If you need a break in your routine and a place for winter fun take a day trip to Grand Rapids for a family adventure this winter. The World of Winter Festival is an outdoor illuminated art installation that is fun for everyone. 

The World of Winter is a FREE, outdoor winter festival in downtown Grand Rapids that runs January 10th to March 2nd. There are special events hosted throughout with permanent exhibits you can enjoy any time. Some notable World of Winter events include:

  • Fire & Ice: Take part in this street party with live entertainment (including fire performances and figure skating), food trucks, and interactive activities. Saturday, January 25th, from 6pm – 10pm
  • Ice Park & Food Truck Rally: Enjoy games entirely out of ice and delicious food from local food trucks in a family-friendly atmosphere. Highlights include Sound Immersion from 1 PM to 5 PM. Dive into interactive music set ups, including CDJs, a mini keyboard, and electronic drum kit. Sunday, January 26th, from 12pm – 6pm.
  • Paint the Park: Help paint the ice rick at Rosa Parks Circle! Bring the whole family and get creative at this fun event. Sunday, February 16 from 11am – 5pm
  • Noodle Fest: Enjoy $6 Noodle Bowls and vote for the best dish. Live performances and cultural entertainment will happen throughout the event. Saturday, March 1st, from 11am – 6pm

The best part of early evening is that by 5:30pm or 6pm you can truly enjoy the World of Winter Festival. The festival takes place throughout downtown, but the four main hotspots are: Ah-Nab-Awen Park, 555 Monroe Skate Park, Canal Park, Sixth Street Park.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park hosts 3 installations including The Singing Tre. It’s an interactive lighting installation that transforms singing, clapping, yelling and speaking into vibrant visual experiences. The tree lights up in colorful patterns based on the sounds you make.

555 Monroe Skate Park is home to Bon{d}fire. This is a bonfire-like LED structure inviting visitors to share their stories into surrounding microphones. As participants share their stories, their voices are transformed into vibrant rhythms and colors that illuminate the LED bonfire.

Canal Park has a lot of interactive installations. Apogee comes to life with dynamic, space-themed visuals mapped onto its surface. Two swings and integrated benches invite visitors to relax and engage with the art. Don’t forget to see the purple monster with 14-ft. tentacles!

Sixth Street Park has a birdhouse that comes to life when cranked, Manidoo Bawating – an 11-ft. tall sculpture representing and honoring important symbols and unique traditions of the Native American community that thrived along the Grand River and throughout the Great Lakes region, a giant lightning bolt that crackles, and more.

Plan your visit to WoW by beginning here. Don’t forget to check out the events calendar.

While the World of Winter is best enjoyed at night, but make the most of the day trip by visiting one of these three great spots during the day:

  • Grand Rapids Public Museum: From A (Automobiles) to Z (Zoology) the three story museum is packed with engaging and interactive activities for kids. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3 to 17. The museum is open daily and tickets can be purchased same day.
  • Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: The hands-on museum for kids is especially fun for littles who love to play – from music and Legos to bubbles and balls -there’s plenty to keep kids busy. Capacity is limited and it’s advisable to reserve your tickets in advance. Admission is $12 per person.
  • Cannonsburg: Located just outside Grand Rapids, Cannonsburg offers skiing, snowboarding and SNOWTUBING! Reservations for snow tubing are required and cost $20 per person on weekdays and $25 per person on weekends.

Grand Rapids is approximately 2 hours from metro Detroit, a reasonable day trip drive for families looking for a little extra fun.

Photo credit: Photography: Bryan Esler Artist: Amigo & Amigo