Boston’s Frostival Ignites Winter Spirit and Local Economy

Boston, January 14, 2026

Boston launches its inaugural Frostival, a winter festival designed to enhance community engagement and stimulate local tourism. Running from late November through February, the event features attractions such as drone shows, the Frostival Lodge at Copley Square, and a 75-foot Ferris wheel on the Greenway. The festival aims to foster economic growth and create unique experiences for both residents and visitors, showcasing the city’s winter charm and entrepreneurial spirit.

Boston’s Frostival Ignites Winter Spirit and Local Economy

Boston, a city renowned for its rich history and vibrant culture, is once again demonstrating its capacity for innovative civic engagement with the first-annual Boston Frostival. This expansive winter festival, orchestrated through a concerted effort of local organizers and private partners, is set to redefine the city’s colder months, transforming them into a season of unparalleled activity and community spirit. From aerial artistry to cozy urban retreats, the Frostival showcases how thoughtful initiative can energize a city and foster remarkable economic and social growth.

The Frostival, a testament to effective local leadership and strategic partnerships, began in late November 2025 and extends through February 2026. This dynamic approach to winter programming reflects a commitment to enhancing Boston’s appeal beyond traditional peak tourist seasons. By focusing on unique, engaging experiences, the city aims to encourage both residents and visitors to explore its diverse neighborhoods, participate in local events, and support the businesses that form the backbone of the community. This initiative highlights the power of combining creative vision with logistical precision to yield significant benefits for the entire metropolitan area.

A Dazzling Start: Drone Shows Over Boston Common

The inaugural Boston Frostival commenced with a series of captivating drone shows over Boston Common. These holiday-themed aerial displays, a modern marvel of public spectacle, took place every Saturday night from November 29 through December 20, 2025. Each evening featured two performances, with drones launching from the intersection of Boylston and Charles Streets, offering a unique viewing experience for thousands. This initial phase successfully set an energetic tone for the festival, drawing crowds and demonstrating the potential for innovative attractions to bring people together during the early winter season.

Copley Square’s Cozy Retreat: The Frostival Lodge

As the Frostival progresses into February 2026, one of its central attractions is the Copley Square Lodge, an immersive winter activation designed to be a focal point of activity. Opening on February 6 and running through February 28, 2026, this lodge offers a warm and inviting escape in the heart of Back Bay. Furnished by Wayfair, the lodge is a prime example of successful private-sector collaboration with civic initiatives, creating a comfortable space complete with warming nooks and a heated outdoor patio.

The lodge’s programming is diverse, catering to various interests and age groups, highlighting the importance of providing a wide array of options for community members. Activities include weekly trivia nights, kids’ movie time with silent disco headphones, and intimate small-scale live musical performances. For those seeking more active engagement, a curling lane and cornhole boards are available. Traditional table-top and group games such as Scrabble, Jenga, chess, and backgammon foster personal interaction and friendly competition. The lodge also serves as a hub for Winter Games in Italy watch parties and offers themed crafting sessions, including Winter Games-themed and Valentine’s Day-themed kids’ crafts. Food enthusiasts can partake in pasta-making classes, with Eataly providing diverse food and drink options. This carefully curated environment aims to evoke the magical ambiance of Scandinavian landscapes, Italian Alpine chateaus, and Quebecois alpine lodges, all infused with a distinctive Boston flair.

Soaring Views: The Greenway Ferris Wheel

Adding another exciting dimension to Boston’s winter landscape is the 75-foot Ferris wheel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Situated adjacent to the park’s renowned carousel, this impressive attraction offers panoramic views of the city skyline, waterfront, and beyond. The Ferris wheel operates Wednesday through Sunday between January 31 and March 1, 2026, allowing visitors to experience Boston from a unique vantage point during the winter months. Notably, the iconic Greenway carousel will also extend its operating hours, opening on weekends in February, further enhancing the family-friendly appeal of the area.

Celebrating Entrepreneurship: Femme Fête Wine Festival

A distinctive highlight of the Frostival is the Femme Fête Wine Festival, scheduled for February 28, 2026, at the Cyclorama. This event spotlights women-owned wineries, winemakers, and sommeliers, showcasing individual achievement and entrepreneurial spirit within the beverage industry. Such specialized events contribute to the rich tapestry of Boston’s community offerings, promoting diversity and recognizing the contributions of various local and global talents.

Integrated Winter Experiences and Economic Vitality

The Boston Frostival is not merely a collection of new events but an overarching initiative that integrates existing beloved winter activities into a comprehensive experience. Programs such as Snowport, the SoWa Winter Festival, Winteractive, and ice skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond are folded into the Frostival’s broader promotion. This coordinated approach by Meet Boston, in partnership with the City of Boston, aims to unify the city’s winter appeal, encouraging longer stays and increased visitation.

The primary objective of the Frostival is to stimulate winter tourism during a traditionally softer travel period, particularly in February. By creating compelling reasons for people to visit and stay overnight, the festival directly supports local hotels and numerous small businesses across various sectors. This strategic investment in civic innovation demonstrates how a proactive stance on urban programming can lead to tangible economic benefits and foster a more dynamic, engaged community throughout the year. Dedicated hotel packages are being developed by Meet Boston’s hotel partners to facilitate these overnight visits, making it easier for individuals and families to immerse themselves fully in the winter magic of Boston.

Conclusion

The first-annual Boston Frostival stands as a vibrant example of what can be achieved when local leadership, community initiative, and private partnerships converge. By offering a diverse range of new and integrated experiences, from drone shows to the Copley Square Lodge and the Greenway Ferris Wheel, Boston is not just enduring winter but actively celebrating it. This concerted effort to drive community engagement and boost the local economy through innovative programming demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to urban development. We encourage all residents and visitors to explore the extensive offerings of the Frostival, support local businesses, and engage with these unique opportunities that enrich our city. Your participation reinforces the vitality of Boston’s community and contributes to its continued growth and prosperity.

Keywords: Boston MA events, Massachusetts gatherings, Boston community, winter tourism Boston, Copley Square activities

Frequently Asked Questions about Boston Frostival

What is the Boston Frostival?

The Boston Frostival is the first-annual winter festival in Boston, featuring a dynamic lineup of new and existing events designed to transform the city into a premier winter destination.

When does the Boston Frostival take place?

The Boston Frostival began in late November 2025 with drone shows and continues through February 2026 with key attractions like the Copley Square Lodge and the Greenway Ferris Wheel.

What are the main attractions of the Boston Frostival?

Key attractions include holiday-themed drone shows over Boston Common (November 29 – December 20, 2025), the Frostival Lodge furnished by Wayfair at Copley Square (February 6 – February 28, 2026), and a 75-foot Ferris wheel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway (January 31 – March 1, 2026).

What activities are available at the Copley Square Lodge?

The Copley Square Lodge offers weekly trivia nights, kids movie time with silent disco headphones, small-scale live musical performances, a curling lane, cornhole boards, table-top games such as Scrabble, Jenga, chess, and backgammon, Winter Games in Italy watch parties, Winter Games-themed and Valentine’s Day-themed kids crafts, and pasta-making classes.

What is the Femme Fête Wine Festival?

The Femme Fête Wine Festival is an event within the Boston Frostival, taking place on February 28, 2026, at the Cyclorama, which highlights women-owned wineries, winemakers, and sommeliers.

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Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.