Fun and Educational Winter Break Activities for All Ages

Most Kent and Ottawa County schools break for the holidays from Dec. 20 - Jan. 4, so you have 16 days to soak up all the holiday spirit you can. Here are a few suggestions for using your time festively:

Visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for ENLIGHTEN, an immersive outdoor experience featuring a one-mile pathway illuminated by innovative light displays, enchanting music, interactive experiences and world-renowned sculpture (thru Jan. 3), and Christmas & Holiday Traditions, showcasing seasonal celebrations from across the globe (Jan. 4).

Load the family into the car for three dazzling drive-thru light shows: the Christmas Lite Show at LMCU Ballpark (thru Jan. 3), Joyful Lights at Hudsonville Fairgrounds (thru Jan. 4) and Christmas Adventure at Deer Track Junction (thru Jan. 5).

Attend the family-favorite production of The Nutcracker, presented annually by Grand Rapids Ballet. It’s at DeVos Performance Hall Dec. 19-20.

You can see even more magical lights as you stroll around downtown GR, Ada Village, Sparta, Rockford, the Winter Forest at Cannonsburg Ski Area and elsewhere. Click here for details on these and other bright ideas.

The Christkindl Markt is open from 11am-7pm Dec. 22 & 23, the final two days of its 2025 season. Don’t miss this opportunity to shop for unique last-minute gifts, enjoy seasonal food & drink favorites, play a game of curling and experience the wonder of a European-style Christmas village.

If your kids still need to give Santa their wish lists, he’ll be at the Lowell Showboat on Dec. 20, Mrs. Claus’ Bakery in downtown Sparta thru Dec. 22 and Cabela’s, RiverTown Crossings Mall and Woodland Mall thru Dec. 24.

Browse our Holiday Events Calendar for even more winter break activities.

Snowflake Break at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is 12 special themed days with activities, shows and visits from community partners, plus a Museum-wide elf hunt, holiday displays, crafts, games and more. While you’re there, be sure to explore the thrilling Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family exhibit. Dec. 19 - Jan. 3, closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Winter Break at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum offers special activities and performers along with its amazing lineup of interactive exhibits from Dec. 18-23, 26-30 & Jan. 2-5.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum hosts two Drop-In Studio: Creativity Lab sessions over the winter break. Families can explore a variety of materials and modes of artmaking at their own pace. Dec. 20 & 27.

Hager Park in Jenison hosts two Winter Break Camps for kids to explore, play and discover nature: Winter Wonderland (Dec. 22, 23 & 26) and Winter Wilderness Survival (Dec. 29, 30, 31 & Jan. 2).

Winter Break Skate Camp: Winter Olympics Edition at Patterson Ice Center includes skate rental, skating skills, crafts, games and a snack. 9am-noon Dec. 22 & 23.

Bricks 4 Kidz offers three STEAM-focused LEGO camp sessions at That STEAM Space on Plainfield Ave. Dec. 22.

Kids Afternoon Out at Blandford Nature Center is four hours of nature-themed play, including time with Blandford’s Wildlife Ambassadors, outdoor activities, games, crafts and a snack. Dec. 23. Science Lab: Slime (Jan. 2) is an opportunity to learn about slime in nature and make and take your own slime.

YMCA Day Camps for kids ages 5-12 enable kids to explore new talents and interests through sports, crafts and outdoor play. Dec. 29-30 & Jan. 1 at David D. Hunting YMCA, Mary Free Bed YMCA, Spartan Nash YMCA, Visser Family YMCA and Wolverine Worldwide Family YMCA.

Sugar Plum Winter Break Art Camp at Lionardo Art Studio invites young artists to explore a variety of art forms themed around desserts, candy and baked goods. Dec. 22-24 & 26.

Spruced Studio nurtures young ones’ creativity with Kids’ Christmas Crafts (Dec. 20, 22 & 27-30), featuring a variety of different holiday crafts plus a hot cocoa bar with cookies, and a “Kid-Cuterie” Christmas Charcuterie Workshop (Dec. 23).

Snow willing, Cannonsburg Ski Area  will be open for tubing and downhill & cross-country skiing. Cannonsburg Kids is a weekend learn to ski and ride program for kids ages 6-12 at any ability level.

Cold weather willing, Rosa Parks Circle in downtown GR will be open for outdoor ice skating under the sun and stars. Open every day except Christmas Day.

Explore local parks and nature centers on snowshoes or cross-country skis – both are great family activities (and a great way to burn off those holiday calories). Fat tire biking is even more of a workout. And if sledding is your thing, check out the hills at Belknap Park (downtown), Mary Waters Park and Wabasis Lake Park (northeast), Richmond Park and Covell Dog Park (northwest), Cascade Township Park and Manhattan Park (southeast), and Johnson Park and Pinery Park (southwest). 

Don’t have the right gear? Here’s where you can rent snowshoes, skis, skates, fat tire bikes, sleds and more.

Snow or no, a hike through the woods and meadows of Blandford Nature Center, the Calvin University Eco System Preserve, Millennium Park or Wittenbach Wege Center for Agriscience and Environmental Education  is an inspiring and invigorating way to spend a few hours. Holiday Hikes & Hugs (with Goats!) at the Cream Goat Barn in Lowell (Dec. 27 - Jan. 11) is even more fun for young animal-lovers.

‘Tis the season for Hollywood’s biggest movies. See them at downtown’s Studio Park  – or on the huge IMAX screen at Celebration! Cinema North.

See Frozen: The Broadway Musical live on stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. The final performance dates for the acclaimed production are Dec. 19-21.

Enjoy a whole day of laser tag, holiday movies and other fun activities during Holiday Break Camp at BattleGR Tactical Games & Sports, Dec. 22-23 & 29-30.

Get your family sports fix at Van Andel Arena: the Grand Rapids Griffins pro hockey team plays Dec. 21 & 31 and Jan. 2, Grand Rapids Gold pro basketballers take the court Dec. 22-27, and Great Lakes International hockey – featuring Ferris State University, Miami University (Ohio), Michigan State University and Michigan Tech University – returns to the Arena Dec. 28-29.

Craig’s Cruisers offers a whole host of indoor activities throughout the winter season, including go-karts, bumper cars, laser tag, a ninja course and trampoline park. Open every day except Christmas Day.

Check out 15 places to go bowling in and around Grand Rapids – including Main Event, which also offers laser tag, virtual reality games, mini golf, gravity ropes and more.

Bounce into winter break at one of the area’s trampoline parks: Altitude, Rebounderz, Urban Air,  Sky Zone or Soar N Bounce – each of them offers numerous fun activities and courses.

Play mini golf and mini bowling under black light at Great Lakes Glow Golf  – there’s also an arcade filled with vintage-style games.

Speaking of arcades, check out 12 local destinations to play pinball, carnival games and video games.

Get a guest pass to swim and splash in the pool at the David D. Hunting YMCA  (downtown), Mary Free Bed YMCA  (southeast), Visser Family YMCA (southwest), Spartan Nash YMCA (southwest) or The Salvation Army Kroc Center (southeast).  Or book a hotel with an indoor pool for a family staycation – click Indoor Pool under Narrow Your Search on the left side of our Hotels page to view 60+ options.

Watch a kid-favorite animated film on the big screen accompanied by a live performance of the film’s orchestral score when Grand Rapids Symphony presents Shrek 2 In Concert at DeVos Performance Hall, Jan. 2.

Embark on a journey in which North America’s largest moving, roaring and breathing dinosaurs come alive in a fully immersive walk-through experience at Jurassic Quest in DeVos Place. Families can dig for fossils, meet baby dinos, ride life-sized giants and more. Jan. 3-4.

Close out winter break with the Harlem Globetrotters, who are bringing their 100 Years of Wow Tour to Van Andel Arena on Jan. 4. 

Ring in 2026 at family-focused New Year’s Eve events, including:

• New Year’s Early Eve at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum (5-8pm Dec. 30)
• Happy Noon Year! celebrations at six Grand Rapids Public Library branches: Downtown, Madison Square, Seymour, West Leonard, West Side and Yankee Clipper (11am-12:30pm Dec. 31)
• Neon New Year’s Eve at the Walker Ice & Fitness Center (5-7pm Dec. 31)
• New Year’s Eve at Dave & Buster’s (11am-2p & 4-7pm Dec. 31)
• BattleGR New Year’s Eve Party (1:30-4:30pm & 5-8pm Dec. 31)
• New Year’s Family Fun at Craig’s Cruisers (4-8pm Dec. 31)

Attend the Dec. 31 Grand Rapids Griffins Game at Van Andel Arena to enjoy fireworks and ice skating after the game.

Browse our lists of Family-Friendly Things to Do with Kids and Things to do with Teens for even more winter break ideas!