour cooking classes/demonstrations at 6:30pm at Sofra (1 Belmont Street, Cambridge). In addition to yummy samples including beverage pairings, you get recipes to take home with you.
On offer this month:
- February 5 - Weeknight Cooking Solutions & Family-Style Dinners - Executive Chef Ana Sortun shares tips on how to stock your pantry with "building blocks" and plan meals, and also shares four mouth-watering recipes.
- February 12 - All about Chocolate - Just in time for Valentine's Day, Sofra's Pastry Sous Chef explains the history of chocolate, different types of chocolates, and demonstrates how to make several Sofra favorites (yes, you get to bring home samples!)
- February 26 - Turkish Breakfast - If you've ever traveled to Turkey, you already know about the amazing array of delicious small-plate treats that fill the breakfast table. Sofra's Chef de Cuisine and Executive Pastry Chef team up and demonstrate how to make four of the best.
- Boston Wine School - "Wine and Chocolate Workshop" - February 8. Boston Wine School teams up with The Kitchen at Boston Public Market for this fun wine and chocolate tasting workshop. You'll get to taste a variety of wines and chocolates, and will come away with new ideas about perfect pairings. See Boston Wine School's event calendar for more information.
More to See and Do in Boston during February
Black History Month in Boston: Events, Tours, Concerts, Celebrations
Events celebrating Black History Month and commemorating the important contributions of African Americans to Boston (and America) take place throughout the month of February. Here are several you should not miss:
- African American Patriots Tour - Conducted by costumed guides, the Freedom Trail Foundation offers these special tours at 12:45 on Saturdays and Sundays throughout February. You'll hear stories about famous Revolutionary Crispus Atticus (that's a reenactor portraying him in the photo at the left), writer Phillis Wheatley, and many more. Tours depart from the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common; see the Freedom Trail Foundation's website for details and ticket information.
- African American History Month: Special Talks & Tours - Boston's Museum of African American History in Beacon Hill is planning special talks and tours focusing on the pioneering activists, entrepreneurs, journalists, educators, artists, and authors who organized campaigns to advance the cause of freedom. See their website for details.
- Black Heritage Trail - Explore the heart of Abolitionist Boston in this self-guided tour of 14 sites in Beacon Hill, then home to Boston's Free Black community and numerous stops along the Underground Railroad. Pick up a map at the Museum of African American History, and head over to the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Beacon Street to begin your tour. Park Service Rangers conduct free tours of the Black Heritage Trail from early May through Labor Day. You can find more information about the tours and download the tour map from the National Park Service website - here is the direct url: http://www.nps.gov/boaf/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
- Boston Black - This permanent exhibit at the Children's Museum highlights contemporary Boston's diverse African heritage and Black communities and culture.
Boston Art Shows - February
Museum of Fine Arts
MFA's "Massed Media" exhibit features works composed of massing multiple components into cohesive wholes that are great than the sum of their parts. Works range from sculpture, videos, jewelry, crafts, and designs.
You'll never see everyday items such as bottle caps and wrappers in quite the same way again!
Museum of Fine Arts (runs through April 9).
Museum admission: $25/adult; free entrance with GoBoston or Boston CityPASS discount card
College Nights at Frog Pond - 2018
Head over to Frog Pond every Tuesday Night (except for major holidays, and school breaks / vacations) from 6pm - 9pm for College Nights. Show your current college ID and get half-price admission (bring your own skates or rent them at the rink) - it's the best Cheap Date in Boston!
When: Mid-November through mid-March (but not during school breaks or vacations), depending on the weather
Where: Frog Pond, Boston Common
Closest T station: Red & Green Line/Park St
Romantic Classics & the Bugs Bunny Film Festival - 2018
Just in time for Valentine's Day and school vacation week (in case you need an excuse), Brattle Theatre in Cambridge will show Casablanca and The Princess Bride on February 13 and 14, followed by their 23rd Annual Bugs Bunny Film Festival on February 16 - 25, with multiple viewing times.
The Bugs Bunny Festival features 3 different programs:
- All Bugs Revue
- Daffy Duck & Friends
- Looney Tunes Review
Closest T station: Red Line/Harvard
Tickets: Brattle Theatre website
Hotels: Harvard Square Hotel, Charles Hotel, Hotel Veritas
New England Home Show at Seaport World Trade Center - 2018
When: February 23-25
Where: Seaport World Trade Center (200 Seaport Blvd, South Boston Waterfront
Stay: South Boston Waterfront Hotels
Admission: Adults, $12 (kids 17 and under free)
More information: Home Show website
If home remodeling or building is in your future, the New England Home Show is where you can see hundreds of products and services exhibited in one convenient space, talk to the experts, and collect business cards and brochures for follow-up.
Throughout the show, you can expect to find everything from green energy options to outdoor furniture to fixtures, cabinets, appliances, flooring, windows, and more.
Special Valentine's Day Hotel Packages
To make your Valentine's Day celebration extra-special by staying over in the city, check out the super savings packages offered by many of Boston's top hotels.
Opt for the "Lovers Rock" Valentine's Day package at Verb Hotel, "Be Mine in Beantown" at The Boxer, the "Romance Package" special at the Revere Boston, or the "Boston is for Lovers" package at the Midtown Boston Hotel - plus many more!
Boston Wine Expo - 2018
When: February 17-18
Where: Seaport World Trade Center and Seaport Hotel (look for special Wine Expo rates), 164 Northern Ave, South Boston Waterfront
Closest T station: Silver Line to World Trade Center (Seaport Hotel)
Tickets: Seminar-only tickets start at $25, and wine tasting tickets start at $110
Must be: 21+
More information
Visitors from across the U.S. and around the world gather annually for Boston's biggest wine-tasting event - in fact, the largest consumer and trade wine event in the United States.
Choose tasting samples from among 2,000 wines from 200 international wineries, and watch cooking demos by local celebrity chefs such as Andy Husbands, Bing Liu, Kelly Armetta, Justin Winters, Eric Tranfaglia, Michael Morway, Preston Miller, Dave Miller, and lots more!
Seminars by wine experts cover a wide range of wine and other topics, including how to select the perfect cheeses for pairing, and a special presentation on New England cider and Vermont artisanal cheeses.
SailFest: New England Boat Show - 2018
When: February 10-18
Where: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, South Boston Waterfront
Closest T station: Silver Line from Red Line/South Station
Stay: South Boston Waterfront Hotels
Cost: $16 adults, Children 12 and younger free (when accompanied by adult); cash only accepted for ticket purchases at the show (ATM in lobby)
More information: Boat Show website
New England's biggest boating event has something for everyone, and is bigger than ever this year. Check out all 250+ exhibits, attend free hands-on docking and line-handling demos, and find out everything you need to know about owningand enjoying a boat.
Stay in nearby hotels, and enjoy Boston Harbor views from the top floors:
- Westin Boston Waterfront - Closest to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, connected to it by a skywalk.
- Seaport Hotel - Just a block or two away from the BCEC.
- Renaissance Boston Hotel - Also a block or two away from BCEC.
Get a head start on the season - check out best places for sailing lessons in Boston
Weekly Noon Concerts on the Freedom Trail
When: February 6 - and every Tuesday throughout the year at 12:15pm
Where: King's Chapel on Boston's Freedom Trail
Closest T station: Red and Green Lines/Park Street
Cost: Suggested donation of $3 at the door; your donations are given to the performers
More information: 617-227-2155
If you're touring the Freedom Trail on a Tuesday, drop by King's Chapel at noon to hear a 35-minute concert. Performers vary each week, and perform a wide variety of music ranging from jazz to folk, medieval to modern. Particularly special are those featuring King's Chapel's renowned C.B. Fisk organ.
King's Chapel's music programs date back to 1713 when it became the first church in New England to get an organ. The current C.B. Fisk organ is its sixth.
King's Chapel also hosts an annual concert series of monthly performance. More information here
MFA Lunar New Year - Free Admission - 2018
Lunar New Year Celebration - Museum of Fine Arts - February 10, 10am
- Celebrate the Year of the Dob with free admission to Boston's MFA on February 10, and plenty of fun family activities all day to mark the Lunar New Year.
Explore Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions, and enjoy music and dance performances including a Lion and Dragon Dance.
Can't come on the 10th? You can get free admission on other days if you have a valid Boston Discount Card.
Lunar New Year Celebration - Peabody Essex Museum - 2018
2018 welcomes the Year of the Dog in the Lunar Calendar, and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem celebrates the New Year with a family fun day filled with performances such as Lion Dances, drumming, and music, storytelling, dances, crafts, games, and a chance to explore the museum's rich collection of Asian art and the Yin Yu Tang house acquired from China. At 3pm, head to Morse Auditorium for Rock Dog, a film about a young Tibetan Mastiff who leaves his home to follow his dream of becoming a rock star.
When: Saturday, February 17, 10am - 4:30pm
Cost: Free, with museum admission - adults $20, seniors $18, Students with valid ID $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem Mass residents admitted free; or get free admission with GoBoston card
Where: Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA
More information: 978-745-9500
Stay: Enjoy a night in a Salem hotel and have another day to explore Salem's witch museums, the House of the Seven Gables, and other attractions
Patriots - Super Bowl 2018!
Super Bowl Sunday is on February 4, 2018.
Will the Patriots head to the Super Bowl again in 2018?
Looking good so far!
Get your Super Bowl tickets now:
Can't travel to Minneapolis? Find out where to celebrate Super Bowl in Boston
Patriots Super Bowl Victory Parade in Boston's Duck Boats -
But . . . not this year, but maybe next year! Mark these dates on your calendar for next year for Super Bowl 53,
The parade route starts on Boylston Street at Prudential Center, continues down Boylston Street past Boston Common, turns left on Tremont, and wind its way over to City Hall Plaza where the parade ends.
The Patriots' next Super Bowl Victory Parade will be their 6th since 2001.
So stay tuned!
