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Best Winter Festivals In Metro Detroit

Whether you love festivals, want good food and drink or want to try new activities, you have come to the right place. Listed below are several events during this winter season that will be fun to experience. Each festival is known for a specific reason, so keep reading to discover more details and figure out which event will be the event you attend, if you don't attend all of them!
Plymouth Ice Festival
Downtown Plymouth
635 Penniman Ave.
Plymouth, MI 48170
(248) 817-8836
http://plymouthicefestival.com

Date: January 8, 2016 at 3pm - January 10, 2016 at 6pm

Nothing tops walking around a city and seeing beautiful ice sculptures. Free to the public, come support downtown Plymouth and the ice carvers! Friday will be ribbon-cutting day to launch the ceremony. Saturday will be the dueling chainsaw competition. Sunday will be the day of the competition. Watch these amazing artists in action and see what they sculpt this year. This is a family-friendly event with a beautiful outcome, as long as the temperatures remain chilly.

Fire & Ice Festival
Downtown Rochester
E. Third and Water St.
Rochester, MI 48307
(248) 656-0060
https://www.facebook.com/FireAndIceRochester

Date: January 22, 2016 at 12pm - January 24, 2016 at 10pm

The Fire & Ice Festival is so much fun! Held in beautiful downtown Rochester, this event is free for everyone. There will be a TasteFest to experience good food, along with some live entertainment. There will also be dog sled rides, snow shoeing, sledding, ice skating and skiing. This winter festival is all about being outdoors in a family-friendly community environment and experiencing some major fun. Check out the broom ball exhibitions, and look at all the ice sculptures! End the evening watching fireworks. This is a jam-packed weekend filled with outdoor activities and attractions.

Zehnder's Snowfest
Downtown Frankenmuth
730 S. Main St.
Frankenmuth, MI 48734
(800) 863-7999
www.zehnders.com/zehnderssnowfest

Date: January 27, 2016 at 11am - February 1, 2016 at 10pm

Check out a winter festival where the best-of-the-best ice sculpting competitors are in one city. The Zehnder's Snowfest is most known for ice sculpting contests. National Collegiate Champions, High School Competitors and US Competitions all happen in this fun-filled festival. For the children, there will be a petting zoo, as well as fun snowy activities. Later in the evening, there will be live entertainment and music. A fireworks display will end the festival. Who wouldn't want to end a festival without fireworks? This is a family festival for all, and there is no cost to view the fun.

Related: Ask An Expert: Keeping Your Kids Entertained On A Snow Day

Meridian Winter Blast
Campus Martius Park
800 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226
(248) 334-4600
http://www.winterblast.com

Date: February 12, 2016 at 11am - February 16, 2016 at 9pm

Meridian Winter Blast is the yearly event that everyone talks about in Detroit. Whether choosing to spend time outside or wanting to be indoors, there are options for everyone. Fun outside events include the snow slide, experiencing the zip line, viewing the Ice Garden and walking through all the fun festive outdoor exhibits. If choosing to stay indoors, enjoy the live entertainment, socializing, good food, a warming booth and Tim Hortons coffee. There are also events for kids. To enter this festival, do one of the following: bring three canned food items, bring one children's book or donate $2 to help those in need. Give back this season. This is an all-round experience you don't want to miss!

Winter Beer Festival
Fifth Third Ball Park
4500 West River Dr N.E.
Comstock Park, MI 49321
(616) 784-4131
http://www.mibeer.com/winter-festival

Date: February 26, 2016 at 3pm - February 27, 2016 at 7pm

Many special beers are available during the winter season, so why not attend a Winter Beer Festival? This festival is located in Beer City U.S.A.! This event is for adults 21+, and tickets can be purchased in advance at the price of $45. If tickets are purchased at the gate, the price is $50. There are well over 100 breweries in Michigan and over 1,000 types of craft beers. Taste Michigan through all the various beers at this festival.

Related: Ask A Detroit Expert: Your Best Hot Winter Drink

A feisty and intelligent young woman who resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When she isn't hitting the pavement digging up stories, she enjoys music, sports, animals, and having fun with friends and family. Contact her through the following: jenn.straka@gmail.com, Examiner.com, or be bold and read 365withJenn.blogspot.com.
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