Winter Activities in Grand Rapids

World of Winter

January 9 - March 1, 2026

World of Winter, America’s largest free winter festival, once again takes over downtown Grand Rapids early in the new year. Stroll the city to see (and interact) with huge light-based art installations, enjoy live entertainment, play games and more – including special Valentine’s Day activities. Dress warm, it’s all outdoors!

Winter Shopping

‘Tis the season for post-holiday sales and fresh spring merchandise. Check out Breton Village Shopping Center, RiverTown Crossings Mall, Tanger Outlet Mall and Woodland Mall to browse scores of brand-name stores in one place. Shop 100+ gift shops, boutiques, specialty retailers and more within a 10-minute walk in downtown GR. Visit picturesque shopping districts in  Ada, East Grand Rapids, Lowell, Rockford and Uptown for one-of-a-kind finds. It’s the best shopping scene between Chicago and Detroit!

Warm & Cozy Restaurants

The slower pace of January and February is an ideal time to linger over delectable meals and drinks at 1,000+ local restaurants and craft beverage taprooms. Get the Flights of Flavor pass to find the city’s best food & drink pairings and earn points you can redeem for cool prizes. Download the Beer City Brewsader® app to get a free t-shirt when you check in to eight local breweries – and a free sweatshirt for checking into 30+ breweries. Dine outdoors – or, at least, in a heated dome offering a clear view of the outdoors at Donkey Taqueria, Farmhaus Cider Co., jdek at Margaux and Third Nature Brewing Company. Stroll around downtown while enjoying drinks and food from participating vendors, courtesy of our Downtown Refreshment Area.

Ice Skating, Skiing, and More Winter Sports

Rosa Parks Circle ice rink in downtown Grand Rapids is one of the city’s most treasured winter destinations. It opens as soon as weather allows, typically late November or early December. Grand Rapids is also a great place for fatbiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and other winter sports. Head to Cannonsburg Ski Area, 20 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, for downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing and winter biking. Bundle up for sledding at Belknap Park, Cascade Township Park, Johnson Park, Manhattan Park, Mary Waters Park and Richmond Park.

Winter Events and Entertainment

January and February are packed with crowd-pleasing events. See The Offspring, Nine Inch Nails, Three Days Grace, Matteo Lane, Brad Williams, Trey Kennedy and more live on stage. Watch a touring production of Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo and a lavish local staging of Tony Award-winning musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. See the Grand Rapids Symphony Celebrate America and Grand Rapids Ballet dance Swan Lake. Visit our Performing Arts page for even more music, theatre, comedy and dance shows.

Family Fun

Young ones can learn through play at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Dino devotees will love Jurassic Quest at DeVos Place and Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family. Sports fans can cheer on Grand Rapids Gold basketball, Grand Rapids Griffins hockey and Grand Rapids Rise female volleyball. There’s also Disney on Ice, a Professional Bull Riders competition and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, live on stage. Explore even more opportunities for kids to Play Their Way.

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A Taste of Spring

Got a case of the winter blahs? Set your eyes on spring at DeVos Place: the Remodeling & New Homes Show, Camper, Travel & RV Show, Michigan International Auto Show, Boat Show and Home & Garden Show are filled with products and ideas to take your mind off cold weather. Visit the always hot and humid Tropical Conservatory at Meijer Gardens, imagine yourself in the warmer locales featured in the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s Landscapes in Art exhibit, get a hot stone massage at a local spa or just dance your blahs away. And, of course, nothing warms the heart like celebrating Valentine’s Day!