Revel in Winter’s Delight: Unforgettable Festivals This Season

January 9, 2024
a sculptor makes patterns and ornaments on ice blocks for a winter festivals children's town.

Now that the holiday season is behind us and we’ve flipped the calendar over to a new year, it’s time to look ahead to the rest of winter. Sure, there are fewer holiday decorations around, but there are still plenty of activities and fun to be had (speaking of fun, if you’re looking for plans for the next snow day, we’ve got you covered). Each of these festivals offers a great blend of wintry delight and community spirit. So grab those thick winter coats and gloves and enjoy these upcoming winter festivals around Metro Detroit.

MOTOWN MAGIC

January 19 – 21

2670 Atwater Street, Detroit

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The Motown Magic weekend at Robert C. Valade Park is just one of the special events Winter at Valade is hosting. Every weekend, you can find giant bonfires, marshmallow roasters, sledding, winter games, warm seasonal drinks, and more. For this themed weekend, you can expect a local vendor market, a Detroit Pistons park takeover, and of course, classic Motown music courtesy of local DJs and dance groups. 

ICE SCULPTURE FESTIVAL

January 20 – 21

Downtown Tecumseh

If you’re looking to see some ice masterpieces, Tecumseh’s Annual Ice Sculpture Festival is the place to be. The downtown area will have more than 40 ice sculptures to see. On Saturday the 20th, expect to see a dueling carvers competition from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. if you want to see carving in action! The crowd will determine what the sculptures make and pick the winner. Live demonstrations will also take place throughout the day on Saturday. On Sunday, you can see the Michigan Avian Experience’s majestic eagle and participate in the scavenger hunt throughout the downtown area. 

ICE FEST

January 20

Monument Park, Dexter

On January 20th, check out the Dexter Ice Fest from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. while the Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates Dexter’s bicentennial year. There will be cocoa and s’more stations throughout the park and local specials during the day. You can watch live ice demonstrations in Monument Park on the 20th and enjoy the sculptures through February 3rd. 

WINTERFEST

January 28

14300 Oak Park Boulevard, Oak Park

Oak Park Recreation is hosting its Winterfest on Sunday, January 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oak Park Community Center. Attendees can expect entertainment like an ice carver, reindeer pen, face painting, and more. There will also be craft tables, ice skating, and carriage rides around the community center. To stay warm, chili, hot chocolate, and s’mores will be available.

WINTER BLAST

February 2 – 4

Downtown Royal Oak

Winter Blast is returning at the beginning of February in and around the Centennial Commons and the Royal Oak City Center. Winter Blast is a weekend filled with fun activities that people of all ages can enjoy. Admission to the event is free, as are other family activities. There will be live music, ice sculptures, zip lines, ice skating, a kid’s adventure zone, food trucks, and more. 

This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on January 6, 2020.

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