Boston Events for February 2018

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!

Find more Bruins tickets for February

Park: Garages near TD Garden
Celebrate: Best sports bars and clubs near TD Garden
More:  TD Garden

Photo courtesy of Dan4th

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:

• The Boxer
• Liberty Hotel
• Holiday Inn Express

Check out more hotels near TD Garden

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:

More shows for February

More Boston Theater District Shows

Where to have dinner in Boston's Theatre District

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:

• Nine Zero
• Hyatt Regency
• Revere Boston Hotel

Check out more hotels in Boston's Theatre District

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

More Disney on Ice Show Performances

More about Disney on Ice and visiting TD Garden

More winter break week Boston activities

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:

• Fun outdoor winter activities in & near Boston 
• Winter walking tour itinerary: seeing Boston in the snow
• Best winter tours

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:

Find more events before or after Valentine's Day

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.

More info about the Wine Festival

More info about Valentine's Day events in Boston

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

The Boxer

Onxy Hotel

Bostonian Boston Hotel

Wyndham Hotel

More Hotels near TD Garden

Shopping Tour for February

A free VIP coupon book offers you additional savings. 

Find out more

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:

More Concerts & Shows for February

Boston Concerts & Shows throughout the Year  

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.   

• More information about the CNY Parade - plus photos
• Where to go for Dim Sum after the parade
• 5 fun restaurants to visit in Chinatown

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

Save BIG on half-price & discount tickets from Goldstar

- Pier Pressure Labor Day Party Cruise - Spirit of Boston - Goldstar $13; Full price $25
- Tall Ship Harbor Tour - Boston Harbor - Goldstar $7-$19; Full price $11-$39
- Blue Man Group - Charles Playhouse - Goldstar $40-$52; Full price $66-$98
- Charles River Twilight Cruise - Charles Riverboat Company - Goldstar $Comp - $10; Full price $20
- 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
- Thirsty Thursdays - Boston Harbor - Goldstar $8; Full price $17
- New England Revolution Soccer - Gillette Stadium - Goldstar $25-$42; Full price $40-$63
- Sangria Deck Party Cruises - Boston Harbor - Goldstar $10-$15; Full price $30
- Tipsy Chocolate Beacon Hill Tour - Beacon Hill- Goldstar $59; Full price $74
- Sh*t-Faced Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew - The Rockwell - Goldstar $15; Full price $25
- Water Country Water Park - Portsmouth, NH - Goldstar $31; Full price $45

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.

Register for Sofra classes 

- 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.

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

More about Ice Skating on Frog Pond in Boston

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. 

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!

Find your dream Valentine Boston hotel package

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

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!