Family Fun for Vermont's February Break

Family Art Saturday at BCA

Join BCA for a drop-in artmaking activity inspired by the paintings of Bunny Harvey featured in her exhibition Worlds within Worlds on February 22. Create drawings inspired by the sounds and memory of nature. Participants use pastels or markers to express the shapes, colors, or patterns that come to mind as they imagine their environment. Family Art Saturday is free and open to the public. 

More Saturday Fun

Alternatively, check out the Winter Festivals happening in Milton and Rutland, or check out one of many free library activities, such as The Art of Creating Community Through Hip-Hop at South Burlington Public Library or STEAM Ahead Saturdays at Winooski Library. There will be plenty of action on the ice on Saturday, too, with free skating clinics in St. Johnsbury and a UVM Men's Hockey Game at 7:30pm.

Wintervale, 11am – 3pm

Enjoy cross country ski and snow shoe demos, winter walks, a bonfire, kids' activities, chili, hot chocolate and more at the annual Wintervale celebration in Burlington, Vermont. There will be a live raptor program plus a community maple boil by Tap ONE, if the weather permits.

Have a Family Movie Day

Or make it a movie day with a Sunday matinee. Check out our list of local movie theatres for times and shows. Some of the family-friendly movies playing this week include Paddington in Peru, Dogman, Moana 2, Mufasa, and Captain America: Brave New World!

SBRP School Break Extravaganza

Join South Burlington Recreation & Parks at the U-Mall (next to Target) for a fun-filled vacation break celebration with indoor activities for all ages! Activities include board games, yard games, STEAM activities, arts & crafts, music, snacks and lots of family fun! This program is open to South Burlington and surrounding community residents!

Vacation Week Camps

Need to work? Check out our collection of full week and drop-in Vacation Week Camps on our calendar and in our Camps category. See options from Audubon Vermont in Huntington, ONE Arts Studio in Middlesex and ONE Arts Center in Burlington, The Current in Stowe, and more! 

Circuit Circus Festival at ECHO

Step right up to the most electrifying festival of the year! ECHO's Circuit Circus will spark your scientific curiosity with daily hair-raising science shows, crowd-dazzling spectacles, and hands-on activities all about the wonders of electricity. The festival runs from February 22 - March 4 with hands-on activities throughout the day and daily shows at 10:30am, 1pm, and 3pm.Free with admission or ECHO membership.

Find Winter Fun

Check out our guide to getting outside in the winter and get in some snow fun before it melts! We share tips everything from dressing for the cold, to where to explore and when. Explore all sorts of fun winter activities and where to do them in our Winter Fun category, like sledding, skiing, ice skating and more. 

Winter Break Open Play at Eat and Be Hoopy

Enjoy crafts, hooping, hot chocolate and more over at Eat and Be Hoopy's Cozy Winter Break open play hours in the University Mall, South Burlington. Open 9am - noon, February 24-27. Ms. Karla has prepared mind craftivities for each day, plus enjoy a hoop dance parties, warm water table activities, and more. $20 per kiddo.

Libraries to the Rescue

If you're looking for a free indoor escape, look to your local library! They've upped the programming over break to entertain kids of all ages. Check these fun events happening on Wedneday, February 26: Tell a Fairy Tale at Brownell Library, Winter Break Youth Pop Up Event at Winooski Library making cardboard cities, STEAM Space at Fletcher Free Library, and more!

School Break Escape Room 

Solve clues, cyphers, codes and puzzles to help your team make their escape! This program at Burnham Memorial Library in Colchester is suitable for ages 6-11. They are offering two sessions at 11am and 2pm. Sign up to save your spot. 

Find Indoor Activities

From arcades to museums, bowling alleys to climbing walls, explore our Indoor Fun category to find something new near or not so near to you. Break week is a great time to try something new with the family. There are options from all ages, from indoor jungle gyms to educational experiences, across the state and beyond.

Sled Dogs Meet & Greet at Umiak Stowe

Elevate your spirits and embrace the joy of companionship with a Sled Dog Meet and Greet with Siber Sled Dogs and Umiak. This experience features an enchanting group of Siberian Huskies. Immerse yourself in the delightful charm and playful energy these adorable pups bring, creating a truly unforgettable experience. Guests can meet and play with the dogs, view different types of sleds, and learn about what it takes to be a musher! 

Cosmic Minigolf at Jay Peak

Whether you want to ski and ride or not, a day trip to Jay Peak is worth checking out. The Pumphouse waterpark is warm yearround and the new glow mini-golf is a much-try. Clips & Reels is also home to a climbing gym and movie theatre, and ice skating is available at the Ice Haus Arena.  

Maple Open House at Palmer's Sugarhouse

It's officially maple time at Palmer's starting March 1. Bring the entire family for plenty of maple favorites, such as sugar on snow, donuts with cream, maple cotton candy, & more. Stay and watch the sap boil or get your favorites to go. Bring your boots and skiis and enjoy our trails through the sugarbush. Be sure to say hello to their six goats!

More Saturday Fun

Get even more into the maple spirit with Winter Wildlife Detectives: In the Sugarbush! at Shelburne Farms, or check out a classic Nordic ski event with a legacy dating back to the 1970s, The Pig Race at Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center, or Step into a world of magic and imagination at Once Upon A Story with the Bristol Recreation Department. 

Sunday Mornings with the Dad Guild

Choose from two get together with Burlington's Dad Guild: Morning Fam Jams at the new Guild Hall where father, musician and early childhood educator Alex Baron will be facilitating fun for all family members with instruments on hand, or Kids, Waffles & Coffee @ Zero Gravity Brewery for a chill morning.

Take a Daycation at Smuggs

Take a break from the routine with a Daycation to Smuggs. Dive into fun at their pools, explore the excitement at the Ozone in FunZone2.0, enjoy daytime or night tubing hills, ice skate at the outdoor rink, snowshoe or cross-country ski on over 20km of Nordic trails, plus join in on daily activities designed for families to enjoy together.