2023 Biddeford WinterFest

Join us for a cabin-fever busting weekend of snow and fun filled events for the whole family! We are adding events as confirmed. Keep checking back for updates!!!

This will be a “snow or shine” event but it wasn’t designed to be a frozen solid event! Due to extreme cold predicted for this weekend, outdoor events at Winterfest have been postponed to February 10 – 12, 2023!  All indoor events, such as City Theater and the Poker Crawl are STILL scheduled for this weekend – so essentially we’re doubling your chances of fun this month!

2023 WinterFest Mascot

In 2022, youth in our community were invited to dream up a mascot that inspires and connects us to the pride and spirit of Biddeford Winterfest. Come to WinterFest on Saturday February 11th and meet the new Mascot François!! Be sure to get your photo taken with him and tag us on social media!

Friday, February 3, 2023 (indoor event, not postponed)

8:00 p.m. @ City Theater Imagine: The Beatles Solo Years with Joe Boucher:  In 1969, The Beatles walked across Abbey Road and away from the studio where they created the most important body of work that any rock band has before or since. In the years that followed, John, Paul, George and Ringo each continued to write and record countless iconic songs keeping them front and center in the eyes and ears of the world. IMAGINE, brings together the solo hits of the individual Beatles as they might have sounded had they continued together and if their legendary producer George Martin would have crafted these songs along with them.

Show starts at 8:00 p.m., so it’s a perfect way to warm up after First Night Sledding. Purchase tickets online or by visiting City Theater.

Don’t forget about the Poker Crawl happening this weekend – it would be a great night to start the poker crawl at participating restaurants, breweries, distilleries and bars as well.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 (indoor event, not postponed)

7:30 p.m. @ City Theater Comedian Juston McKinney: A former Biddeford native (Cleaves Street!) and City Theater favorite, Comedy Juston McKinney returns with lots of new material.  He has multiple appearances on the Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien, both ½ hour and 1-hour specials on Comedy Central.  He also has two one-hour specials you can currently watch on Amazon Prime.  Throw in a couple of performances at the TD Garden for Comics Come Home with Denis Leary, a Showtime Special with Rob Gronkowski and you can see why the New York Times called him “Destine for stardom” See this former Maine Deputy Sheriff turned comedian live at City Theater celebrating 10 years of his Winterfest show.

Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online or by visiting City Theater.

Don’t forget about the Poker Crawl happening this weekend – it would be a great night to start the poker crawl at participating restaurants, breweries, distilleries and bars as well.

Sunday, Feb. 5 & 12, 2023

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WinterFest continues through Sunday at West Brook Skating Rink! Be sure to get outside and enjoy the winter weather with some fun ice skating! Thanks to the continued hard work of volunteers over the past few years, West Brook Skating Rink is open (weather permitting). 

Friday February 10, 2023 (rescheduled from Feb. 3)

6-7:30 p.m.  First Night Sledding Party (shhhhh– not for the kids!) This event is extremely popular and we’re bringing it back for 2023!!

Kick off WinterFest weekend with an adults-only sledding party on the Adams Street sledding hill at City Hall. Indulge your inner child (we’ll provide the sleds!) from 6 – 7:30 p.m. For sledders 21+, your ticket includes a beer from Blaze Brewing Co with their on-site bar!

Tickets are limited to ensure the hill stays in good shape for Saturday’s events, so secure your spot by purchasing a ticket! Don’t forget to do a friend count and purchase their tickets too! (limited number available!).

This event is brought to you by WinterFest and Blaze Brewing Co.!

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 (rescheduled from Feb. 4)

Winter Fun Time! This is the true “heart” of WinterFest! Come on out and enjoy the snow! Come on out for a FREE day of fun for families in the center of downtown! More events added as we confirm them – please check back! This will be a “snow or shine” event. That means, we will still have loads of family friendly activities and entertainment on Saturday, February 4 even if we don’t get snow. If it looks like it will be rainy and rugged out, watch here and on social media for updates

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sledding begins on Adam Street! Sleds provided! Thanks to New Life Church and their amazing group of volunteers, sledding is free, with no limit to how many times you can slide down. If you have smaller children, look for the children’s hill!!

• WinterFest Performances on the Main Stage
  • 10:00 a.m.  TBA
  • 11:20 a.m. City Theater Performances
  • 11:45 a.m. Poetry Break
  • 11:50 a.m. Announcements! Meet François and some raffles will be drawn!
  • 12:00 p.m.  TBA
  • 1:00 p.m.  Raffles and Announcements
  • 1:15 p.m.  TBA
  • 2:15 p.m. More Raffles being drawn!
  • 2:30 p.m. Silly Summer Songs contest
• Interactive characters & entertainment!
  • 10 – 3 p.m. Touch a Truck
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., stop by to meet and greet a beautiful princess – she’s a vision to behold in this frozen wonderland!
  • 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Keep your eyes peeled for prehistoric visitors!
  • 12 – 2 p.m. Take a horse drawn wagon ride around town! Watch for the boarding sign and enjoy the ride!
  • 12 – 2 p.m. Take a pony ride!
• Hungry? Of course you will be! Hot dogs, pizza, chips and mexican fare – all free for the eating!!
  • 11 am – 1:30 p.m. grab a hot dog, pop corn, chips, hot chocolate and/or bottled water! Thanks to New Life Church & Biddeford Recreation.
  • 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. (or until we run out) – Pizza POLARpalooza! Free pizza – stop by to see who donated delicious pizza – so many varieties to try.
  • 1 p.m. until they run out – Stop by for a taste from New England Iron Pollo, Biddeford’s newest upcoming food truck (although for this event you’ll find this delicious fare in a tent).
• Giveaways & Free Raffle!! Everyone attending can enter the raffle for free! What do you want to win? Gift cards? A bicycle?  Stop by the raffle tent to get your ticket and enter to win!
  • New Life Church will be providing free hot cocoa and beautiful handmade hats, mittens and scarfs! Be sure to stop by and warm up!!
  • Did you know Winterfest hosts a FREE raffle every year? This year, the raffle has grown to include 42 bikes (donated by Walmart & Apex – sizes for kids of all ages), Funtown/Splashtown passes, tickets to Maine Mariner & Maine Celtics games, Hannaford Gift cards valued at $100 (2) and $500 (2), Market Basket Gift card ($100) and $100 certificate to Biddeford Recreation Department!!
    • The biggest raffle will be held at 1 p.m. but visit the schedule page online and posted in the raffle tent to see all raffle drawing times. Must be present to win!
    • Be sure to stop by the raffle tent on Saturday February 4th for your ticket and enter to win!

 A warming area will also be provided to help take the chill off!!

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WinterFest continues through Sunday at West Brook Skating Rink! Be sure to get outside and enjoy the winter weather with some fun ice skating! Thanks to the continued hard work of volunteers over the past few years, West Brook Skating Rink is open (weather permitting).