World of Winter Festival

More than 20 large-scale, interactive and Instagram-worthy art installations will be on display around downtown throughout the event. You can easily walk from one to the other – but you might want to plan for several days of sightseeing just to take it all in.

House of Cards at Calder Plaza

Consists of massive 128 light boxes in the form of playing cards, each designed by an artist from around the world or around town – include local artists Edwin Anderson, Jasmine Bruce, Maddie Chaffer, Alan Compo, Kyle DeGroff, Michi Farias, Alynn Guerra, Nick Nortier, Reb Roberts and Arturo Romero.

Angels of Freedom from Israel’s OGE Group at the Blue Bridge

A giant pair of color-changing wings and a huge halo provide a one-of-a-kind selfie opportunity.

Roaming Gnomes from Australia’s Amigo & Amigo at Ah-Nab-Awen Park

Eight giant inflatable gnomes – each different and all illuminated – tower above the Grand River.

Affinity from Amigo & Amigo at 555 Monroe Skate Park

An immersive light experience inspired by the memory capabilities of the human brain features 62 different color combinations and 112 points of interaction.

Starry Night by Serbian artists Ivana Jelić and Pavle Petrović at Ah-Nab-Awen Park

Van Gogh’s famous painting comes alive with 1,400 glowing tubes duplicating the master’s brushstrokes on an enormous LED screen.

Talking Heads by Hungarian designer Victor Vicsek at the Gillett Bridge

Two colossal heads each contain more than 4,000 LED lights  to create different facial expressions as they engage in “conversation.”

Massimals by American designer Jason Scroggins at the Blue Bridge

One of last year’s favorite installations returns – this colorful display of abstract animals is kid- and selfie-friendly.

Singing Tree from Canada’s Limbic Media at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

This lighting experience transforms sound into interactive experiences and only operates after dark.

Disco Heart at Pearl St. & Monroe Center

A large heart filled with giant disco balls installed at the gateway to Monroe Center.

Rainbow Trees at Sixth St. Park and Canal St. Park

Two separate LED art installations displayed in two different parks along the riverwalk.

Manidoo Bawating at Sixth St. Park

A color-changing sculpture crafted to honor symbols and traditions of the Native Americans who originally inhabited this region.

Messie the Grand River Monster at DeVos Place

The 14-foot-long tentacles of this purple monster can be seen bursting out of the balcony above DeVos Place.

Starlight by local artist Valerie Wahna at Lyon Square

Created to inspire hope and imagination, this sculpture immerses visitors into a glowing circle of dancing stars.

Tropical Tundra inside the Ah-Nab-Awen Park tunnel underneath the Gillett Bridge

This immersive projection experience will make you feel like you’re walking through a tropical jungle.

Muse Art Pod by MUSEGR at 555 Monroe Skate Park

A recycled shopping container that presents interactive events, performances, artists showings and cool lighting.

Frozen Fun! by Chris Dudley at DeVos Place

Five large-scale wooden cutouts of children of various ethnicities and personalities enjoy the snow and “pose” for selfies.

A Rainbow of Isotopes by Kacie Lees & Katherine Hagman at Grand Rapids Public Museum

This freestanding neon sculpture stimulates the moment of impact between particles in an accelerator – referred to as a “rainbow of isotopes.”

‘Tis The Season To Be Prickly by VW Design Studio at 555 Monroe Skate Park

This intensely lit, kaleidoscope forest of cacti is “dressed” in the colorful patterns of ugly sweaters.

Dark Days, Bright Skies: Isolation and Quarantine at Grand Rapids Art Museum

Artist Kendra Sollars illuminates GRAM’s exterior every evening with a video projection documenting her experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Carnevale by Mandy Cano Villalobos at DeVos Place

An interactive exhibit of found objects gathered from GR residents throughout the city – visitors can become part of the story of the city by posing for photos.

Passage of Shadow and Light at Grand Rapids Public Museum

Brightly colored arches function as a social space and arcade, with the light meant to encourage guests to pause on their passage and experience the wonder of their journey.

Sounds Of Spring Under Sheets of Snow by Craig David at Sixth St. Park

Four cube structures representing snow drifts or sheets of ice conceal lights and speakers that produce unique lighting effects and nature sounds.

Sweet On My City at the Federal Square Building (29 Pearl St NW)

Giant candy hearts are adorned with “love your city” sayings.

Winter Window Art

Several downtown businesses have decorated their storefronts for the World of Winter Festival, including Monsoon Vietnamese Cuisine, Oh, Hello Co. Paper & Gifts, Decaydence Vintage, House of Wine, Social House and Courage & Soar.

Valent-ICE

Dozens of professionally carved ice sculptures are displayed throughout downtown from Feb. 10 until they melt.

There will also be 50+ dazzling ice sculptures and themed window displays spread out over downtown.

Visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of performances, games and learning opportunities:

• Chilly Challenge: Architecture Walking Tours, daily thru Feb. 14
• Scavenger Hunt: WOW edition, daily thru March 5
• Art Installation Walking Tour, Jan. 14 & 22, Feb. 4 & 7, March 1
• Winter’s a DRAG performance, Jan. 14
• Cultural Story Time: Mexican (Jan. 15), Asian Pacific (Jan. 29), TBA (Feb. 12), Bengali (Feb. 26)
• Ice Park games: shuffleboard, chess, checkers, cornhole & more Jan. 20-28
• Ice Piano performance by Hannah Laine, Jan. 20
• Ice Park & Food Truck Rally, Jan. 21
• Ice Piano performance by David McDonald, Jan. 21
• Pursuit of Ahhwesomeness dance performance, Jan. 13 & 23, Feb. 3 & 20, March 3
• Beat Box DJ Pop Up, Jan. 27, Feb. 24
• Fire & Ice skating performance, Jan. 28
• Ghost Town interactive musical experience, Jan. 28, Feb. 11
• Black History Walking Tour, Feb. 4, 12, 27
• Silent Disco, Feb. 4
• Snow Snake competition, Feb. 5
• Dance in The Annex performance, Feb. 5, 11, 18, 25 & March 3
• Ice Sculpture Walking Tour, Feb. 10-12
• Snowga run & yoga, Feb. 11
• ICE Breaker: Ice Guru Randy carves a 5,000-lb. block of ice Feb. 11
• Love on Ice: 2-for-1 ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle, Feb. 14
• Brass Band Pop Up, Feb. 17
• Paint the Park ice rink painting party, Feb. 18
• Hipster Disco, Feb. 18
• Human Hungry, Hungry, Hippo Tournament, Feb. 25
• Noodle Fest competition, March 4

Food and drink are an integral part of World of Winter – and this year’s festival includes everything from a food truck rally to a noodle fest competition to a beerfest. (Food and drink are available for purchase.) Much of the festival grounds overlap with our Downtown Refreshment Area, which allows you to stroll around outdoors with an alcoholic (or otherwise) beverage from a participating business. There are nearly 150 restaurants, breweries and cocktail bars downtown, so you can easily refuel with a quick bite, leisurely meal or luscious libation during your WoW experience.

Before you visit, you’ll also want to check out other great ways to celebrate winter in Grand Rapids – including ice skating under the sun and stars in downtown’s Rosa Parks Circle!