Five Family Fun Things To Do in Grand Rapids This Weekend During The World of Winter Festival

The annual World of Winter festival will bring tons of free events, games and activities to downtown Grand Rapids this weekend. There will also be cool events including a paint-and-sip event, yoga and a basketball game going on downtown.

Continue reading for a curated list of five family-fun things going on around the city this weekend from Friday, Jan. 6 to Sunday, Jan. 8.

Enjoy $3 sangria while you paint a masterpiece.

Wine and Canvas studio is hosting a “Boho Winter” painting event from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, where you can paint and enjoy $3 sangrias all night long. Tickets are $38 per person, which includes all the necessary paint supplies and aprons, a 16×20 gallery wrapped take-home canvas, and step-by-step instructions by a professional and friendly local artist.

The event is only for attendees over the age of 16, and alcohol will only be served to adults 21 and up.

Go to a basketball game and receive a free dinner.

Grand Rapids Gold home games this season, The Candied Yam is hosting “Dinner and Grand Rapids Gold,” where you can get dinner and a ticket to a Grand Rapids Gold basketball game for a package deal of $20.

There’s a home game at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, where you can take advantage of this offer. The Gold are playing the Maine Celtics at Van Andel Arena. When you buy a ticket online, you’ll receive a voucher for a free GOLDen Fried Dark Meal from The Candied Yam. Tickets must be picked up at The Candied Yam by game day, at 2305 44th St. in Grand Rapids.

Relax and do yoga inside a beautiful indoor nature center.

The Blandford Nature Center is hosting a winter yoga series with indoor classes that incorporate posture, breath-work, and meditation. The classes take place in the center’s visitor rooms with a beautiful woodland view. There’s a yoga class at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Blandford Nature Center, located at 1715 Hillburn Ave.

This program is recommended for ages 13 and up, but younger children may attend if they are registered and supervised by a registered adult. Pre-registration is required, and walk-ins are not accepted. Online registration will remain open until 8:30am the day of each class.

Tickets are $7 per person for members, and $10 per person for non-members.

The largest winter festival in the Midwest will be right here in Grand Rapids starting this weekend.

You’ll be able to find over 100 free events, activities and outdoor art installations in downtown Grand Rapids as part of the annual World of Winter Festival, which kicks off Friday, Jan. 6.

The festival provides an opportunity for families to enjoy Michigan’s beautiful winter and experience the four-season offerings of downtown Grand Rapids, according to the event’s website. All of the installations and activities are run by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., and will be up for the next two months.

• Opening night kick-off: The festival officially begins on Friday, Jan. 6, with tons of cool nighttime activities, a DJ, food trucks and fire pits at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. There will be a 1/3-mile luminary walk that starts at the south sidewalk of the Grand Rapids Public Museum by the Singing Tree, and ending at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. The free event runs from 6-9 p.m.
• Circus Wonderland: You’ll find an exciting wintery circus performance at Calder Plaza from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. There will be stilt walkers, LED performers, fire breathers, and aerialists from the Grand Rapids Entertainment Group performing near one of the festival’s featured international installations, House of Cards. The event will also have food trucks and games.
• Scavenger Hunt: There will be a scavenger hunt throughout the festival, and winners will have a chance to win fun prizes. The hunt will be outdoors and should take 1-2 hours to complete, so make sure to dress warm. High point earners will be entered to win a prize every two weeks. Click here to learn how to participate.