Top Events in the U.S. in February 2026

Top Events in the U.S. in February 2026

We’ve reached the point in winter when more than a few New Year’s resolutions have gone by the wayside, Blue Monday is behind us and the ‘Big Football Game’ is just about to kick off. In other words, welcome to February. In 2026, the second month of the year is packed with sensational events across the country, giving you every reason to get out of the house and dive into some fun.

From the lively Mardi Gras parades to numerous winter carnivals and cultural celebrations, there’s something for everyone this month. And who can forget that famous Pennsylvania groundhog who makes his annual appearance this month? No matter your style, the list of the best February 2026 events is full of winter adventures worth traveling for. 

Top Events in the U.S. in February 2026: World of Winter Festival – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids will once again transform into a true winter wonderland during the World of Winter Festival (select dates throughout the month), an event deemed the largest of its kind in the nation by its organizers. This year, visitors will be able to wander among colorful illuminated outdoor art installations, explore immersive light-and-sound experiences, and catch circus-style performances that mix fire and ice in enjoyable ways. All this, plus a host of musical performances and great food and drink to keep you warm on the coldest of February nights.

Black Heritage Festival – Savannah, Georgia

Savannah will be a fine place to be all February during the 37th edition of this month-long celebration, which will feature a riveting and thought-provoking lineup of storytelling, dance, theater, music and much more. This year’s theme is “The Tapestry of Us” and highlights of the events calendar include the Annual Future of Jazz Concert (February 17) and a riveting poetry, dance and drumming performance called “Forged by Fire” (February 28)

Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo – Rapid City, South Dakota

Get ready for a wild & woolly good time as the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo returns for another year to take over Rapid City (runs through February 7), gathering ranchers, horse enthusiasts and rodeo fans from across the region. The event is famed for bringing Western heritage straight to the city, with thrilling rodeo competitions, bull riding and team roping, and this year’s event will also feature 14 horse events and plenty of cattle breed exhibitions. Visitors can also enjoy an eclectic vendor marketplace with hundreds of booths and raise a glass at a beer festival. 

Groundhog Day – Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

Head to the cute small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Groundhog Day (February 2) to get down with crowds of revelers eager to see everybody’s favorite rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, and find out whether or not he saw his shadow. The early morning ceremony draws thousands of people to the Gobbler’s Knob area of town, where all-American tradition meets small-town quirkiness in a celebration you genuinely have to see in person to believe. Most attendees arrive the night before (February 1) to take part in pre-dawn festivities that are full of local music and themed events that manage to keep the energy high until the big moment, when Phil emerges to let us know if Old Man Winter will torment us for six more weeks or if we’ll have an early spring.

Festival of the Arts – Tubac, Arizona

One of the longest-running annual art gatherings in the nation, the Tubac Festival of the Arts returns this month (February 4-8), bringing folks from all around the country to the historic village just south of Tucson. The event is once again expected to draw 200-plus artists and makers, in addition to collectors from across the country, to wander open-air booths, sample local eats and enjoy live music against the backdrop of Tubac’s charming year-round galleries and shops. 

Winter Carnival – Saranac, New York

Make tracks for the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a beloved Adirondack tradition dating back to 1897, to fully embrace the fun that can be had outdoors in February. This year’s festival (February 6-15) will once again transform the village into a hotbed of cold & snowy fun, where visitors can wander past the iconic ice palace, catch quirky competitions like frying pan tossing and take part in icy activities such as curling and inner tubing. Daytime events at the festival mix family-friendly entertainment with local crafts and live music. Each night, the festival culminates in a dazzling fireworks display that contrasts beautifully against the snowy landscape below.

Winter Carnival – Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Make your way west to Steamboat Springs for more wintry fun at the annual Winter Carnival (February 3-8), when this Colorado mountain town fills with revelers dedicated to making the most out of mid-winter. A tradition dating back more than a century, the celebration blends Western heritage with winter sport spectacle, featuring everything from fireworks and ski jumping through rings of fire to hilarious shovel races down the town’s snow-packed streets.

Mardi Gras – New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama

Carnival season is already in full swing across the Gulf Coast, as cities like New Orleans and Mobile pull out all the stops for their colorful celebrations in the lead up to Fat Tuesday (February 17). In New Orleans, the French Quarter and uptown streets will once again bubble over with parades, parties and masked balls. At the same time, locals and visitors alike indulge (and perhaps overindulge) in plenty of local drink and food. Up the coast in Mobile, which proudly calls itself the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S., the city will once again trot out a roster of events, including its Mystic Societies balls and floats, all offering a mix of pageantry and plain old fun.

The Town Celebration – Waimea, Hawai’i

The 49th Annual Waimea Town Celebration returns to Kauaʻi (February 14-22), once again offering a nine-day extravaganza that showcases the rich heritage and spirit of this special community. Expect traditional performances, a canoe regatta, rodeo, ukulele concerts and artisan craft fairs, while culinary events and local markets will showcase the mouthwatering flavors of the region.

The Fur Rendezvous – Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska’s biggest city will once again throw the state’s biggest winter party during the Fur Rendezvous (February 26 – March 8), a beloved tradition full of frosty frolicking and unmistakable Alaskan-style fun. Famous for its delightfully offbeat spirit, the ‘Rondy’ features everything from snow sculpture contests and sled dog races to the crowd favorite costumed Running of the Reindeer and concerts. This is all in addition to community events and cultural celebrations, creating a mix that makes the ‘Rondy’ a true bucket-list fest that could only happen in The Last Frontier.

World of Nations Celebration – Jacksonville, Florida

The beloved World of Nations Celebration returns to Jacksonville this month (February 28 – March 1), marking its 34th year of engaging and enlightening cultural festivities. Visitors can experience the cuisine, artistry and customs of countries from around the globe through traditional music, dance performances, crafts and flavorful food. A highlight of the festival is the Parade of Flags, where representatives from participating countries wear authentic attire and offer greetings in their native languages, creating an atmosphere that lets you ‘travel’ the world without even using your passport. 

Winter Carnival – Pinedale, Wyoming

Last but not least pn the list of top events in the U.S. in February 2026 – you’ll be able to fully embrace winter in Wyoming this month as Pinedale’s Winter Carnival (February 13-15) returns with more adrenaline-pumping action than you can shake a snowball at. Home to unique contests like skijoring, where skiers are pulled across the snow by horses or dogs, and a zany cardboard sled race, there’s a little something for everybody. The festival also features ice-carving demonstrations, live music, and family-friendly activities that showcase the town’s warm atmosphere, regardless of what the thermometer says outside.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

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