Say farewell to cabin fever with these 10 February activities

You could argue that February peaks today, with the sunrise celebration of Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl, America’s most-watched television event of the year.

After that, it’s all downhill — more snow, more cold, more cloudy days that make it harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. Adding insult to injury, it’s also leap year, so we have an extra day in the longest-seeming shortest month of the year.

But take heart — outdoors and indoors, casual or formal, we’ve found 10 ways to add some excitement to your late-winter slog.

Two (or more) tickets to paradise

Who wouldn’t like an “Escape to the Islands” — without the hassle of actual travel — in the midst of February? Deep in the heart of Pittsburgh’s North Side, the National Aviary has been transformed into a tropical paradise to highlight colorful and unusual birds from islands around the globe.

The spotlight will be on the flock of pink-hued waders during Flamingo Fest Feb. 22-23, with themed games, crafts, story time and yoga. Guests 21 and older also can get a Passport to Paradise during a Feb. 28 party offering a signature cocktail, light bites and after-hours access to the indoor tropical habitats.

Details: 412-323-7235 or aviary.org

In the mood for love

Valentine’s Day is one of February’s few bright spots — at least for people with even a smidgen of romance in their souls. The Pittsburgh and Westmoreland symphony orchestras will present concerts sure to stir the emotions of even the crustiest curmudgeon.

PSO presents its “Valentine’s Romance” with guest conductor Vasily Petrenko, Feb. 14-16 in Heinz Hall. On the bill are Elgar’s “Cockaigne Overture,” Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé — Suites No. 1 and 2” and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, featuring violin virtuoso Ray Chen.

WSO welcomes the return of 17-year-old pianist Maxim Lando for “Parisian Valentine,” Feb. 15 in Greensburg’s Palace Theatre. Lando will perform Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2. Works by Mozart and Stravinsky complete the program.

As the Bard said, if music be the food of love, play on.

Details: PSO, 412-392-4900 or pittsburghsymphony.org; WSO, 724-837-1850 or westmorelandsymphony.org

Special athletes, special event

More than 350 athletes will descend upon Seven Springs Mountain Resort Feb. 9-11 to compete in the Special Olympics Pennsylvania winter games. Athletes accompanied by coaches will test their skills in alpine and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. A few athletes also will participate in snowboarding, an emerging sport for Special Olympics athletes.

Spectators are welcome to view the competitions and cheer on the athletes. Who knows, you might even be inspired to test yourself against the slopes.

Details: 800-452-2223 or 7springs.com

Put on your running shoes

Even in the depths of winter, you can explore the Steel City on foot with Pittsburgh Running Tours. It’s all systems go for weekend jaunts, as long as at least one person registers and it’s not a blizzard, says founder Trista Yerks. PRT offers 5k and 10k tours throughout the year in various neighborhoods, with Downtown, Mexican War Streets, North Shore, South Side Flats and Strip District on the February schedule, along with several public art tours.

Routes are mostly flat with a pace of 10-12 minutes per mile and six to 12 stops at points of interest along the way. Some routes are even stroller-friendly.

Details: 412-256-8640 or pittsburghrunningtours.com

Strap on your snowshoes

Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park are offering a wintertime hike to happy hour along the ridge during Snowshoes and Brews, at 11 a.m. Feb. 22. The 3-mile loop will take participants from the starting point to the lodge at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, where food and refreshments will be available.

Right now, organizers are adding names to a wait list for the snowshoe trek, due to snowshoe availability, says environmental education specialist Kim Peck. If the ground is bare, the program will become “hiking boots and brews” and additional participants will be accepted.

Details: 814-352-8649 or kipeck@pa.gov

View a masterpiece

Art lovers should be sure to visit the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, where two noteworthy exhibitions will open during February — and admission is free.

From Feb. 15 through May 10, the Greensburg museum will host “African American Art in the 20th Century,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, which Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO Anne Kraybill calls “one of the most significant national collections of African American Art.”

Opening Feb. 21, “Conservation: Works from the Permanent Collection” will give visitors a behind-the-scenes view of various aspects of art conservation as they relate to The Westmoreland’s impressive collection. This exhibit continues through March 22.

The view from the museum’s Cantilever Gallery is worth a trip in itself, offering a sweeping view of the city from its perch atop Academy Hill.

Details: 724-837-1500 or thewestmoreland.org

Create a masterpiece

There’s nothing wrong with preferring to stay indoors, just as long as it doesn’t devolve into a winter-long television-and-snacks routine. Instead, head to Latrobe Art Center for “Drawing What You See” classes, planned for 5 p.m. Feb. 5, 12 and 19. Member artist/instructor Sue Hrubes will help students unleash their creativity with drawing and mixed-media exercises.

Sessions are suitable for participants of all levels: “Drawing is the basis of all art,” reminds center executive director Lauren Buches.

Fee is $14 per session; list of required materials is available on the center website.

Details: 724-537-7011 or latrobeartcenter.org

Journey to the East

If you saw the popular 2018 rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians,” you saw two of the main characters vie for power over a game of mahjong. If you’re curious about the fast-paced, tile-based Chinese game of strategy, you can learn it American-style at the Oakmont Carnegie Library. Among its many programs, the library also has Eastern-influenced sessions including yoga, tai chi and two types of meditation — Meditation With a Monk, led by monks from the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center in Natrona Heights, and Sahaja Meditation, developed in India in 1970 by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi.

The library didn’t coordinate the programming, says reference librarian Stephanie Zimble — “it just kind of came together by accident.” Community members individually offered to lead the various sessions, and the library was happy to oblige. Sessions are free, although some accept donations.

Details: 412-828-9532 or oakmontlibrary.org

Hoist a glass or two

At the end of the month, toast yourself for making it through at the Pittsburgh Winter Beerfest, coming Feb. 28-29 to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Join thousands of craft beer fans for unlimited sampling of hundreds of craft beers — and ciders — from across the region. There will be food trucks, live music and barrels of fun. What’s better, it’s all for a good cause. The event benefits Animal Rescue Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal rescues, pet adoption groups and community spay/neuter programs in the Pittsburgh area.

Don’t forget to line up your designated driver. A designated driver ticket includes admission, water and soda at the designated driver booth and a $5 voucher good at any of the food trucks.

Details: pittsburghbeerfest.com

Last chance to party

Masquerade balls are common around Mardi Gras — sometimes it’s good to wear a disguise when you’re partying extra hard before Lent.

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 25, but the Westmoreland Cultural Trust will extend the revelry by a few days with a masquerade theme for its annual Party at The Palace on Feb. 29.

The grand old Greensburg theater will offer revelers “the festive ambiance of Venetian Carnevale, the colorful excitement of Mardi Gras (and) the elegant charm of a French Tea Room,” according to the website. All that and food, drinks and live entertainment, to boot. And costumes actually are optional.

Details: 724-836-8000 or thepalacetheatre.org