Join us in Downtown Grand Rapids January 8–February 28, 2027 for another season of free winter art, events and fun.
The countdown to winter fun starts now.
For seven weeks, Downtown Grand Rapids turned into a winter playground — featuring large-scale art, live events, interactive installations and plenty of reasons to get outside.
World of Winter exists to bring energy to Downtown during the toughest months of the year — supporting local businesses and giving people something to look forward to, even when it’s freezing.
Every year, World of Winter brings a mix of international artists, local talent and returning favorites to Downtown Grand Rapids.
Our 2027 lineup is coming soon. In the meantime, explore some of the art installations we’ve brought to Downtown in years past.
World of Winter is a free outdoor festival in Downtown Grand Rapids featuring winter art installations, events and activities for all ages.
The 2027 festival runs January 8–February 28, 2027, throughout Downtown Grand Rapids.
We’ll share suggested routes and festival hotspots to help you explore.
Most installations are best experienced after 6 PM. Most events take place on weekends.
Check the event calendar for dates, times and special events as you plan your visit.
Yes! World of Winter is free to attend.
Most events and activities are free, though some may include optional paid experiences. Check the event calendar for details on specific events.
World of Winter is a rain, snow or shine festival!
Our art installations are designed to be experienced outdoors and most events will happen as scheduled.
If extreme weather affects an event, we’ll make the call that morning and share updates on our website and social media.
We work to make World of Winter as accessible as possible. However, some outdoor installations may be harder to access due to snow, ice or other weather conditions.
If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, email info@downtowngr.org and we’ll do our best to help.
Yes! World of Winter merch will be available at select large events. If merch won’t be available at a specific event, we’ll note that on the event page.
Want to shop online? Click here to browse merch.
Yes! This festival is pet-friendly. However, we encourage you to use your best judgment when bringing your pup, if they are reactive toward other dogs or people, it’s probably best to leave them at home.
The festival can get very crowded, so for both style and safety, we recommend lighting up your pup while exploring the festival.
We have dozens of events happening throughout World of Winter!
Browse the event calendar to explore upcoming events and plan your visit.
The 2027 event schedule will be released in November. In the meantime, here’s a look at what you can expect:
Yes! Everyone is welcome at World of Winter, and most events are family-friendly.
The Silent Disco is the exception, as the music may include adult language or themes. If you’re attending with children and are concerned about the content, we recommend bringing an extra pair of headphones so they can connect to their phone and listen to their own music.
Check the event calendar for event details.
Most events take place outdoors, rain or shine.
Drag Storybook Hour is the exception and takes place indoors.
If extreme weather affects an event, we’ll make the call that morning and share updates on our website and social media.
Most World of Winter events take place outdoors in public spaces. We encourage you to grab a bite or drink from one of the many Downtown businesses while you explore.
Non-alcoholic drinks are welcome throughout Downtown. Alcoholic drinks, however, must stay within designated Refreshment Zones. We’ll note on each event page when a Refreshment Zone is available.
Some events will feature food trucks with a variety of options. Food truck details will be listed on each event page when available.
Anyone 18 or older is welcome to volunteer! We ask all volunteers to be kind, inclusive and welcoming.
Ready to get involved? Fill out our volunteer form to learn more and sign up for shifts.
We accept installation proposals from artists and creatives year-round through our artist interest form. We also host an annual Open Call, typically about nine months before the festival, for artists from around the world to submit proposals.
Fill out the artist interest form to submit your work and hear about upcoming opportunities.
We’re fully booked for food trucks for the 2027 festival.
However, you can fill out this form to be considered for future opportunities with our organization, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
We love partnering with local businesses and organizations! Learn more about ways to get involved and sponsorship opportunities by checking out our sponsorship page.
Be part of World of Winter 2027 by becoming a Sponsor. Click the button to learn more about how to get involved.
