Massachusetts public schools, including Andover Public Schools, are on February vacation from Feb. 15-23. If you’re looking for kid-friendly things to do without having to drive too far, this guide is for you.
Indoor Activities
Taste Buds Kitchen in North Andover is offering two, five-day cooking camps for kids during February vacation. The Chocolate Factory for kids 4-10 begins at 9 a.m. and at 1 p.m. for kids ages 9-teen (more info).
Andover Youth Services is offering daily programs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday-Friday. Activities include crafts, cooking, gym games, movies, and table games (more info).
Get in the winter spirit with a skate at the Phillips Andover ice rink. Open skating is on Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (more info).
Flip out at Reading Gymnastics Academy, which is running full- and half-day camps for kids 3 1/2 and older (more info).
Catch a movie at AMC in Methuen. Kid-friendly movies playing during school vacation week include Captain America: Brave New World, Paddington in Peru, Dog Man, Mufasa: The Lion King, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Moana 2, and Wicked (show times).
Wamesit Lanes in Tewksbury offers bowling, indoor golf, and more than 60 video games (more info). In addition to an arcade, MVP Family Fun Center in Tewksbury has laser tag and is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (more info).
Launch Trampoline Park in Methuen has extended hours for February vacation week. There’s also a special toddler time from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday during the vacation week.
Kidleidoscope for children ages 3-6 is on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Riverfront State Park in Lawrence. The event features stories, an outdoor activity and a kid-friendly craft The event is free (more info).
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Outdoor Activities
Assuming there’s still snow on the ground, there are plenty of places to go sledding in and around Andover. The so-called sledding hill in front of Andover High School and the Charles W. Ward Reservation at 34 Prospect Road are two of the most popular spots.
If you’re up for a 30-minute drive and want something a little more exciting than sledding, Nashoba Valley ski area in Littleton has a tubing park. You must buy your tickets online. The park is open 1-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday (more info).
Hike & Seek: Magic in the Winter Forest at the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover runs from Feb. 16-March 1. The self-guided hike along the Stevens-to-Stevens trail lets kids find answers to questions like “where do certain animals go in winter?” or “why does it snow?”
The Lowell Winterfest returns on Feb. 21 and 22 and features live music, fire and ice sculptures, an artisans market, a chocolate festival, live music and more (more info).
Andover Recreation
The Andover Recreation Department is running five programs on Tuesday-Friday during vacation week:
- Chemical Creations for ages 6-10.
- Design Your Own Roblox Games for ages 7-12.
- Paint, Pottery & More! for kids in grades K-5.
- Junior Golf Confidence for ages 7-14.
- Basketball Clinic for kids in grades K-5.
At Memorial Hall Library
The library has several kid friendly programs scheduled for next week.
Saturday, Feb. 15
- Saturday Stories – Ages 0-5
- Paws & Tales – Reading with Rufus the Therapy Dog!
- Relax & Read – Ages 6-10 Years & Family
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Thursday, Feb. 20
Friday, Feb. 21
- Board Games Day – Drop-In
- Music with Peter Sheridan! – Ages 0 to 5 Years
- Super Smash Bros. for Tweens and Teens
Saturday, Feb. 22