12 magical winter festivals in Michigan to attend

Featuring snow tubing, world-renowned ice sculptures, lighted parades, and plenty of hot cocoa, here are 12 of the most magical winter festivals in Michigan. 

We’ll be honest: Winter in Michigan may not always feel so beautiful, but during the holidays, it can feel downright magical. The peaceful quiet of the first snowfall, the promise of joy in the air, and the satisfying crackle of a cup of hot chocolate around the fire—it’s the stuff that makes winter as a Michigander survivable. As a life-long Michigander, I can admit that I’m in that sweet spot of feeling wistful and hopeful for the winter, a feeling I know will not last much past the New Year. (Seriously, ask me around early March what I was thinking when I wrote this.)

Still, it’s fun to feel excited about the promise of the months ahead, ushering in a slower pace of life. And celebrating the magic of the winter months in Michigan with festivals is not just a way of making it through the cold nights, but a tradition in many small towns that kicks off the holiday season (and sometimes beyond).

From the west of the tippity top of the state, here are 12 magical winter festivals that will leave you embracing the beauty of the season.

1. World of Winter Festival

Where: Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, 49503

When: January 9 – March 1, 2026

Downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., is home to the largest free winter festival in the U.S., the World of Winter Festival. The festival features seasonal light and interactive displays, unique art installations, live performances, family-friendly games, and guided walking tours. And when we see performances and light displays, we’re talking dazzling acres of breathtaking shows featuring people throwing fire around. So yeah, this festival is lit.

All of the events are both dog and family-friendly, and several food options, including local food trucks, will be available. Plus, you just can’t beat a festival that’s practically an entire month long. There’s practically no excuse not to stop in at least once!

2. Zehnder’s Snowfest

Where: 730 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734

When: January 28 – February 1, 2026 

It’s practically a requirement if you live in Michigan to visit Frankenmuth over the holiday season. Frankenmuth is fun all year-round, of course, but during the winter months, it truly comes alive. Some of the most popular holiday activities to enjoy at Frankenmuth include horse-drawn carriage rides through the snow, eating a world-famous chicken dinner at Zehnder’s, or my personal favorite, stopping in at the Zehnder’s Snowfest.

The Snowfest is my favorite because it’s completely free to browse through the incredible snow and ice sculptures. If you’ve never been, you will be absolutely wowed by the artistry and creativity. With a 33-year history, Zehnder’s Snowfest is absolutely worth venturing out into the cold for. Plus,  you can bring the whole family and catch other activities like the warming tent, petting zoo, carousel, games, and even a fireworks display.

3. Silver Bells in the City

Where: Downtown Lansing, MI 48933

When: November 21, 2025

The classic holiday song about silver bells is a real-life winter festival in downtown Lansing with Silver Bells in the City. While the name alone evokes holiday magic, the real-life experience is even more magical, as the entire city comes alive with thousands of lights to kick off the holiday season.

The festival is a Lansing tradition that dates back to 1984 and started with 2,500 luminaries framing the Washington Square Mall. Today, around 40,000 people attend the winter festival to enjoy a holiday parade with lighted floats (and of course, Santa!), ice sculptures, carriage rides, a State Christmas tree lighting, a drone light show, and local shopping. The event is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and ends in a stunning fireworks display over the Capitol.

4. Royal Oak Holidays

Where: 221 E 3rd St, Royal Oak, MI 48067

When: Weekends starting Friday, November 21, through Sunday, December 21

How does five weekends of holiday fun in downtown Royal Oak for the Royal Oak Holidays winter festival sound? It sounds like an ideal way to spend a Saturday or Sunday in December, that’s what! Enjoy an array of festive and uniquely fun activities, including zip lines, carnival rides, free horse and carriage rides, and visits with Santa.

The weekend fun also includes plenty of holiday markets with crafts and shopping, a downtown “Elf” hunt at local businesses, and outdoor ice skating at the downtown rink for the whole family. Perhaps the holiday icing on the whole festival? The annual Cookie Crawl, which grants festival-goers with a sweet tooth a “Cookie Pass” to collect 18 different delectable cookies at local businesses.

5. Christmas in Ida: Parade and Festival of Lights

Where: Lewis Avenue, Ida, MI 48140

When: Thursday, Dec. 4 – Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

Promising a winter festival “straight out of a postcard, Ida’s annual 43-year traditional Christmas event is the best of Michigan small-town character with big-city dazzle during the holidays. The weekend event features a Christmas tree lighting, live music, community art displays and performances, chicken bowling, an indoor craft mall, a Christmas mall, and a Santa Claus visit.

The Famous Parade of Lights is presented by DTE and features two hours of illuminated and animated parade entries from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Canada. There are also all kinds of games, family-friendly events, live music, and of course, food. Don’t forget story time with Mrs. Claus, mailing a letter in Santa’s mailbox, the nighttime fun run, and the finale family fireworks show.

6. Fire & Ice Festival

Where: Downtown Rochester, MI 48307

When: January 16-17, 2026

The town of Rochester, Mich., comes alive every holiday season with the Big, Bright Light show that sets the downtown aglow with over one million dazzling lights. It’s free to stroll or drive through, but if you’re looking for even more festive fun, mark your calendars for Rochester’s Fire & Ice Festival.

The festival features activities like local food tasting, ice sculpture displays, an ice carving competition, a “Snowzilla Jr.” slide, Frosty the World’s Tallest Bounce House, and a synthetic skating rink. (If you haven’t tried one of these before, they’re actually quite impressive and feel very realistic!) The Fire & Ice Festival concludes with the “fire,” thanks to a family fireworks show on Saturday night.

7. Winter Wonderland Weekend

Where: Downtown Petoskey, MI 49770

When: February 13-15, 2026

As we move upstate a bit, we take a look at the charming and picturesque town of Petoskey during its Winter Wonderland Weekend. The event takes place in February, over Valentine’s Day weekend, which is a nice change of pace after the holidays.

Highlights of the weekend include: Winter Warmer Drink contest, Sweet Treat Stroll, Petoskey Chili Trail, wagon rides with Clydesdales through magical lights, live ice carving, and a Cupid’s Clues hunt.  If you have the kids with you, be sure to stop in for a free open studio time at Crooked Tree Arts Center for a family-friendly winter art experience.

8. Grand Haven Winterfest 

Where: Grand Haven, MI 49417

When: January 22-25, 2026

With the lake effect dumping snow and plunging temps, Grand Haven is no stranger to surviving the long (cold) winter months. So it makes perfect sense why the town would be ready and waiting to offer a lively winter festival to both visitors and locals.

The Grand Haven Winterfest is an interactive festival that takes place both indoors and outdoors, so there’s something for everyone. This year, the festival is celebrating 50 years of tradition. One of the signature events is the Cardboard Sled Build, a family sled race with prizes for best sleds, team spirit, speed, and other fun categories. After you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy a ‘Flannels and Flapjacks’ breakfast for the whole family or pop in for a euchre tournament. (Only in Michigan, right?)  A free shuttle is available for Saturday events.

9. Winter Carnival

Where: Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295

When: February 4-7, 2026

What I love about the Winter Carnival at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich., is how straight to the point it is. This is a winter festival celebrating something uniquely Michigan: the amount of snowfall the Upper Peninsula receives each year. I mean, it’s a fact, so why not embrace it and enjoy it, right?

First organized in 1922 as a modest Ice Carnival, the winter festival has grown to one of the largest annual festivals in the nation. Each year, new themes bring the winterfest to life in a fresh way. This year’s theme is “Through Ice and Snow to Space We Go” and will feature the festival’s signature intricate snow statues and student activities, such as broomball, comedy skit, human ice bowling, and a royalty coronation.

10. Tahquamenon Sled Dog Race

Where: 29881 County Road 407, Newberry, MI, 49869

When: January 10-11, 2026

Want to feel like you’re in a real-life version of “Balto?” Head on over to the Tahquamenon Sled Dog Race, an annual event with hobby and professional teams racing throughout the weekend. Spectators and races alike can enjoy the wintery beauty of Muskallonge Lake State Park and warm up with food trucks featuring barbecue, hot cocoa, and other winter treats.

11. Winter at the Station

Where: The Station at Michigan Central is located at 2001 15th Street, Detroit, MI 48216.

When: November 14-December 28, 2025

Last year, The Station at Michigan Central was transformed into a destination for holiday spirit, shopping, and live entertainment. The festivities went over so well, drawing in nearly 55,000 guests to take in the holiday splendor, that “Winter at the Station” is now opening for its second annual event.

Most of the festivities are free, along with some ticketed events, such as card-making and holiday centerpiece classes. Guests can do everything from sipping a holiday cocktail to browsing and enjoying the festive decor to shopping to interacting with hands-on family and friends exploring the past and present of Detroit. There’s also live music, food, and beverages, and even a children’s story time with a Detroit Pistons player.

12. Plymouth Festival

Where: Downtown Plymouth

When: Jan. 30 – Feb 1, 2026

Lining the streets of downtown Plymouth, Mich., are over 60 carvings by world-renowned ice carvers created from 350-pound blocks of ice. Not only is the Plymouth Ice Festival a “world-class” ice sculpture festival, but it’s also a weekend packed with plenty of fun, especially for the whole family.

For instance, you’ll find a tubing run featuring over 100 feet of tubing excitement, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and even a Family Comedy Juggling Variety Show. There are also plenty of vendors and a warming tent with complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and tea, and sweet treats for the little ones.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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