Winter Guide: 10 events for your Detroit calendar this season

By Metro Times editorial staff on Wed, Jan 22, 2025 at 6:00 am

It’s the coldest, darkest, grayest, and iciest time of year — but it doesn’t have to be boring. Mark these wintertime events in metro Detroit on your calendar to have something to look forward to all season long.

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Through Sunday, March 2

The Rink at Campus Martius

The heart of downtown Detroit transforms into a winter wonderland with a picture-perfect ice rink, open seven days a week. New this year is Chalet 313, a two-story heated lounge designed by Gardner White with cozy seating, a bar, and 360-degree views of Campus Martius Park.

The rink is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and noon-8 p.m. on Sunday. Campus Martius Park; 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit. More information is available at downtowndetroit.org. Tickets are $12 with discounts for children, seniors, active military, and first responders, with skate rentals $6. Admission grants two hours of skate time.

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Levi Manchak, Wikimedia Creative Commons

Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25

The 48th Annual Ann Arbor Folk Fest

This annual fundraiser for Ann Arbor music venue The Ark is held at the Hill Auditorium and features an eclectic lineup of artists in the worlds of folk, roots, and acoustic music. Highlights this year include Waxahatchee (see the feature story in this week’s issue), Josh Ritter, Jobi Riccio, Adeem the Artist on Friday, and Toad the Wet Sprocket, Bruce Cockburn, and The Milk Carton Kids on Saturday, among others.

Starts at 7 p.m.; Hill Auditorium; 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor; theark.org/folk-festival. Tickets are $47.50-$70.

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Friday, Jan. 31-Sunday, Feb. 2

Royal Oak Winter Blast

Held in Royal Oak since 2022, this event brings winter-themed activities and other festivities to Centennial Commons. Happenings include an ice rink (free, with ice skate rentals for $5), an ice sculpture competition, karaoke, a zip line ($15 or two for $25), live music with more than 40 acts, a Medieval Village attraction with jousting, archery, and immersive games (with a chance to win a weekend getaway at Soaring Eagle Waterpark), food trucks, and marshmallow roasting stations (with s’more kits available for $3).

From 4-11 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1; and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2; Centennial Commons; 221 E. 3rd St., Royal Oak; winterblast.com. No cover.

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Thursday, Feb. 20

Detroit Polar Plunge

Freeze your ass off for a good cause. Daredevils plunge into the frigid Detroit River to raise money for the Special Olympics. (Don’t worry, a dive team is on hand to help Polar Plungers get out of the water.) Those who raise $100 or more are treated to a post-plunge Chili Bar and receive a sweatshirt.

Check in and cash donation starts at 2 p.m., with plunges from 3-6:30 p.m.; Bayview Yacht Club; 100 Clairpointe St., Detroit; plungemi.org. No cover.

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Mikel O.D.

Friday, Feb. 14-Saturday, Feb. 15, and Friday, Feb. 21-Saturday, Feb. 22

The Dirty Show 25

The filthiest art show in Detroit — and maybe beyond? — is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The show features dozens of works of art in a variety of mediums from artists from the world over, burlesque and drag shows, the Cinerotic Film Festival, and probably more skin than you are likely to see during this time of year otherwise.

From 7 p.m.-2 a.m.; Russell Industrial Center; 1600 Clay St., Detroit; dirtydetroit.com. Tickets are $50 general admission, $85 for weekend passes, and $110 for VIP with lounge access and a swag bag.

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Jonathan Miske, Flickr Creative Commons

Sunday, Feb. 2

Lunar New Year Community Fair

In the Chinese Lunar Year, 2025 is said to be the Year of the Snake. While that might sound scary, in Chinese culture snakes are considered cunning and its ability to shed its skin is seen as a symbol of growth and transformation. That sounds good to us! This family-friendly festival presented by the American Chinese Association celebrates various cultures with food, music, performances, and more.

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Eastern Market Shed 5; 2810 Russell St., Detroit; acadetroit.org. No cover.

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Joe Maroon

Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 2

72nd Annual Autorama

The Motor City’s other celebration of car culture ditches the slick corporate sheen of the Detroit Auto Show for the gritty, anything-goes spirit of hot rods and other custom rides. Details have yet to be announced for this year’s event, but expect dozens of eye-popping, out-there creations from gearheads competing for the coveted Ridler Award, musical performances, celebrity guests, collectibles, and more.

From noon-10 p.m. on Friday, Feb.28; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, March 1; and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday, March 2; Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit; autorama.com. Tickets are $28 and $10 for children 6-12; children 5 and under get free entry.

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Bowers School Farm, Facebook

Through Sunday, Feb. 23

Winter Park

Launched in 2020 as an activity to do during the pandemic lockdowns, this event has become a local favorite and raises money for the Bowers School Farm, a local farm that offers learning activities to K-12 students in Bloomfield Hills Schools. The highlight is glow tubing, featuring inner tube sledding hills illuminated by LED arches. Guests can also look at the farm’s animals, shop, and warm up at bonfires.

From 4-10 p.m. on Fridays; noon-10 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon-9 p.m. on Sundays; 1219 E. Square Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills; schoolfarm.org/winter-activities. Tickets are $17 and advanced purchase online is advised as the time slots are limited.

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All season long

Belle Isle Conservatory

After being closed for the past two years for renovations, Belle Isle’s Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory reopened to the public. The $10 million project saw the 120-year-old Albert Kahn-designed building get more than 1,500 panes of glass, the installation of new concrete floors and planter walls, and the restoration of limestone panels. The greenhouse contains exotic and rare plants from all over the world, and is a great way to escape the winter. Just remember, summer at Detroit’s island park is just around the corner.

Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory; 4 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit; belleisleconservancy.org. No cover.

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Dontae Rockymore

Saturday, March 22

United We Brunch

Metro Times’s brunch tasting event is set to return to The Norwood. The annual event features bites from a variety of local restaurants, bloody Marys and mimosas, music, and more. Expect more details to be announced soon, including a list of participating restaurants. Tickets include all-you-can-eat brunch tastings and eight beverage tickets. (Note: this event was rescheduled from Saturday, Feb. 22.)

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; The Norwood, 6531 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mtbrunch.com. Early-bird tickets are available for $50 and VIP with early entry and a swag bag for $65.

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