Winter has officially come to Greater Raleigh, but that doesn’t mean events are cooling off. Find something for everyone with exhibits, theatre, music, shopping and even a little romance.

February is the month for Adrenaline Junkies! Discover a calendar full of events that appeal to any sports fan—no matter what the sport. Check out Raleigh’s largest, toughest (and most unique) road race, the Krispy Kreme Challenge (2/4), which consists of a five-mile road race and eating one dozen doughnuts—all in under an hour, or plan to cheer on athletes competing for a spot at the next Olympics in London at the U.S. Table Tennis Olympic Trials (2/8-12). The RBC Center is the place to be as the NHL Carolina Hurricanes continue their regular season games against the Kings (2/4), Sharks (2/17), Capitals (2/20), Ducks (2/23), Panthers (2/25), and Predators (2/28), while the N.C. State University men’s basketball team takes on rivals Wake Forest (2/4), Florida State (2/18), UNC (2/21) and Miami (2/29). Did you know it was time for college baseball? Head to Cary’s USA Baseball National Training Complex when Hofstra and Notre Dame (2/25-26) take to the diamond in what is sure to be nine innings of edge-of-your-seat action. It may be cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream of being out on one of the area’s numerous lakes in your new boat from the Raleigh Convention Center Boat Show and Sale (2/2-5).

There’s still one day left to cast your vote for Raleigh as the “Tastiest Town in the South,” an online reader poll from Southern Living magazine. Raleigh was named one of the top 10 “Tastiest Towns,” and we have the opportunity to at least make the top five with your vote! Fall in love with the area’s diverse culinary scene during a Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tour or Triangle Food Tour, which both introduce burgeoning Foodies to some of our award-winning restaurants and notable chefs. Looking for a little history or a ghost story with your brew? The Raleigh Pub Crawl and Haunted Adventure Tour takes you on a journey to some of Raleigh’s most famous historic sites and bars. Have an Intimate Evening Cooking with Chef Arthur Gordon (2/7 & 21) at the Irregardless Café. Surprise your Valentine (2/11-12) at Chatham Hill Winery when they officially release their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, or Train Your Nose (2/25-26) to identify aromas of your wine.

Theater, dance, ballet, symphony, music and opera—if you consider yourself a Creative Genius, this is the month for you! The Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts has a schedule that is sure to pack the house including performances by Shen Yun (2/7-8), a traveling troupe highlighting Chinese dance and music, and by the Carolina Ballet as they dance Balanchine Rarities (2/13-14). The N.C. Symphony performs Elgan’s most famous concerto, Firebird Suite (2/10-11), New World Symphony (2/17) featuring the works of Dvorak and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (2/24-25). Broadway Series South takes the stage with Green Day’s American Idiot (1/31-2/5), a rock opera by the Grammy Award-winning rock band, Green Day. N.C. Theatre partners with Broadway Series South to perform Les Misérables (2/14-19), during its 25th anniversary production of this legendary musical. Arts N.C. State performs the Tony Award-winning musical, RENT (2/15-18), and Raleigh Little Theatre produces a hilarious look at small-town beauty pageants in Miss Firecracker (2/10-23).

Free Spirits have a lot to choose from this month from animals to aromatherapy! Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (2/8-12) brings its “Fully Charged” magic back to the RBC Center for a mind-blowing, thrill-filled circus spectacular. Laugh out loud this month when the My Funny Valentine Comedy Jam with Bruce Bruce, Tony Rock, Arnez J and others (2/10) comes to the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, and Goodnight’s Comedy Club welcomes comedians John Hinton (2/2-4), John Heffron (2/9-12), Ralphie May (2/16-18) and Greg Proops (2/23-25). The N.C. State Fairgrounds lets you marvel at the latest and greatest in the world of cars during the N.C. International Auto Expo (2/9-12) and helps you rejuvenate during the Body, Mind and Spirit Expo (2/24-25). Experience the larger-than-life screen at the Wells Fargo IMAX Theater at Marbles Kids Museum, and sit back and enjoy films including Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 (opening 2/3) and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D (opening 2/10). Bundle up and explore downtown Raleigh during First Friday (2/3) and discover Art After Dark 2nd Friday in Holly Springs & Fuquay Varina (2/10) when art galleries, shops and restaurants stay open later and many have special programming.

This month Fashionistas can focus on the home and creating (or refining) a personal sense of style. The Raleigh Convention Center offers hundreds of vendors willing to help make your house a home during the Home Show (2/24-25), and find unique and original artwork at the Native American Indian Art Show (2/24-26) at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. While you’re at the Fairgrounds head over to the weekly Flea Market (Friday and Saturday) and find everything from doorknobs to antique furniture. Plan your special day at The Wedding Affair (2/26) at North Hills, an intimate discovery of wedding day dreams for the chic, modern bride.

The lineup is long for concerts in the Raleigh area this month. Pinecone presents The Duhnks (2/10) with their fusion of traditional bluegrass, folk rock, Afro-Cuban jazz, Celtic, gospel and soul, as well as blues and folk legend Taj Mahal Trio (2/18). Contemporary Christian artist Sara Groves (2/11) bring her inspirational voice to the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, In the Mood Presented by Artbeat (2/9) brings back the sounds of the 1940s Big Band Era and legendary guitarist Tommy Emanuel (2/25) strums some of his most recognizable tunes. The RBC Center welcomes legends of jazz during the 5th Annual Raleigh Blues Festival (2/19).

Learning can be fun, and Lifelong Learners know that education starts early. Marbles Kids Museum teaches smart ways to spend and save money with hands-on activities with the special exhibit Moneypalooza (ongoing). Will the groundhog see his shadow this year? The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is the official site of Raleigh’s Groundhog Day (2/2), and also at the museum: the popular Darwin Day (2/11), which takes a closer look at Charles Darwin’s theories. See and hear how the gristmill works, processing corn into meal and wheat into flour during a Half-Hour Corn Grinding Tour (2/19) at Raleigh’s Historic Yates Mill County Park. Learn some interesting historical facts during a downtown gliding tour with Triangle Glides (Tues.-Sun.) or a City of Oaks Historic Walking Tour with Tobacco Road Tours (dates and times vary). Discover the state you’re in at the N.C. Museum of History with the two-part exhibition, The Story of North Carolina (ongoing), telling the history of North Carolina from the first settlers to modern day. The N.C. Museum of Art invites families to Family Fun Saturday (2/18), and if you want to discover ancient Egyptian literature, attend the Lunch and Lecture: Fairy Tales and Other Literature in Ancient Egypt (2/24).