Paint the Park
2026-02-21 11:00 - 17:00 UTC | Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center St NW,, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Celebrate the season with hands-on winter fun and wildlife encounters. Join us on Monroe Center for a winter nature-themed event for all ages.

Schedule:

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM:

Paint the Rink at Rosa Parks Circle
Chamberlain Petting Zoo
Winter Animal Photo Op: Meet a visitor from the Outdoor Discovery Center

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM:

Face Painting by Dez Begay: Get a work of art on your face

4:00 PM:

Open Skate: Skate on your artwork!

Open Throughout the Event

Interactive Drum Circle: Join musician Josh Dunigan and try your hand at drumming.
Abby’s Hand-Drawn Portraits: Take home a custom keepsake.
Make a Bird Feeder w/GR Audubon Club: Craft your own piece of nature.
Enjoy free admission at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Food Trucks:

Neko Taiyaki: Japanese fish-shaped waffles with sweet or savory fillings.
Around Baking Co: Pizza, Sweets and Drinks
Olly’s Donuts: Mini-donuts, Coffee, Hot Cocoa
SIDEZ: Side Dishes (Mac n Cheese, Fried Corn, Baked Beans)

Extras

River Otter Ice Sculpture: Snap a photo with this masterpiece
GRAM FREE admission: Step inside and explore!
GRPL Mobile Library: browse books, sign up for a library card, or check out a title
GRCM Kid Can Van: hands-on art and learning activities from the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

Abby's Hand Drawn Photo Booth
2026-02-21 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-27 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-28 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Get a free live portrait!
Local Artist, Abby Haywood, draws live portraits of visitors from a whimsical shipping container! As guests take a seat, she asks fun questions and sketches their likeness in real time. When the drawing is finished, she slides it out of the booth for them to take home, a unique free keepsake from the event.

About the artist:
Abby Haywood is an illustrator from Grand Rapids. She has been drawing portraits for 3 years out of a wooden photobooth built by her mom. She also likes making zines, macaroni and cheese and sharing fun facts.

Location:
Abby will be located outside, next to the Grand Rapids Art Museum in the shipping container. She will be facing the restrooms at Rosa Parks Circle.

Window Display Walking Tour
2026-02-21 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center St NW,, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Bundle up and learn more about our artistic window displays across Downtown Grand Rapids! Our guide will walk you through each installation, sharing the stories of the artists, the businesses that host them and the buildings they are in.

How to Join:
No RSVP needed. Meet at Rosa Parks Circle (in front of the Grand Rapids Art Museum) at 3:00 PM.

Art Installation Walking Tour
2026-02-26 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center St NW,, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join local expert Candice Smith for a free guided walking tour of Downtown Grand Rapids’ outdoor art installations. Tours run several times throughout the festival and follow the same route.

What to Expect:

Expert insights: Candice shares the stories behind the art.
Outdoor art: Sculptures, light displays, and interactive installations.
Meet people: Connect with fellow art lovers.

How to Join:
No RSVP is needed. Meet at Rosa Parks Circle (in front of the Grand Rapids Art Museum) at 6:00 PM.

Dance Pop Up @ Emergence
2026-02-27 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | Calder Plaza, 320 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join us to witness a dance performance by Aspire EDA and Dance Playhouse at Calder Plaza.

About the Dance Company:
Aspire is EDA’s new pre-professional company for our teen and senior dancers. Aspire comes from our passion for dance and our passion for helping others achieve their dreams.
Dance PlayHouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional dance company and school, based in Grand Haven, MI.

Friday Night Food Trucks @ 555
2026-02-27 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | 555 Monroe, 555 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, Mic, 49503, United States
Whether you’re grabbing dinner before exploring the festival or stopping by for a late-night snack, there’s something for everyone. Come hungry, bring friends, and enjoy a fun atmosphere as part of the World of Winter experience.
In partnership with the Grand Rapids Food Truck Association, a rotating lineup of local food trucks will be at 555 Monroe.

Participating Trucks (rotating weekly):

Tacos Los Compadres: Mexican Food
Cousins Maine Lobster: Wild-caught Maine Lobster
Saladino Smoke: Burgers, French Fries, Sides
Luna Bella’s: Egg Rolls, Tacos, Hot Dogs

Great Lakes Snow Snake Competition
2026-02-28 11:00 - 17:00 UTC | Sixth Street Park, 647 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join us for a Snow Snake Competition, a traditional northern Native American winter game. Competitors slide their homemade “snow snakes” down a long snow trough; the one that travels the farthest wins.
All competitors must make their own snow snake (prior to the event) to compete. Practice snakes will be available for anyone who wants to give it a try, but to compete, they must build their own.
How it works:

Registration: Happens on-site at the event. Arrive early to sign up and practice.
Build Your Snow Snake: Bring your own home-made snake to compete. Competitors must make their own at home.
Throw Your Snow Snake: Each competitor gets three throws. The farthest single throw wins.

Competition Structure

You must make your own snow snake to compete.
Competitors are placed into brackets based on age and gender.
Each bracket winner receives $50.
All bracket winners advance for a chance to win the $500 grand prize.

Winning
The competitor with the farthest distance in each category wins their bracket. The farthest throw overall wins the grand prize.
Brackets Compete in the category that fits your age group:

0–5 years
6–12 years
13–19 years
20–34 years
35–54 years
55+ years

Schedule

11:00 AM – Registration & practice rounds open
12:00 PM – Competition Begins. (End of event time determined based on how many participants there are and how long each bracket takes.)

Order of competition

Kids Compete
Teens Compete
Adult Females Compete
Adult Males Compete
Elders Compete
Scoring
Closing Ceremony & Awards

Human Hungry Hippo Tournament
2026-02-28 12:30 - 19:00 UTC | Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center St NW,, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Registration is Sold Out!
Gather your team, it’s game time. Six person crews will race across the ice in sleds, scooping up balls in this fast, chaotic and seriously fun competition.
Schedule

11:30 AM: Family Check-in and Orientation
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Family Division Games
1:30 PM: Adult Check-in and Orientation
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Adult Division Games
5:30 PM/6:00 PM: Awards Party at Uccellos Atrium

How It Works:
Teams of six compete in a live-action twist on the classic board game. One team member (“the hippo”) rides in a sled while teammates push them across the rink to collect as many balls as possible.
Food Trucks:

Tacos El Chavo: Authentic Mexican Food
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Kentwood: Hot, cold and frozen beverages.

Noodle Fest
2026-03-01 11:00 - 18:00 UTC | Calder Plaza, 320 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Welcome to the ultimate noodle throwdown. Sample, vote and help name West Michigan’s best bowl.

What to Expect:

$6 Noodle Bowls: Try a variety of flavorful noodle dishes—all just $6 each.
Vote for Your Favorite: Use your tokens to vote and help crown the $500 winner.
Spicy Noodle Challenge: Up for the heat? Compete for a chance to win!
Live Entertainment: Enjoy performances and cultural entertainment throughout the event.

Vendor Participation
Think your noodle dish deserves the crown? We’re looking for vendors ready to compete for the title of Best Noodle Dish in West Michigan.
Vendor Fee: $200Registration Deadline: January 1
Register here to join the competition.
