WinterFest begins next week, so now is the time to forget the drizzly winter weather and start thinking not only about all the upcoming events and activities, but also the great food that’s on the menu for Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22. Lowell is a great place to try something new as well as warm up with delicious traditional favorites, and the food at WinterFest is no exception. Check out this sneak-peek at the options and get ready to sample some of what WinterFest has to offer.
Annual Richard Rourke Memorial Soup Bowl Competition
One of the highlights of Winterfest is the annual Richard Rourke Memorial Soup Bowl Competition, which takes place in the Masonic Center on Arcand Drive on Saturday from 12-2:30pm. Eleven local restaurants and eateries will showcase delicious soups, chowders, bisques and broths for every discerning taste and palate. An esteemed panel of judges will decide which soups reign supreme, but attendees can also vote for their favorite. Be sure to bring a crowd and an appetite! Tickets are $5 and are only available at the door.
Food Trucks
A variety of great food trucks will roll onto Arcand Drive and provide delicious options on Friday and Saturday. Whether you’re into smoked barbeque, empanadas or just good old-fashioned hot dogs, there are a variety of delicious choices to snack on between the festivities of WinterFest:
Chez Rafiki’s - Mediterranean food including gyros, shawarma, and falafel
Empanada Dada - innovative sweet and savory empanadas
The “Pig Rig” - slow-smoked barbeque and homemade sides
Chicks and Dogs Rolling Diner - chicken wings and hot dogs
Souped Up Food Truck - Comfort soups, sandwiches and grain bowls
Other food vendors will set up in JFK Plaza, like N.E Comfort Food, serving their famous hot chocolate, nachos and delicious mac n’ cheese. Canterbury Kettle Corn will have, of course, their famous sweet-and-salty kettle corn.
Desserts and Sweets
Those with a sweet tooth have plenty to look forward to at WinterFest as well! The all-you-can-eat chocolate festival on Saturday 11-4pm will provide chocolate of all shapes, sizes and flavors at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. Admission is only $7.00 per person at the door to enjoy an enormous array of homemade truffles, cookies, cakes, and confections. Raffles, prizes, and other treats will be awarded as well!
On the street, the Rotary Club of Lowell members and their marshmallow mascot will provide jumbo-sized marshmallows and a warm fire for hands-on marshmallow roasting and s’mores. All proceeds will benefit Lowell High seniors who are entering college in the fall.
Meanwhile at the winter market, other local cafes and restaurants will offer a variety of delicious ways to warm up. Lowell-based confectioner Sweetest Memories is providing different types of delightful chocolates, candy, and baked goods as well as their signature fudge. If you’re looking for beverages, the coffee shop Vinaan Cafe has a great selection of fresh coffee, hot rose chocolate, and delicious butter bread. The Colombian Panela Restaurant is also showcasing traditional flavors of hot chocolate, as well as homemade cheese balls and Colombian guava sticks.
Whether it’s your first time at WinterFest or you’re a returning patron, there’s always something new and delicious to sample among all the great activities. From hot to cold, sweet to savory, WinterFest has something to satisfy everyone. And if you’re still hungry after WinterFest, check out some of the great restaurants located in downtown Lowell!
For more information and a complete list of all the exciting upcoming events, visit https://www.lowellwinterfest.com/