World of Winter Grand Rapids 2025: Everything You Need to Know

With a goal of making Grand Rapids Michigan a more winter-friendly city, the World of Winter festival provides free outdoor art and entertainment for all ages.

This Michigan winter festival certainly brings light and joy to the cold winter months while it runs from January through early March! For 2025, art installations will be on display from January 10 – March 2.

World of Winter Grand Rapids 2025 Highlights

• 4 tips before you go
• 5 must-see World of Winter locations
• Special events to enjoy at the festival

4 Tips Before You Go

1. Plan your visit around the amount of daylight or darkness you prefer.

Although all the outdoor art can be viewed during the daylight, most of the displays really come alive in the dark. Use an online sunset tool like this one that shows the exact time of sunset and the last light on the day you plan to visit.

Visiting around sunset is a great strategy for the best of both worlds — seeing some displays in the lingering daylight and others against the backdrop of a dark sky.

2. Map out your path.

Review the World of Winter map for all of the art exhibits beforehand so that you don’t miss any of your favorites. Check out the highlights below from my recent visit.

3. Bundle up.

Winter in Michigan can be harsh, especially in the evening after the sun goes down. All of us, adults and children alike, bundled up in snow pants, winter coats, boots, hats, gloves, and scarves to stay warm.

4. Consider pairing World of Winter with an indoor activity.

While you’re downtown, make the most of your experience. Consider visiting a local museum during the day or indulging at one of the many amazing restaurants in Grand Rapids before exploring World of Winter.

Our family loves a visit to the Grand Rapids Public Museum, which is conveniently located by the Blue Bridge.

5 Must-See World of Winter Grand Rapids Locations

While there are displays all throughout downtown Grand Rapids, the heart of the World of Winter exhibits tend to be located along these pedestrian bridges and surrounding areas.

• Blue Bridge
• Ah-Nab-Awen Park
• Gillett Bridge
• Calder Plaza
• Sixth Street Park & Canal Park

If you want to see many of the main outdoor art exhibits, start in Ah-Nab-Awen Park. The two bridges and Ah-Nab-Awen Park are all easily within walking distance of each other.

Walking to Calder Plaza, Sixth Street Park & Canal Park will add another mile each way to your route. It’s an invigorating but challenging walk in the cold.

Our kids, ages 5 & 8, did surprisingly well walking for two hours in the cold, although they were definitely tired by the time we got back to the car.

For an easier experience, you may want to consider driving around to different locations or making multiple visits to the festival and seeing new areas each time.

Blue Bridge

An iconic spot for Grand Rapids photography, the Blue Bridge provides a picturesque location for showcasing lively art installations. The 2025 exhibits include:

• Kinetic Perspective: This ever-spinning circle is a sight to see after dark and presents an amazing series of optical illusions guests can see up close.

• Slow Motion: Snails get the spotlight in this installation, which features 3 snails strolling in a line on the Blue Bridge.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park 

The rolling hillside of Ah-Nab-Awen Park provides plenty of space along the Grand River to showcase World of Winter art. The 2025 exhibits at Ah-Nab-Awen Park include:

• The Hive: This immersive after-dark installation features a towering LED-made beehive in its familiar honeycomb shape that pulses with color and movement.

• The Singing Tree: The Singing Tree’s dangling lights flash in response to singing voices or any random noises. Howling like a wolf lit up the tree the most out of any noises we made!

• Soloveiko Songbirds: Press the buttons on this interactive display to hear melodies from the songbirds, each representing different regions of Ukraine.

• Meadowgrass Field: This Installation features a shimmering field awash in color and movement.

Gillett Bridge

With lighted, curved archways accenting the Grand River, the pedestrian Gillett Bridge is another prime art spot at the World of Winter festival. In 2025, you can see:

• Alarum: This installation is best enjoyed after dark and treats visitors to amazing displays of sound and color. Alarum’s Attraction Mode allows guests to interact with the installation and Performance Mode treats passersby to a 2-3 minute display of sound and light.

Calder Plaza

Featuring the iconic La Grande Vitesse sculpture, Calder Plaza provides another amazing location for art installations. Plus, several of the World of Winter special events take place here. Exhibits in 2025 include:

• Chronoharp: The beauty of a harp is transformed into an otherworldly thing of beauty with an exhibit that displays amazing animations as it responds to human touch and also treats visitors to amazing color displays.

Sixth Street Park & Canal Park

On the east side of the Grand River, Sixth Street Park & Canal Park are great places to walk along the river and to enjoy some local art. The 2025 art installations include:

• Skeleton Lighting Crew (Sixth Street Park): Returning from last year, this display features multiple skeleton figures trying their best to create a can’t-miss display.

• STORM (Sixth Street Park): This lightning bolt-shaped attraction is made from industrial materials and is best enjoyed after dark as it sparks with displays of static electrical discharge.

• APOGEE (Canal Park): An interactive piece, APOGEE is an aluminum structure with two swings covered in cosmic light projections. Definitely a hit for youngsters!

Special Events Throughout the Festival

In addition to the outdoor art displays, these special activities and events add even more fun to your visit:

• Scavenger Hunt: Download the GooseChase app, create a team, and complete photo challenges and trivia questions. 
• Performing Arts: From a Fire & Ice show to a Circus Wonderland, World of Winter hosts some fantastic performers.
• Games: Check out the Ice Park or the Human Hungry Hippo Tournament for icy fun and games.
• Black History Walking Tours: Learn about remarkable African American people, places, and events in Grand Rapids on various dates.
• Valent-ICE: This is a week-long display of dozens of ice sculptures throughout the city.

Check out the whole World of Winter special events calendar to plan your visit.

A Unique Way to Spend a Winter Evening

If you are looking for a way to add some festive fun to a cold winter evening, the World of Winter Grand Rapids festival is sure to brighten your night.