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animated graphic with a mammoth ice skating inside a snow globe, a steaming mug of hot chocolate, doughnuts, french fries, and waffles

Winter Festival, occurring annually in February, is an opportunity for Amherst College students, faculty, staff and their families to begin the semester with a celebration of the season. The last Winter Festival, on February 18, 2024, included ice-skating, live music, a 20-foot-tall inflatable slide, ice sculpting demos, and, of course, a delicious array of food.

Established in 2012, Winter Festival is sponsored by the Office of the President.


crowd at Winter Festival and a wall with a mammoth and many doughnuts on pegs

Photos of Winter Festival 2024

See the activities and the variety of delicious foods, including the Mammoth donut wall! 

The Food

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french fries, doughnuts, waffles and other treats

A highlight of Winter Festival is the abundance of seasonal snacks. The menu varies from year to year, but a staple feature since 2019 has been the custom Mammoth donut wall! Vegan and vegetarian options are available. 2024’s offerings included:

  • Poutine Station (Dining Services) — Poutine is a Canadian dish that typically consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. At this station, you can create your own version with extras such as maple bacon, popcorn chicken, and more! 
  • Bao (Dining Services) — Steamed buns filled with pork and cabbage, Char Siu chicken, or mushroom and spinach.
  • Donut Wall (Dining Services) — More than 1,000 assorted donuts with toppings ranging from crushed Oreos to maple icing. 
  • Sweet Treats (Dining Services) — Black Forest shooters and chocolate mousse tartlets with peppermint ganache.
  • Waffles (Wickedly Wild Waffles,  Westfield, Mass.) — Belgian pearl sugar waffles served with a variety of toppings, including Belgian chocolate, salted caramel, and strawberry tarragon.
  • Hot Chocolate Bar (Dining Services) — What would winter be without hot chocolate? A variety of flavors and toppings will be available for enjoyment throughout the event, as well as hot cider and gingerbread chai.

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singing group Filosophy posing smiling

Live Music from Filosophy

Guests enjoyed live music from LA’s premiere up-and-coming Asian American a cappella group. Bringing talent from all over the country, Filosophy is composed of over 20 artists in rotation whose goal is to further promote Asian representation through live performance.