28 Awesome Things to Do in January

Kick off the new year with the best events, sights to see and places to explore in January. We'll get you started for February too.

By: Jacquelyn McGilvray

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Plunge at Coney Island

January 1

There are many organized New Year’s plunges, but the original is in Coney Island, New York. The annual Coney Island Plunge is organized by the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, the oldest ice swimming club in the U.S. The yearly dip into the Atlantic begins at 1 pm sharp; afterward, if you’re still breathing, check out the famous Coney Island Boardwalk.

Jog Through All Four Disney World Parks

January 4-8

High-five! Kick off the New Year at the 30th annual Walt Disney World Marathon. For the super-fit, a 26.2-mile course runs through all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks. If you’re not up for the full marathon, do the half-marathon, 5K or 10K course.

Watch a Movie at the Palm Springs International Film Fest

January 5-16

Hob-knob with some of the movie industries biggest movers and shakers at one of the largest film festivals in North America. With over 135,000 attendees each year, the two-week long Palm Springs festival includes new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The festival is also known for its annual Film Awards Gala, honoring the best achievements of the year by a celebrated list of talents.

Go to a Three Kings Parade

January 5 or 6

Many cities around the world celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day on the 12th day of Christmas. The celebration marks the day on the Christian calendar when the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Parade, performances and feasts are all part of the tradition. New York and Miami hold big parades as well as many cities in Mexico, Spain and other parts of Latin American and Europe. No matter which celebration you go to, be sure to get some rosca de reyes; it’s a sweet bread baked in a ring shape to represent a crown and decorated with candied fruit to represent the jewels.

Ski to the Steamboat Springs Music Fest

January 7-12

In its 37th year, this music festival continues to draw thousands of people to Colorado who love skiing and music. The six-day festival features 50+ bands and live performances of Americana music. If you can’t secure tickets to some of the top-name performers, there are free concerts at Gondola Square. In between shows hit the slopes, go for a snowmobile tour or a dog sled ride, soak in the hot springs or try a flight in a hot air balloon.

Party at Aruba Carnival

January 7-February 22

Aruba doesn’t wait until a few days before lent to party, they start in early January. The Aruba Carnival is a months-long celebration filled with music (lots of steel drums), dance contests, jump-ups (they’re like street parties), parades, and warm-up parties that promote local beer. Oh, and let’s not forget Aruba’s gorgeous beaches!

Celebrate Elvis' Birthday

January 5-8

On Jan. 8, 1935, Elvis Presley was born in a two-room house in Tupelo, Miss. Every year, Graceland — Elvis' estate in Memphis — hosts a four-day-long birthday celebration. Rise bright and early for the Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony on Graceland’s North Lawn, and stay for the birthday-cake cutting.

Geek Out at the Consumer Electronics Show

January 5-8

You don’t have to be a tech geek or even be in the tech business to go to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). For four days in January, Las Vegas becomes the gathering place for all things consumer technology. It often serves as the proving ground and the place to unveil the latest and greatest breakthroughs in high tech.

Take In Some Art in L.A.

February 15-19

The Los Angeles Art Show is the longest running venue for contemporary, modern, historic and traditional art in the country. With more than 200,000 square feet there's something for everyone, but the show is broadly divided into sections — modern, contemporary and traditional — to make it easy to find what suits your tastes. Often in January, this year's show begins February 15.

Party at Winterskol in Aspen

January 12-15

Raise a toast to winter in Aspen’s annual Winterskol Festival. The winter tradition is more than 60 years strong and was started by a lodge owner who wanted to enliven the Aspen winter season following Christmas. Today, the four-day winter fest includes a snow sculpture competition, a soup cook-off and a downhill race with apple strudel at the finish line.

Stroll Through a City Made of Ice

Thru Late February

Ice carving in Northeast China is said to have developed back to the Qing dynasty when fishermen would pull ice from the Songhua River to carve into lanterns. All those years of experience evolved into the epic Harbin International Ice & Snow Festival, with artists and sculptors competing to create the largest, most extravagant and intricately detailed structures. Attracting 10 to 15 million visitors a year, entire buildings are recreated in frozen form to make a city of ice. The sculptures are life-size versions of famous buildings, structures and characters, all created by master sculptors and artists. Observe the sculptures during the day, and engage in other optional activities such as sledding, ice hockey and ice mini golf. Revisit the festival at night, when the ice is lit up with colorful lights.

Climb an Iceberg in Jasper, Canada

Thru January 31

The Canadian Rockies is the place for adventure in January. Besides the predictable winter activities — skiing, shoe-shoeing, skating — Jasper in January hosts fat bike snow races, sleigh riding, dog sledding and ice climbing. And that’s just during the day, Jasper’s evenings offer wine and whiskey tasting, food-a-paloolza, live music, entertainment, kids’ scavenger hunts, plus stargazing and northern-light viewing with s’mores.

Give Back on Martin Luther King Day

January 16

Celebrate the life of the civil rights leader during the MLK Day of Service. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., hundreds of nonprofits and volunteer centers nationwide observe the federal holiday, named in King’s honor back in 1983, as a day of giving back to local communities and shelters. Grab a hammer and lend a hand.

Listen to Blues in Memphis, Tennessee

January 24-28

The Blues Foundation presents the 38th International Blues Challenge, the world's largest gathering of blues acts. The clubs up and down Beale Street are filled with a variety acts as they compete for cash, prizes and industry recognition. The quarter-finals take place throughout the clubs on Beale Street and then the finals held at the Orpheum Theatre.

Stay at an Ice Hotel

Dates Vary With Location

There are several locations with accommodations made of ice, Norway, Quebec, Alaska and Sweden to name a few. This is the IceHotel located in Jukkasjarvi Sweden; it is 200 km north of the Arctic Circle and is open year-round. Regardless of the temperature outside, the air in the Icehotel is always between 17 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit. The bedrooms have blocks of ice as beds, covered with fur, skin, hides and sleeping bags so you’ll stay toasty warm.

Take in a Movie at the Sundance Film Festival

January 19-29

The Sundance Film Festival is a 10-day event held every January in Park City, Utah. Get your tickets early, many of 100+ screenings sell out in advance. This very popular festival showcases independent movies from all over the world. Named for Robert Redford's character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the festival has seen Redford play an integral part in building the festival's status over the years.

Celebrate National Cheese Lover's Day

January 20

Celebrate National Cheese Lovers Day by throwing away your New Year’s resolution and enjoying a comforting bowl of mac 'n cheese. Check out one of these five restaurants that specialize in cheesy pasta goodness.

Eat and Drink at the Seafood & Sips Mendocino

January 27-February 5

Mendocino County, California is home to a lot of fishermen, grape growers, winemakers and brewmasters. This 10-day countywide festival is a celebration of all their efforts. It takes place in the middle of the long winter season when things are a little bit slower, allowing more time to partake in fine seafood, wine and beer.

Learn to Cook in Yosemite

Take a tour of the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, the grand Yosemite National Park hotel that has hosted its share of famous guests through the years, from Walt Disney to Queen Elizabeth II. Check the website for the dates of the annual cooking event, A Taste of Yosemite and embark on a Northern California culinary adventure.

Be a Foodie at the Key West Food and Wine Festival

January 25-29

Ditch the winter boots and grab your summer flip-flops. Escape the winter cold at this 14th annual foodie festival. Savor fresh Florida Keys seafood, fine wines from around the world, and the laid-back tropical vibe of the island that bears the festival’s name.

Feast at a Robert Burns Day Dinner

January 25

Robert Burns (1759 — 1796) is thought of (but not officially named) Scotland’s national poet. Every January 25, Scots and British celebrate his life and poetry with formal dinners where guests recite Burns work and dance to his lyrics. The dinners usually consist of several courses including a whisky course and a plate of haggis.

Celebrate Australia Day

January 26

Australia Day is an official holiday throughout the entire country. It marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies, the day is celebrated in small towns and big cities around the nation.

See Captain Kirk’s Chair at Seattle’s MoPop

There’s so much to see at the Museum of Popular Culture (MoPop), it’s hard to pick just one exhibit to talk about. Trekkies will head to Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction for its 150+ artifacts from iconic shows and movies, from Star Trek to Battlestar Galactica. If music is more your bag, MoPop can help you there too. Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop features 170 photographs of the genre's stars. Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses has more than 200 rare items. And Wild Blue Angel: Hendrix Abroad, 1966-1970 examines the most intense period of the artist's career. The list goes on and on...

Dress Up Like a Viking at Up Helly Aa Festival

January 31

The traditional festival of fire known as "Up Helly Aa" takes place annually on the last Tuesday of January in Shetland, UK. Participants in full costume haul a Viking longboat through the streets as paraders throw flaming torches into the galley.

Shuck It at the Low-Country Oyster Fest

January 29

The Low-Country Oyster Festival is located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just outside of Charleston. The 36th annual event — held at the Boone Hall Plantation — serves up over 80,000 oysters. Besides the tasty fare, the festival includes an oyster shucking contest, oyster-eating contest, live music and lots of beer to wash it all down.

See Cubism at The Met or Trains in the Garden

Thru January 22 and thru January 16

Examine the intersection between Cubism and the Trompe l’Oeil Tradition through an exhibit of the same name at The Metropolitan Museum of Art through January 22 in New York City.

If you’re looking for a more kid-friendly activity in NYC, check out The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show. The beautifully lit exhibition features more than 25 G-scale model trains and trolleys zipping over a half mile of track. The elaborate displays are made up of moss, twigs and leaves. The trains chug around 150 New York City landmarks, each one painstakingly reconstructed using natural materials. Classic visitor favorites include Grand Central Station, Yankee Stadium, Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. This one runs through January 16.

Go Ice Fishing in Minnesota

January 28

The Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza draws over 10,000 anglers annually who compete for more than $150,000 in prizes. All proceeds from the event are donated to local charities.

Party at Carnival in Venice, Italy

February 4-February 21

Probably one of the longest running festivals, the Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia) is said to date back to 1162. The festival is world famous for its amazing and unique masks that people wear during this event. Venetians adorn their boats with colorful decor and parade up and down the Grand Canal. There are also competitions for the best masks and costumes, plus all sorts of entertainment and music. Sometimes starting in January, this year's festival kicks off February 4.

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28 Awesome Things to Do in January

Related To:

Shop This Look

Plunge at Coney Island

Jog Through All Four Disney World Parks

Watch a Movie at the Palm Springs International Film Fest

Go to a Three Kings Parade

Ski to the Steamboat Springs Music Fest

Party at Aruba Carnival

Celebrate Elvis' Birthday

Geek Out at the Consumer Electronics Show

Take In Some Art in L.A.

Party at Winterskol in Aspen

Stroll Through a City Made of Ice

Climb an Iceberg in Jasper, Canada

Give Back on Martin Luther King Day

Listen to Blues in Memphis, Tennessee

Stay at an Ice Hotel

Take in a Movie at the Sundance Film Festival

Celebrate National Cheese Lover's Day

Eat and Drink at the Seafood & Sips Mendocino

Learn to Cook in Yosemite

Be a Foodie at the Key West Food and Wine Festival

Feast at a Robert Burns Day Dinner

Celebrate Australia Day

See Captain Kirk’s Chair at Seattle’s MoPop

Dress Up Like a Viking at Up Helly Aa Festival

Shuck It at the Low-Country Oyster Fest

See Cubism at The Met or Trains in the Garden

Go Ice Fishing in Minnesota

Party at Carnival in Venice, Italy