Lowell Winterfest

03/16/2026

It was only appropriate to celebrate the winners of WinterFest among 200 photos for 200 years on Tuesday at City Hall. Congratulations to all who participated in this historic WinterFest!

The Richard Rourke Soup Competition 🍜
Judges Choice
1st Place - Laos Thai Kitchen
2nd Place - FORK Included
3rd Place - Trem Caipira

People’s Choice
1st Place - Purple Carrot Bread Co.
2nd Place - FORK Included
3rd Place - Laos Thai Kitchen

Lowell Bakery Showcase🎂
Winners selected by celebrity chef, Buddy Valastro.
1st Place - Sugar Sparks Bakery
2nd Place - Good Thymes Family Restaurant
3rd Place - Olympos Bakery

Snow Relay Race 🏁
1st Place - The Worthen House
2nd Place - Latinx Center for Community Empowerment
3rd Place - Lowell Hip Hop Festival

4th Annual WinterFest Scavenger Hunt
1st Place - The Ghost of Poe Returns
2nd Place - McHatton Maniacs
3rd Place - The Campbell Cats

Mosaic Lowell's Youth Mural Competition 👨‍🎨
High School Aged
1st Place and People's Choice - Greater Lowell Technical High School Team A
2nd Place - YouthBuild of Greater Lowell at Community Teamwork
3rd Place - Community Teamwork, Inc. Youth Advisory Board
Honorable Mention - GLTHS Team X

Middle School Aged
1st Place - Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell
2nd Place - Refuge Art School
3rd Place - Lowell Community Charter Public School
Honorable Mention - Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell

City of Lowell, MA - Government

03/07/2026

Wrapping up our week of WinterFest photos is a massive "thank you". Making events happen isn't any one individual effort, it's the result of this community coming together to create something magical. 🫶

Thank you to our sponsors - WinterFest was made possible by the Lowell Bicentennial Fundraising Committee and Sponsors, and the Mill City Event Fund Committee and Sponsors. These efforts were key in bringing this event to life.

BRM Production Management produced WinterFest, working tirelessly to make this 200th birthday party a reality. We're so thankful for their collaboration and commitment.

City Departments worked together to make this the perfect kick off to the Bicentennial. The Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Department of Public Works, Department of Planning & Development, City of Lowell, MA - Government Lowell Fire, Emergency Management, Parking have been planning WinterFest for many months. Thank you to all who had a hand in working to make the event run smoothly.

Our volunteers showed up in never-before-seen numbers to cashier the Soup Competition, monitor Curling, hand out maps, and run the Merch Store. Thank you for offering up your time - it is so deeply appreciated.

We'd be remiss to not end this post thanking you, for attending WinterFest, and helping us celebrate this City that we love. Thank you.

But wait - we're still celebrating Lowell! Join us for Bicentennial activities, happening throughout 2026. Find more at www.lowellma200.org.

03/07/2026

WinterFest wouldn't be WinterFest without fire & ice sculptures. BRM Production Management partnered with us to produce WinterFest 2026, and they curated a once-in-a-lifetime Fire Sculpture Garden in the Rockland Trust lot 🔥The ice sculptures were too cool and added the wintery ambiance despite the warmer weather!
Fire Sculptors 🔥
Pyronica - Dave Anderson
Fire Drums - David Kent
Dragon's Egg Nest - David Kent
Pippa - David Kent
Erif - David Kent
Fire Ceiling - Blake Courtney
Fire Fountain - Kosta Zavras
Helix - Kosta Zavras
4 Headed Poofer - Kosta Zavras
Fire Arch - Michael Dewberry, Ben Roberts-Sano, Galia Traub

Ice Sculptors🧊
Brookline Ice Co.

LED Sculptors💡
Anne Dresbach
Dan Pogue

Check out the full gallery of WinterFest fun at www.lowellwinterfest.com/gallery

03/07/2026

Even the littlest of Lowellians loved WinterFest! Thank you to our partners in creating fun for the next generation- the Recreation Department, Arts League of Lowell, Tiger An's, our Snow Relay Race winners, and all of our volunteers.

Tiger An's Tae Kwon Do
Latinx Community Center for Empowerment - LCCE
Lowell Hip Hop Festival
The Worthen House
Arts League of Lowell - ALL

03/06/2026

The Experience Lowell Arts Market, produced by Mosaic Lowell, was a fan favorite of WinterFest! Over 25 vendors offered wares from the softest knit beanies to breathtaking stained glass. Thank you to all the artists who joined us!
Missed the market? Check out all the artisans here: https://ow.ly/ljXN50Yqc1p

03/06/2026

03/05/2026

WinterFest 2026 brought the FUN! From a giant dance wall to curling, to relaxing in a cozy igloo, there was something for everyone at WinterFest. ❄️
Check out the full gallery: www.lowellwinterfest.com/gallery

03/04/2026

The vibes at WinterFest 2026? Impeccable. Thank you to our musical acts- performing at downtown restaurants, in the Rockland Trust Music Tent, at the Experience Lowell Arts Market, and in the Cake Tent. WinterFest has become synonymous with great musical acts, and this year was NO exception. Based on these shots, we'd say the crowd enjoyed the music too 🤩

Thank you to our exceptional musical acts!
Dan Sky
The FunRazrs
Tee and the Gents
The Old Rochelle
Merlot Music
Bitter Pill
DIS-N-DAT BAND
Cousin Auntie's Ghost
Gusto
Daemon Chili
Alligator Wine
2 Bit Brass
African Roots Band of Boston
Sonic Avionics
The Honey Steelers
Lee Biddle Music
Jesse Eliza
Reverend JJ & Handsome Kevin
Hal Holiday
Jasper Crystal Wizard
Justin Cohn
Evan Goodrow Music
Charles A

More WinterFest photos at www.lowellwinterfest.com/gallery

03/04/2026

It's always soup season in Lowell, and this year's soup competition proved it! Thank you to all our participants - the Richard Rourke Memorial Soup Competition wouldn't be the same without you. A special shoutout to our sponsor, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and Breeze Airways for their partnership and support in presenting this beloved WinterFest tradition.
Judges Choice🏆
First Place: Laos Thai Kitchen
Second Place: FORK Included
Third Place: Trem Caipira USA

People’s Choice 🏆
First Place: Purple Carrot Bread Co.
Second Place: FORK Included
Third Place: Laos Thai Kitchen

03/04/2026

We had so much fun at WinterFest 2026, we can't contain it to just one post! Throughout this week, we'll be featuring everything that made WinterFest 2026 extra-special. From welcoming Buddy Valastro to Lowell, to incredible musicians, to next-level fire sculptures, this year's festivities made for the perfect pre-birthday party for our great City.
Check out the full gallery at www.lowellwinterfest.com

City of Lowell, MA - Government

03/03/2026

Okay, you asked and we answered! We made our in-person merch available online, now available in more colors & sizes!
Snag a "Bring Back the Human Dogsled Races" baseball cap to flex your WinterFest historical knowledge (remember when?) or show off your Lowell pride with the "Welcome to WinterFest" sweatshirt.
Bonus - Revolutionary Valley has some remaining stock at their visitor center on Merrimack Street for those of you who prefer to stop in-person!
Shop now: www.lowellwinterfest.com/store

02/28/2026

Hold on to your spoons. The 2026 Richard Rourke Memorial Soup Competition results are in:

Judges Choice 🏆
First Place: Laos Thai Kitchen
Second Place: FORK Included
Third Place: Trem Caipira USA

People’s Choice 🏆
First Place: Purple Carrot Bread Co.
Second Place: FORK Included
Third Place: Laos Thai Kitchen

Thank you to all who participated as competitors and voters! 🍲

City of Lowell, MA - Government
Like Lowell
Revolutionary Valley
Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce
Taste the Acre