Winter may seem long, but as February turns toward March, Lake Winnipesaukee begins to show subtle shifts that signal spring’s return.

Even with snow on the ground and ice on the lake, the Winnipesaukee area remains a playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

Winter around Lake Winnipesaukee is unlike any other season.

For many in the Lakes Region, “ice-out” on Lake Winnipesaukee—when the lake is first fully navigable in spring—holds as much intrigue as the first freeze in fall.

As Lake Winnipesaukee quiets under snow and ice, the creative energy at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith carries on—bringing theater, music, and community spirit to winter evenings in the Lakes Region.

Each winter, when the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee freeze solid and conditions are right, something remarkable happens: part of the frozen lake becomes one of the only FAA-approved ice runways in the Lower 48.

When November tiptoes in around Lake Winnipesaukee, mornings carry a whisper of frost—thin crystalline sheets across the shallow bays, silverness on the grass, breath visible in the air.

Halloween in the Lake Winnipesaukee region combines small-town tradition with lakeside magic. By late October, the leaves have fallen, the air is crisp, and the towns around the lake are alive with seasonal decorations and spooky fun.

There’s no season quite like early October on Lake Winnipesaukee.