Michigan Winter Festivals
Winter in Michigan is anything but quiet. Beneath drifting snow and twinkling lights, Michigan keeps winter warm and full of cheer with festivals that celebrate the state's traditions, spirit and opportunity for adventure.
Silver Bells in the City (November)
Lansing, Michigan’s capital, shines bright at the start of the holiday season with Silver Bells in the City, a beloved holiday tradition that draws thousands downtown each year. The dazzling Silver Bells Parade winds its way past cheering spectators before the State Christmas tree is illuminated at the Capitol. Add in a winter market, community sing-along, drone light show and fireworks finale, and you have an unforgettable, family-friendly night of festive cheer.
Winter at The Station in Detroit (November – December)
Detroit's restored Michigan Central Station transforms into a glowing holiday hub during Winter at The Station. Visitors can experience light shows, interactive art, live music, and seasonal food and drink inside the historic landmark. With installations blending classic winter traditions and modern creativity and technology, this free celebration offers a new holiday tradition in the Motor City.
America's Thanksgiving Parade (November)
Since 1924, Detroit has marked the start of the holiday season with America's Thanksgiving Parade. Just over a century later, the parade continues to delight locals and visitors alike with its soaring helium balloons, elaborate themed floats, marching bands and the ever-cheerful Distinguished Company clowns. The spectacle stretches down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning, filling downtown with music, laughter and cheer.
Winter Celebration at Pine Grove Park (November–December)
Port Huron invites guests to drive or stroll through the Winter Celebration at Pine Grove Park, a free winter fantasy filled with shimmering lights and treasured holiday icons. From late November through New Year's, families can bundle up and grab some delicious holiday treats, warm up with hot chocolate around blazing fires, and even drop off letters to Santa.
The Winter Forest (November–December)
For a dose of holiday magic in a winter wonderland, head to Cannonsburg Ski Areanear Belmont any weekend after Thanksgiving through December. Here, you'll find The Winter Forest, a half-mile walking trail filled with twinkling lights synchronized to holiday music and beloved holiday characters like Santa, Snoopy and the Grinch. Fire pits and hot cocoa await along the route to keep you toasty.
Dutch Winterfest (December)
Holland sprinkles a touch of Old-World charm throughout the holiday season with the Dutch Winterfest. Downtown Holland is transformed into a cozy winter village filled with festive events and Dutch culture. Expect to greet Sinterklaas (the Dutch Saint Nicholas) during a traditional ceremony, join guided tours, and nibble on authentic Dutch treats as you experience the charm of a holiday village with a Holland twist.
New Year's Eve Ball Drops (December)
Communities across Michigan ring in the New Year with creative twists on the classic ball drop. Traverse City lowers a giant illuminated cherry, Sault Ste. Marie celebrates with a glowing anchor, and Mackinac Island hosts the Great Turtle Drop. These street parties often feature music, fireworks, hot drinks and lively gatherings of locals and visitors, making Michigan the perfect place to welcome the New Year. Check out this guide to New Year's Eve celebrations throughout Michigan.
In addition to these incredible winter festivals, Michigan is also home to a range of charming winter markets and holiday shopping villages. These festive markets, inspired by old European Christmas bazaars, feature glowing lights, music, comfort food, and one-of-a-kind gift shopping. Check out this guide to Michigan Christmas markets for more winter shopping fun.
World of Winter (January–February)
The World of Winter Festival has become the largest winter festival in the Midwest, transforming downtown Grand Rapids into a citywide art gallery for more than two months. Featuring enormous, illuminated creatures, colorful ice sculptures, and dazzling art installations from around the world, you never know what you'll discover around the next corner. Explore these glittering displays that are complemented by live performances, food trucks, outdoor games, and interactive winter-themed programming.
Grand Haven Winterfest (January)
For nearly 50 years, Grand Haven Winterfest has celebrated the season with unique competitions and family fun. Taking place over the last full weekend of January, Grand Haven packs four days with memorable events like the Cardboard Sled Build, Glowbowl, Bonfire Bash and Snow Volleyball. From family activities to after-dark parties, Winterfest is sure to delight the whole family.
Zehnder's Snowfest (January)
In Frankenmuth, Zehnder's Snowfest is the ultimate celebration of snow and ice artistry, attracting world-class carvers and thousands of visitors each winter. During the weeklong festival, teams from around the globe transform enormous blocks of packed snow into larger-than-life sculptures, while expert ice carvers create beautifully detailed crystalline works with chisels and chainsaws. Beyond the competitions, Snowfest keeps the whole family entertained with live music, kids' activities and more.
Heikinpäivä (January)
The Upper Peninsula honors its Finnish heritage with Heikinpäivä, an eclectic midwinter festival in Hancock. The festival celebrates the culture and folklore that Finnish immigrants brought to the area when they came to America to work in the Keweenaw copper mines. Highlights include a parade featuring Finnish folklore characters, wife-carrying contests, kicksled races, folk music, and traditional food.
Ice Breaker Festival (January)
In the depths of winter, South Haven turns up the heat with its Ice Breaker Festival. Dozens of 30-pound ice blocks are carved into incredible sculptures lining the streets, while fire pits and a giant community bonfire crackle to keep guests warm. The festival offers fun for the whole family with a crowd-favorite chili cook-off, cardboard sled races, and outdoor ice skating, while adults-only activities include the ever-popular Pub Slide, a downtown pub crawl with a twist. Horse-drawn wagon rides, live entertainment, and plenty of shops and cafés to explore between events round out this winter celebration.
Tip-Up Town USA (January)
In a place as dedicated to the outdoors as Houghton, it’s no wonder that Tip-Up Town USA draws people outside and onto this ice. Join the locals for a frosty 5K run, check out the ice fishing competition, and take a look at vintage snowmobiles and wood-carving demos. This weekend of fun, music, food and community is a tribute to winter in Michigan.
Michigan Ice Fest (February)
Each February, Munising welcomes hundreds of climbers and spectators from around the world to the frozen cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for the Michigan Ice Fest. What began in 1991 as a small gathering of local climbers has grown into one of North America's premier ice climbing festivals. Whether you're a seasoned climber, a beginner ready to clip in, or a spectator watching with cocoa in hand, Ice Fest's energy is contagious. The festival offers something for everyone – guided climbs for beginners, clinics on techniques and safety, gear demos from top outdoor brands, and evening presentations where elite climbers share jaw-dropping stories.
UP200 Sled Dog Race (February)
Cheer on mushers and their teams of sled dogs at the UP200, a premier 12-dog, mid-distance race that runs through the heart of the Upper Peninsula. An official Iditarod qualifier that draws top racing teams from across the U.S. and Canada, the 228-mile course runs from Marquette to Grand Marais and back.. The event kicks off with a thrilling start in Marquette as dogs and drivers burst from their starting chutes and charge into the snowy wilderness.
Alpena Ice Festival (February)
Alpena's lakeshore comes alive with ice sculptures, bonfires, live music and downtown festivities at the Alpena Ice Festival. By day, head to Mich-e-ke-wis Park, where you'll find dazzling ice sculptures, a roaring bonfire, snowshoe demos, kids' games, and food trucks. As night falls, downtown Alpena glows with nearly 30 illuminated ice displays, live music, fire pits, and themed specials and cocktails at local restaurants.
Winterlochen (February)
At the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Winterlochen invites families to explore the arts set against a winter backdrop with a free day of hands-on creativity. Conduct a student orchestra, join a theater workshop, try swing dancing, paint snowy landscapes or head outdoors. Visitors can also sled Winterlochen Mountain and cheer on the afternoon parade.
Jibba Jabba Rail Jam (February)
In downtown Houghton, the Jibba Jabba Rail Jam transforms Huron Street into a snowboard terrain park for one adrenaline-filled day. Truckloads of snow are shaped into ramps and jumps dotted with rails, giving snowboarders the chance to showcase their tricks under glowing streetlights. Music, hearty food and cheering crowds turn the competition into a community celebration.
International 500 Snowmobile Race (February)
Saul Ste. Marie’s International 500 Snowmobile Race qualifiers take place over the course of a week, culminating in the grand 500-mile endurance race – 500 laps around a 1-mile oval. In between are vintage racing events and other rip-roaring events for the whole family.