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There
are lots of ways to celebrate Massachusetts in February, with Black
History Month, Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day, President's Day,
School Vacation Week and plenty of outdoor activities.
Our state initiative, My
Local MA, encourages all of us to support local
businesses, including farms and restaurants, art galleries and
cultural venues, Main Street retailers and family-owned companies.
And please, don't forget to #MaskupMA!
You can find more information at findmylocalma.com
or visitma.com.
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Featured Region:
North of Boston
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You're
invited to Salem's So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Festival
February 1-14! A decadent tradition of delectable chocolate,
sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine's Day shopping! When winter
returns to the lower Merrimack Valley, so do Bald Eagles and Snowy
Owls and other exciting winter wildlife. This year, join the Merrimack River Eagle Festival
February 9-14 online and in-person for events celebrating these
special winter residents. Join the Cape Ann Museum February 26 at 1 pm
for a Virtual Lecture Series with Dr. Kabria Baumgartner and Dr.
Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello on the rich history of African Americans in Essex County.
On display now through April 4 at the Addison Gallery of American Art
is Yoko Ono: Mend Piece. In this
exhibit, Ono proposes communal mending as an act of healing.
Participants are asked to bind the fragments of shattered materials
together using common household items. The resulting creations are
displayed on nearby shelves, evidence of the power of collective
action. Ono's meditative environment inspires reflections on the
tumultuous concerns of society, as well as personal struggles. For
more events go to NorthofBoston.org.
Find more events and information for North
of Boston.
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The
Plymouth
Center for the Arts is hosting Winter Art classes for
adults, teens and children through February 20, 2021! Classes include
oil painting, watercolors, ceramics, jewelry, drawing and much more!
Most classes are virtual. Plymouth Center for the Arts is committed
to following CDC guidelines, social distancing, and having clean and
safe classrooms. Special instructions and guidance will be provided
for all on-site activities to ensure students and visitors understand
and follow stay healthy requirements. Find information on Adult Classes and Children's Classes.
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Preparing
for a post-pandemic parade of visitors, Cisco Bar & Kitchen
is under construction on the beautiful New Bedford waterfront. Cisco
Brewery and local restaurant entrepreneur Steve Silverstein will open
this spring with a seaside restaurant/entertainment complex featuring
the best of the South Coast food and fun!
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Distance
learning has us all looking for things to engage kids of all ages.
Why not take advantage of History at Home, virtual
experiences offered by the Concord Museum? Videos are available to
watch online that show what it was like to live and work in the
Colonial era. From Craftsmanship & Apprenticeship to Colonial
Cooking and Colonial Clothing, from Paul Revere's ride to the
Minutemen and much more, these videos filmed on location, bring this
time period to life. There is also a free weekly newsletter that is
filled with fun videos, activities and images for all ages. Find out more!
Find events and information for Greater
Merrimack Valley.
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Benjamin
Adwetewa-Badu, Street Blues. Courtesy of ArtsWorcester
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9
Ways to Explore Central MA this February:
1. Discover Worcester's Black-owned fashion brands;
2. Support WHM's Worcester Black History Project;
3. Attend Preservation Worcester's Worcester's Royal Corsets lecture;
4. Order takeout from Worcester's
Black-owned restaurants; 5. Take a
romantic winter walk; 6. Learn the history of
local Black sports superstar "the Worcester Whirlwind"
7. Practice yoga on the trails; 8. Scope out our
Instagram Guides; 9. Watch a virtual performance filmed at Mechanics Hall
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The
Virtual Winter Lecture Series at Historic Deerfield will feature the
topic "Speaking Up: Histories of American Protest and
Activism." Protest and dissent are an
integral part of American political and cultural identity. Join
virtual webinars devoted to exploring vibrant, lesser-known histories
of American activism, including how women of color transformed the
women's suffrage movement and the raucous electoral politics of the
post-Civil War era. Find out more!
Find more events and information for Franklin
County.
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Envoy
igloo photo credit Jason Wessel Photography
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Greater
Boston abounds with unique "outdoor" dining experiences
this winter! Experience panoramic views of Boston with the
Envoy's Igloos, or chill with the Igloo Village at 75 on Liberty
Wharf. Mouth-watering tacos are available in your own personal pod at
Rosa Mexicano, while the Igloo Wonderland at the Inn at Hastings Park
features romantic twinkling lights, faux-fireplace heaters and
mini speakers. Head to Cambridge and cozy up with local, seasonally
inspired cuisine at Tululla's Greenhouses.
Find more events and information for Greater
Boston.
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Rest
and recharge with a warm and cozy winter escape to the Cape! Sit
fireside at a romantic inn or quaint B&B. Indulge yourself
at a full-service resort. Take a
brisk beach walk on a sun-filled day, or savor a spa experience. Explore hiking and biking trails, visit a brewery, and enjoy delicious
locally sourced seafood. Some of the Cape's creative restaurant
owners have even masterfully prepared al fresco seating options to
keep you warm and fed all winter long! Find treasures in dozens of shops and art galleries. Book your stay and warm up this
winter on Cape Cod!
Find more events and information for Cape
Cod.
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Western
Mass is known as a land of firsts and for good
reason. Springfield, one of at least 36 in the US, but it was
the first. We're also home to the first armory commissioned in
the country, the first home of beloved author and illustrator Theodor
'Seuss' Geisel, where the American-made automobile was manufactured,
the first board game and so much more. Find you firsts by
visiting the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum,
Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Volleyball
Hall of Fame, Springfield
Armory National Historic Site and Yankee Candle Village. Enhanced cleaning and social distancing
protocols are in place.
Find more events and information for Western
Mass.
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Turn
up your love for the arts with virtual events from Hampshire County!
Tap into the creative energy of artists by treating yourself or
someone special to a piece from the Paradise City Marketplace.
Looking for a fun way to learn from home with the kids? Don't miss
the latest offering from the Eric
Carle Museum in Amherst! Ladysmith Black Mambazo will
stream live on Wednesday, February 17th presented by the UMass Fine
Arts Center.
Find more events and information for Hampshire
County.
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North Central
Massachusetts
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Biking,
hiking, skiing...you've spent the early months of winter burning
pent-up energy and trying to stay fit. Now it's time to sit back,
relax, and simply enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty of Johnny
Appleseed Country! Head out to Cornerstone
Ranch in Princeton for a private hayride or sleigh
ride designed for families or couples. Relax to the clip-clop rhythm
while taking in the scenery, then linger by the campfire with hot
cocoa and s'mores to end your perfect New England day.
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On
Martha's Vineyard, February's a wonderful time to show the love by
loving what's local! Winter's bare trees and solitude reward
strollers/hikers with wildlife, gorgeous terrain, vistas - Trails MV app will guide you!
Enjoy your very own beach maybe. Visit timed-entry Martha's
Vineyard Museum; Island
Alpaca, Gingerbread Cottages (always a
joy!), shop
(most shops open year-round), cycle
(paths always open), exciting programs at Cape Poge/Long Point
Wildlife-Refuges, take lighthouse-safaris, dine-in/take-out at island restaurants, browse/shop/learn Featherstone
Center for the Arts, photograph island beauty. Stay
safe, apart and continually-inspired to Love Local MV!
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There
is no better way to enjoy the winter and the Mohawk Trail Region than
heading outside to play in the freshly fallen snow, with hundreds of
acres of wide-open spaces and plenty of room to cross-country and
downhill ski, snowboard, snowshoe, tubing, fat tire biking, ice
skating, hike one of the many tree cover trail or the outdoor art
trails. Great outdoors promotes socially distancing experience. Project snowshoe, Berkshire
East Mountain Resort, Mohawk Trail State Forest-DCR
Find more events and information for The
Mohawk Trail Region.
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Valentine
Projects for the whole family at Framingham Library! Sign-ups begin
on February 1, supplies are limited. Take & Make Kit: Valentine Critters
(Ages 4-12): Make your own fuzzy, googly eyed valentine critter. All
materials and instructions provided. Take & Make Kit: STEM
Valentine's Circuit Bookmarks (Ages 9-14) Create a light up
Valentine's Day themed bookmark using circuits, LED light, and a
battery! All materials are provided in a kit available for curbside
pickup.
Find more events and information for MetroWest.
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February
on Nantucket
is occasionally balmy! Afoot at its 214+ conservation properties,
beautiful, wide wonderful vistas (and wildlife) prevail! Deserted beaches enchant with dreamy
morning/evening light. Enjoy downtown's 800+ pre-Civil-War
leaf-free buildings. Tuck in for a latte, shop solo, stay a night or two. Dawdle over
romantic dinner before strolling the
Harbor. Visitors often have much of Nantucket to themselves - imagine
that! Winter can make it better! Yes, pinch yourself - just look
where you are!
Find more events and information for Nantucket
Island.
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