Things to Do in Michigan in February

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February continues to bring it with a number of fun winter recreational events and adventures. But there are also many other things to do in Michigan in February, especially with Valentines Day and Black History Month. Discover more exciting things to do in the Great Lakes state this month below!

Things to do in Michigan in February Map

Unique and Interesting Things to Do in Michigan in February

Find a unique or interesting event or local winter attraction happening in February nearby you in Michigan! Here are my top picks for fun February activities:

• Winter Water Rafting – Bundle up and enjoy a relaxing guided river raft cruise down a fast moving river in Northern Michigan. There are a number of rivers that flow so quickly they don’t freeze over in the winter offering a unique winter opportunity. Check out Big Bear Adventures in Indian River, Jordan Valley Outfitters in East Jordan, Pine River Paddlesports Center in Wellston, and Sturgeon River Paddle in Wolverine.
• Perchville USA – East Tawas: 2/3-6; Celebrate winter in northeast Michigan during East Tawas’ annual winter weekend. Enjoy a parade, chili cookoff, fair, live music, and polar bear swim.
• Suttons Bay Yeti Fest: 2/19, 10:30 am – 8:30 pm; This family friendly event featuring a favorite mythical snow creature takes place all across Suttons Bay! Learn about Yeti’s, watch a movie, and groove during a silent disco during Yeti Fest.
• Michigan Nordic Fire Festival – Charlotte: 2/25-27; Whether you have Viking blood or not, embrace your inner Scandinavian at the Nordic Fire Festival. This epic winter celebration has demonstrations, reenactments, and participatory events like archery, Viking bowling, and competitions. Purchase tickets online to save time and money. Tickets are available per day, for the whole weekend, as an individual, and as a family.
• Michigan Tech Winter Carnival – Houghton 2/9-12: This year mark’s the 100th anniversary of Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival. The Winter Carnival is one of the US’ biggest winter celebrations which contains massive snow statues and sculptures, royalty coronation, competitive winter games, and more!
• Indoor Sidewalk Sale – Charlevoix: 2/18-21: Happening during President’s weekend is Charlevoix’s Indoor Sidewalk Sale. If you’re someone who can’t bear the thought of being out in the cold, this is a great thing to do in Michigan in February for you!

Top Day Trips and Winter Getaways to take in February

Also consider taking a day trip or winter getaway this February! Below are a number of articles and itineraries of places in Michigan I’ve traveled to during winter you can use to inspire your own winter getaway:

• Romantic Day Trip to St. Joseph: Celebrate Valentine’s day with your significant other in one of Michigan’s most romantic towns – St. Joseph.
• Enjoy a Galantines Day Celebrating with Friends in the Eastown & East Hills neighborhoods of Grand Rapids.
• And for the adventurous outdoor couple, go on a winter day trip to Ludington.
• If you prefer traveling to northern Michigan, enjoy a getaway to Traverse City for sightseeing, igloo dining, and a little winter wine tasting.

Winter Festivals in February

Continuing into February are a number of winter festivals throughout Michigan. Check out the list below for one that interests you! Listed next to the event are attractions, activities, and if there is a cost to attend each festival.

• South Haven Ice Breaker – downtown South Haven: 2/4-6; With ice sculptures, a cardboard sled race, chili cookoff, ice skating, curling, frozen fish throw, and a whole lot more, South Haven comes alive during winter!
• Magical Ice Fest – downtown St. Joseph: 2/4-6; Check out St. Joe’s free winter festival to watch ice carving competitions, scavenger hunt and more!
• Michigan Ice Fest – Munising: 2/9-13; Dating back to 1991, Michigan Ice Fest brings ice climbers and other adventurous winter outdoorspeople together for half a week of winter fun. Attend classes to climb frozen waterfalls and get social afterwards at one of the several parties. Costs vary.
• Valent-ICE – Grand Rapids: 2/11-18; Check out all the ice sculptures popping up around downtown Grand Rapids as part of the city’s World of Winter.
• Plymouth Ice Festival – downtown Plymouth: 2/11-13; Admire over 50 ice sculptures, play scavenger hunt bingo, and take advantage of sales and specials throughout downtown Plymouth.
• Mount Clemens Annual Ice Carving Festival – The Discovery Center: 2/11-13, 12-3pm; This free family friendly event has an ‘ice age’ theme. Watch live ice carving demonstrations, enjoy prehistoric crafts, and watch Ice Age with fresh popcorn.
• Pentwater Winterfest – Pentwater: Weekend of 2/12 & 2/19; Pentwater will have you loving winter after you attend its Winterfest. They’re packing in ice skating, a winter run, ice fishing tournament, and a winter farmers market into these two weekends.
• Winterlochen – Interlochen Center for the Arts: 2/12, 11am; Free, DIY art activities such as mural painting, acting workshops and more.
• Alpena Ice Festival – Downtown Alpena: 2/12, 9am-9pm; First stop by Mich-e-ke-wis Park to check out ice sculptures, demonstrations, snow activities, bonfire pit, and food and drinks. Then head downtown for more ice sculptures, an ice throne, and restaurant specials as a prelude to restaurant week.
• Hartland Township Winterfest – Heritage Park: 2/12, 12pm; Enjoy sledding, entertainment, food, and ice skating. Then, at the end of the day, stay for the fireworks show.
• Benzie Winterfest – Village Park, Beulah: 2/12; If you missed Mackinaw City’s annual Outhouse Race last month, you can see another one in Beulah! There is also a winter parade, horse drawn carriage rides, frozen turkey bowling, frozen fish toss, and more!
• Winter Blast Royal Oak – east of Main and South of 11 Mile: 2/18-20; This free winter festival features winter activities, live entertainment, and delicious local restaurants for the whole family to enjoy.
• Indian River Winterfest – Cooperation Park: 2/18-20; Come out via car or snowmobile to Indian River’s annual Winterfest. Participate in an ice hockey tournament, ice skate, go sledding, or enjoy live entertainment.
• Winter Wonderland Week– Downtown Petoskey: 2/19-27; Rather than a weekend, downtown Petoskey broadened their weekend festival into a full week! Check out the ice sculptures, go on a scavenger hunt among the stores, and go on a ghost walk! And if you’re looking to stay overnight, stay at Stafford’s historic Perry Hotel and receive $25 in downtown dollars to spend locally during your stay.
• Walloon Lake Winterfest – Barrel Black Restaurant: 2/19, 12-4pm; See antique snowmobiles right on the lake! Other activities include live ice carvings, ice skating, and beer, wine, and spirits tasting.
• Winterfest at Cranhill – Rodney: 2/20, 2-6pm; Enjoy a free meal, tubing, ice skating, tractor wagon rides, and more!
• Smeltania Winter Festival – Boyne City Veterans Pavilion: 2/25-27; After a year off, Smeltania’s Winter Festival is back. This year, the festival includes a pub crawl, polar plunge, ice fishing contest, and more.

Black History Month Events

With February being Black History Month, there are several events, exhibits, and educational opportunities.

You may also be interested in exploring the towns and places throughout Michigan that once were part of the Underground Railroad. Check out my article here about the places along the Underground Railroad in Michigan you can still see.

• Black History Month Open House – Saginaw Art Museum: 2/1, 5:30-7:30pm; This free open house kicks off three new exhibits at the art museum including The Black Hand Side, From Africa to Eternity, and Advocacy through Design. These exhibits run through April 8th.
• Sons: Seeing the Modern African American Male – Flint Institute of Arts: Now – April; A thought provoking art exhibit that features 49 men from Flint.
• Harold Neal & Detroit African American Artists Exhibit – Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum: Now-4/16, Learn more about the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power, and Black Arts Movements through the art of Black Detroit artists.
• Africa, Imagined – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: Now – May 1; Compare and contrast West African artwork with modern European and American artwork to discover how African art inspired and influenced well known contemporary works of art.
• Black History Walking Tour – Meet at the JW Marriott, Grand Rapids: 2/4, 2/5, 2/23; Get out and moving this winter during a free walking tour to learn about Black history in Grand Rapids covering both present day and events dating back to 1826.
• Small Business Pop Up Shop – American 1 Event Center, Jackson: 2/12, Enjoy brunch, networking, and shopping from local black-owned businesses during this pop up shop.
• Back to the Moon for Good – Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson: 2/19, 1pm: Watch a show in the planetarium that celebrates Black American’s contributions to the US’ space exploration program.

Ice Fishing Tournaments

After the usual January deep freeze, February is a reliable month to get out on the frozen lakes to go ice fishing. If ice fishing is something you enjoy doing in the winter, consider participating in one of the following ice fishing tournaments in Michigan.

• Devils and Round Lake Tip Up Festival – 2/4-6; Enjoy ice fishing along with snowmobile, dirt bike, and ATV races.
• Gettin’ Jiggy Ice Fishing Tournament – Suttons Landing, Ludington: 2/19; This tournament coincides with the Michigan DNR free fishing weekend. The entry fee to participate is $10 per person and you may enter to win longest fish for Bluegill, Crappie, and Perch. After the tournament wraps up at 6pm, there are free hot dogs to enjoy.
• And if you can’t make any ice fishing tournaments and are interested in trying out fishing in the state, the Michigan DNR hosts a free fishing weekend on February 19 and 20th.

Valentine’s Day Events & Ideas

Make plans with your special someone by attending one of these events for Valentines day in Michigan:

• Snowshoe with Your Sweetie – Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids: 2/11-12; This adults only event lasts 1.5 hours in the evening. For the adventurous, outdoorsy couple, enjoy a guided snowshoe hike through a lit trail. Post hike, warm up by the fire with wine, hard cider, hot cocoa and chocolates. The cost is between $15-$25 depending on if you bring your own snowshoes and are a member.
• Chocolate Covered Boyne – Boyne City Main Street: 2/11 & 12; Calling all chocolate lovers! Chocolate Covered Boyne involves a chocolate dessert contest and chocolate specials all throughout downtown Boyne City.
• Lowell Chocolate Stroll – Kent District Library: 2/12, 12pm: Go on a romantic stroll around downtown Lowell this Valentine’s after popping into Lowell’s library and visiting their hot chocolate bar.
• Light Up the Bluff – St. Joseph: Now through Valentines Weekend; If you’re like me and think Christmas lights are taken down way too early, you need to visit St. Joe before Valentines day. Lights adorn and light up Lake Bluff Park and provide a romantic location to watch the sunset from.

Also, check out my Instagram guide that lists local Michigan chocolatiers to purchase your Valentines goodies from.

Dog Sledding Races

From 2/17-21, a number of Dog Sled Races are taking place in the Upper Peninsula. Plan a visit to cheer on the teams!

• The UP 200 is a 230 mile, 12 dog team race that runs from Marquette to Munising then to Grand Marais and back.
• Midnight Run actually starts at 8:30pm and is a 90 mile, 8 dog team race from Marquette to Chatnam and back.
• Finally, there’s the Jack Pine race in Gwinn, which is a 26 mile, 6 dog team race.

Things to Do In Michigan in February: Winter Outdoor Adventures

Beyond all the winter festivals, there are also a number of winter outdoor activities to participate in or watch. Check those out below:

• I-500 Snowmobile Race – Sault Ste Marie: 1/31-2/5; Do you enjoy Nascar? Well, you gotta check out what’s considered “Nascar on Ice” as snowmobiles race each other around an oval track. When races aren’t going on, there are other events too like ice skating along the track and children’s races.
• Twilight Turtle Trek – Mackinac Island: 2/5, 5:30-7:30pm; Enjoy a lantern lit trail for snowshoeing or cross country skiing starting out at Greany Grove. It goes for 2 miles, and there is also a bonfire with hot chocolate served. The event is free. Please bring your own equipment.
• Candlelit Trails – Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Hastings: 2/12, 7-9pm; Enjoy a peaceful winter walk among the candlelit trails. This activity costs $5 per person unless you’re a member.
• Snowshoeing & S’mores – Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, Mackinaw City: 2/12, 2-4pm: A Mackinac State Historic Parks Naturalist guides this free 2 mile snowshoe hike with a stop midway to enjoy s’mores.

Beer & Wine Festivals & Restaurants Weeks

If frolicking in the snow is not your style this month and you’re just ready for spring to get here, consider dining out during an upcoming restaurant week. There are also a number of beer and wine festivals, which are more fun things to do in Michigan in February.

• Kalamazoo Restaurant Week – 2/18-27
• Alpena Restaurant Week – 2/19-26
• Ice, Wine, Beer & Blues Festival – Marshall: 2/4 & 5; Enjoy wine and beer with a blues concert at the Franke Center in Marshall.
• Michigan Brewers Guild 16th Annual Winter Beer Festival – LMCU Ballpark, Grand Rapids: 2/26, 1-6pm; $55 grants you admission and 15 tokens to try out 15 samples of Michigan craft beer. This festival is only for those 21+.
• Art and Craft Beer Fest – REO Town, Lansing: 2/19, 12-10pm; Discover new local art to purchase, watch art demonstrations, and live music as you stroll from one venue to the next. Beer this year is from Stormcloud Brewing and Petoskey Brewing.

Art & Film Festivals

Though it may be winter, there are also a couple art and film festivals to enjoy.

• Big Rapids Festival of the Arts – all month long: Attend workshops, watch performances, and explore exhibits during this month long event. The best part is, most of the events are free!
• Central Michigan International Film Festival – Mount Pleasant: 2/16-20; Support indie filmmakers from around the world during Mount Pleasant’s annual international film festival.

Best Places to Stay in Michigan in February

Looking for a romantic Valentine’s day getaway? Or are you going stir crazy looking at your own walls? Plan a weekend away to refresh and reset. Below are some of my favorite places to stay in Michigan during the winter:

Up for romance? These hotels were recently voted the most romantic places to stay in Michigan during the Michigan Travel Followers Choice Awards:

• Chateau Chantel, Old Mission Peninsula: What’s more romantic than staying at a winery around Valentines Day? This bed & breakfast is located high up on the Old Mission Peninsula with expansive views of the vineyards and stretches all the way to the East and West Arms of the Grand Traverse Bay.
• The Homestead Resort, Glen Arbor: Open all year round, the Homestead is located right on the northwest corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula. It’s also the perfect romantic destination for all types of couples. Whether you and your partner are looking for relaxation at the spa or snowy adventures, you’re bound to return home feeling invigorated and closer to your significant other.
• Inn at Harbor Shores, St. Joseph: Stay, eat, and relax all in one place by booking a romantic getaway at the Inn at Harbor Shores. I can vouch first hand that this hotel has a wonderful spa. My husband and I received a couples massage last year. Before your massage there is a room to relax and enjoy some tea in or an infrared sauna. Then after your spa services, head to dinner at Plank’s Tavern on the Water before retreating to your room. There’s also lots of great things to do in St. Joe in winter. Explore more here.

And if your looking for a mid winter adventure for the family, these hotel stays are great options!

• Holiday Inn Grand Rapids – South: After enjoying a day visiting the World of Winter, head back to the hotel to enjoy more family fun! This Holiday Inn is unique in that it has a kid friendly, mini indoor splash pad.
• Devils Lake Golden Retreat in Manitou Beach: Whenever I travel with my toddler, I enjoy staying at vacation rentals where my son can have his own room. Plus there is a lot more space to roam about so everyone can get their “me” time. Recently my family and I stayed at this vacation rental in Manitou Beach and loved it! There is a lot of games and toys to enjoy. And it’s right on a lake where you can go ice fishing or ride your snowmobile (if you have one and bring it). Even if you wish to stay indoors, Kristi is a phenomenal host and provides a personalized check in basket of goodies. Discover more things to do in Manitou Beach here.
• Quinn Cabin in Kalkaska: If you love the snow and want to take advantage and of being near northern Michigan’s popular ski hills and outdoor recreation, you need to book a stay at Quinn Cabin. Here are more suggestions of things to do in Kalkaska.
• Twenty Lakes Cottage in Harrison: Another great family friendly place to stay is the cozy Twenty Lakes Cottage in Harrison! Are you interested in visiting Snow, Snake, Ski this winter? Stay at Twenty Lakes Cottage for added convenience!

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