TABLE PICKS Top 3 Events for January/February 2026

1. Keene's Annual Ice and Snow Festival Picture families with bright-eyed children watching professionals carve 300-pound ice blocks into detailed free-style sculptures, making s'mores around a fire pit, tasting sugar on snow, drinking hot chocolate and watching cartoons at the Colonial Theatre. A children's train, pony rides, face painting, roaming circus acts, and a family craft center are among other delights developed over time. Imagine an entire day of free art experiences. &emsp;These images reflect the magic of Keene's Annual Ice and Snow Festival*, begun by John Summers and Bill Jones in 2002 and marking its 23rd year in 2026. The Feb. 7, 2026, Keene, N.H. event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and hosts 14 professional ice carvers from the Monadnock Region and all over New England. Ice carvers are invited, given a stipend, and compete for prizes ranging from $200 to $1,000. &emsp;"The festival is a spectacular event that brings creativity and vibrancy to our downtown during the peak of winter," says festival organizer Mark Rebillard, owner of Deep Roots Massage and chairman of Keene's Downtown Group. This volunteer group became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on Apr. 15, 2025, allowing them to apply for funding and hire executive staff to manage the planning juggled by volunteer organizers who work full-time. &emsp;"I'm a 'go big or go home' kind of guy, so I wanted to add a lot of activities," he explains, referring to the event's continued growth. &emsp;New to the festival this year: The Soul & Shadow Emporium and Good Fortune Jewelry are bringing the Winter Village Market artisan fair indoors this year, Yellow Bell restaurant will host an outdoor ice bar and food trucks behind Greenwald Realty on Emerald Street, and there's a chance that this year's festival will include a small ice rink and/or a giant snow slide. &emsp;Donations of hot chocolate from stores, syrup from Grand Monadnock Maple Farm, Jack's Crackers graham crackers (part of 1,200 s'mores kits this year), plus many volunteers' time contribute to its success. &emsp;"I decided that if I was the chair of the Downtown Group, I was going to put my energy into keeping this going," Rebillard says, as he took on event leadership in 2019 from Jim Narckiewicz. &emsp;The event draws locals and out-of-towners, helping support downtown businesses, notes Denise Meadows, long-time organizer and volunteer. &emsp;Rebillard says the festival increases downtown businesses' volume by up to 300%. Little Yeti figures, made with the help of fiscal sponsor Arts Alive, are hidden inside local businesses for a "Find the Yeti" scavenger hunt, bringing people through their doors. &emsp;MoCo Arts students dress up, bringing "Frozen" characters Elsa and Anna to life, figures excited children run to hug; other "characters" include Yukon Cornelius, the Abominable Snowman, the Heat Miser and Cold Miser. &emsp;"The whole reason this festival happens is for the kids and seeing the looks of joy on their faces," Meadows says. &emsp;For more information: email Mark at keenedowntowngroup@gmail.com *Major sponsors include Mascoma Bank, Savings Bank of Walpole, the Putnam Foundation, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Monadnock Food Co-op, Price Chopper, Fidium Fiber, Deep Roots and Finley Construction, with great assistance from Keene's public works department And don't miss ... 2. Brattleboro's 70th Annual Winter Carnival Nearby Brattleboro hosts an array of mid-February activities during their 69th annual Winter Carnival (info: brattleborowintercarnival.org) 3. The Monadnock Conservancy's February 1st Heart Hike This event features 20 local artist-made hearts hidden on Jaffrey's Mountain Brook Reservoir Trail. (info: mondnockconservancy.org)