Ice Sculpture, Snowman, & Human Dog Sled competitions, Maple Syrup Tapping, Owls, Campfires

02/03/10 by Johnny Monsarrat

Welcome to the week of weird! Love this blog? Subscribe to email, Facebook, or Twitter.

-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival	2/5 – 2/7	North Shore
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we can’t have some festivals! Here are a few. This one’s in Salem and they’ll have ice sculpting. Salem, MA. more
Acton, Winter Carnival at NARA Park	2/6	Metro West
This one’s in Acton, with a cardboard sled race, dog sledding and a human sled race, fire spinners, curling demonstrations, snowball toss competition, and a lot more. 2009: 4-7:30pm. NARA Park, 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, MA. more
Lowell’s WinterFest Celebration	2/5 – 2/6	North Shore
This one looks even better! Fireworks, hot soup competition, and a “human dog sled championship”. Lowell, MA.(978) 459-6150. more more
Chelmsford Winterfest	2/5 – 2/7	Northern Mass
The winter festivals don’t just stop, though. Chelmsford is hosting nighttime snowshoeing, nature walks, sledding & skiing, and a pancake breakfast. Chelmsford, MA. more more
Annual Greenfield Winter Carnival	2/5 – 2/7	Western Mass
Out along Route 2 in Western Massachusetts, Greenfield has a festival, too. Make a cardboard sled and race. Snowshoeing, ice skating, snow volleyball, a tug o’ war, and a snowman competition with an entire snow village. Greenfield, MA. more
Annual Keene Ice & Snow Festival	2/6	New Hampshire
Now heading north, on your way to go skiing perhaps, this free festival includes ice carving and snow sculpting. 10am-4pm. Keene, NH. more
Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival	2/5 – 2/7	New Hampshire
If you dare, you can climb a waterfall of ice, and take on other adventures that all sound insane. International Mountain Climbing School, North Conway, NH. more
Grace Chapel’s Annual WinterBlast	2/6	Metro West
I’m not too big on church events, but you had me at “mechanical bull”. They’ll have a moonbounce and martial arts demonstrations too. That’s pretty weird! Community Life Center, 59 Worthen Road, Lexington, MA. more
Maple Syrup Tapping (Yum!)	2/6 – 3/13	North Shore
Or go maple sugar tapping! I really want to go! There are a ton of different dates. Various state parks, Ispwich area.978-887-9264. more
Winter Campfires at Mass State Parks	2/5 – 2/19	Boston Metro
Even cooler are campfires on the beach. I really want to see this!! Hear campfire stories, roast marshmallows, and go for a beach walk. Constitution Beach 2/5, 6-8pm. Revere Beach 2/19, 6-8pm. Constitution Beach, Boston, MA. more
Owl Festival	2/6	Metro West
Parks are great places in the winter to find interesting outdoorsy interactive events. Here’s a guided tour at another state park where you can spot owls in the wild and see them up close, too. 2:30-5:30pm. Broadmoor, 280 Eliot Street, Natick, MA.508-655-2296. more
Ippi’s SuperBowl Ice Derby on Sluice + The Seelley Memorial	2/7	North Shore
What is ice fishing? You cut a hole in the ice and wait. Is that fun? Well, it would be fun to see it, I’m sure, if not to do it! Lynn, MA. more
This is Spinal Tap	2/5 – 2/6	Boston Metro
We got pretty far down the list before resorting to indoorsy events! I’ve never enjoyed Spinal Tap, but this viewing at the Coolidge comes with live music beforehand. Should be fun. Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA. more
Chinatown Main Street Annual Chinese New Year Gala	2/6	Boston Metro
Authentic Chinese dinner with folk dancing & martial arts performance. Chinatown, Boston, MA. more
Salem State College Darwin Festival	2/8 – 2/12	Boston Metro
Also Salem State College will host a series of lectures and films. It’s definitely a festival, but looks very academic rather than social. Salem State College, Salem, MA. more
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards	2/6	Boston Metro
Our local awards group will be giving out film awards. They’ve tried really hard to get celebrities to attend and have mostly failed. Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, MA. more more
Love Letters by the Fire	2/6	Boston Metro
This local restaurant will do a reading of the love letters between former US president and Massachusetts boy John Adams and his wife. (Guys, you’re a week early. Valentine’s Day is next week.). The Fireplace, 1634 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA. more
Also Fun
The Supreme Court and Race	2/10	Boston Metro
Did you know that February is Black History Month? Unfortunately, nobody seems to care. Even Boston’s Museum of African American History is only holding one event in February. Please email if you know what’s up elsewhere. Register in advance. American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 136 Irving Street, Cambridge, MA. more
Commerford Zoo	2/6 – 2/7	Worcester
There are plenty of zoos in New England that stay open through the winter, Franklin Park being my favorite, but here’s a traveling zoo that may interest you. It’ll be indoors though. DCU Center, Worcester, MA. more
Harvard Square Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off & Volleyball	2/6	Boston Metro
Harvard Square is holding a chili competition. Details are few but hit up Harvard Square from 1-3pm and look around for it. And they’ll have live music. In front of Crema Café on Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA. more
Boston Media Makers Meeting	2/7	Boston Metro
I don’t normally write about club meetings, but maybe I should when they’re weird enough. Here’s an entire group of people who think they’re newsworthy, that meet to socialize and trade tips on changing the world. Doyle’s Café, 3484 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. more
Ludwig and Hilda’s Oktoberfest in February	2/6	Worcester
Although this is really a performance, they say that they’ll have ethnic contests like yodeling or chocolate cake eating. 9:30pm. Nick’s, 124 Millbury Street, Worcester, MA. more
Showshoe Hike	2/7	Western Mass
I really want to go snowshoeing! I’ve never tried it. Notchview Park, Windsor, MA. more
Forbes House Museum Annual Lincoln Celebration	2/7	South Shore
There will be yet another lecture at the Forbes, with a birthday theme. Not sure how big it’ll be. 1-4pm. Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams Street, Milton, MA. more
Snowflake Sunday re: Paper Capers: Adventures in Paper Art – Opening Party	2/7	North Shore
As part of an exhibition that’s opening, the Wenham will teach you to fold origami. They’ll have displays like a giant paper origami giraffe. After the kids event making snowflakes out of paper there will be some kind of adult party I believe. I called in about this one but now I forget. Well, call ’em yourself if you’re curious. Wenham Museum, Rt 1A, Wenham, MA.978-468-2377. more more
Cranapalooza	1/30 – 3/6	New Hampshire
Every Saturday through mid-March they’ll have events and fireworks. They have a Fun Zone indoor amusement park, too. And snow tubing. Cranmore Mountain, North Conway, NH. more
Performance
Magners Comedy Festival	2/4 – 2/6	Boston Metro
A comedy festival is coming to town. Information is lacking but they’re going to have some kind of opening party on Friday I believe. Various, Boston, MA. more
The Barber of Seville	2/5 – 2/7	Boston Metro
Everyone loves the Barber of Seville! It’s an opera that’s safe for you to try. If you’re ever going to see an opera, this is the one. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, MA.800-233-3123. more
International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella – Quarterfinals	2/6 – 3/20	Metro West
If you love a capella music like I do, check this out. And there’s a separate concert at Brown University in Providence RI on Feb 20 and one coming up at MIT on March 20. BU, Brown, MIT, Various. more