Greenfield Winter Carnival 2025 in Massachusetts

For over a century, the Greenfield Winter Carnival has been a cherished tradition, uniting the Franklin County community to embrace the joys of the winter season. This annual event is a welcome opportunity for residents and visitors to venture outdoors and celebrate, even during the cold and often dreary winter months. Spanning an entire weekend, the carnival offers a variety of activities and events scattered throughout the city.

Schedule of Events

Ice Sculptures

The Greenfield Winter Carnival kicks off with live ice carving demonstrations by skilled local artists downtown, offering visitors a unique opportunity to watch the creative process in action. Completed sculptures will be displayed across the area for the entire weekend. At dusk, the sculptures are illuminated, creating a stunning visual experience along Main Street. Visitors can also participate by voting for their favorite sculpture through an online contest.

Parade of Lights

The Greenfield Winter Carnival begins with the torch lighting on The Common at 4 pm. Events include Meltdown at Mesa, an outdoor beach party with an Ice Bar, Downtown Defrost with fire dancing, and activities at Beacon Field like music, sledding, ice skating, and a warming fire. The Parade of Lights, featuring illuminated vehicles from Newton School to Beacon Field, ends with a fireworks show. Other Friday activities include a hot chocolate and board game social at the library.

Activities

On Saturday, the celebration continues with a virtual puzzle contest, where teams race to complete a 550-piece puzzle to win the Winter Carnival Piece Prize. Family activities at 20 Sanderson Street run from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, including arts and crafts, board games, take-home projects, and an art display. Afternoon highlights include a family dance lesson, cribbage tournament, Mad Science Fire and Ice Show, fat bike group ride, Four Phantoms Brewing Dark HeARTS Market, and the Melt Down at Mesa Beach Bash and Ice Bar. Evening events feature a Glow Party with a DJ and LED dancing robot at Greenfield Middle School from 5:30 pm to 7 pm and a Winter Carnival Party with live music by Small Town Radio at Hawks and Reed.

Sunday, February 4, begins with the Donuts with Olaf fundraiser from 8 to 10 a.m. at Adams Donuts. Pre-orders open January 24 on the Adams website. At 10 a.m., the Garden Cinema hosts a free showing of "Smallfoot," and a snowshoeing hike through Highland Park starts at noon. The day's main events take place at Beacon Field from noon to 4 pm with a Beach Bash in the snow. Activities include sledding, ice skating, snowman and snow castle building, snow volleyball, and lawn games. Highlights also feature horse-drawn hay or sleigh rides, community tug-of-war, ice bowling, broom ball, and a live DJ. Food lovers can enjoy a cookie bake-off, chili cook-off, marshmallow toasting, hot cocoa, and other warm treats from the snack bar.

Beacon Field will also feature a vintage snowmobile show and rides. The popular K-9 Keg Pull also returns, where dogs of all sizes race while pulling appropriately sized kegs, with proceeds benefiting Friends of the Paws Park. The day ends with the cardboard sled race. Businesses can compete in the Corporate Challenge, and spectators vote for the “People’s Choice” award. Additional weekend activities include Find the Golden Carrot, a poetry walk, Sour Fest at Four Phantoms Brewing, and special offerings at Main Street Bar & Grille.

Tickets

Most events are free, but some require a fee or suggested donation. Details and registration forms for these activities can be found on the Winter Carnival website.

History of Greenfield Winter Carnival

The Greenfield Winter Carnival celebrates the town's rich history as a winter sports destination, dating back to the 1920s. Highlights include ski jumps and toboggan chutes that once drew thousands of spectators. Notably, the 1927 event featured ski jumpers leaping through a flaming hoop after dark, and in 1928, Greenfield hosted the Eastern U.S. Ski Championships on the Shelburne Mountain Ski Jump.