Every January, we bring you 50 Things to Do in West Michigan’s year ahead.
This year, the only difference is, we’re focusing on the winter, because there’s so much to do in the next few months alone! There are hundreds of events already lined up, with many more that haven’t even been announced yet.
Yet again, we’ve rounded up what we think are 50 (maybe a few more, if you actually count) great ideas for having an amazing year, whether it’s seeing your favorite band, laughing at live comedy, enjoying a winter festival, walking on a hidden trail, or one of many other unique options. Enjoy!
FUN OUTSIDE
Brrrring Your Scarf and Mittens to Winterfest
Grand Haven
Jan. 25-28
grandhavenwinterfest.org
This four-day event has something for everyone. Build and take the helm of your own cardboard sled, deal into the euchre tournament, set up for a little beach volleyball, or gad about town in your jammies for the Sleepwalker .62 Run. There’s also a Kids’ Day with snow angel contest, a Bonfire Bash, and more—plus free shuttle service.
Ice, Wine, Beer and Blues Fest
Franke Center for the Arts
214 E. Mansion St., Marshall
Feb. 3-4
choosemarshall.com
The Ice, Wine, Beer and Blues Fest is a two-day celebration of winter, booze, and blues! The festival is a Marshall favorite featuring specialty wine and beer tastings on Friday night and a blues concert at The Franke Center on Saturday. This year’s star is virtuoso Laith Al-Saadi. Friday’s popular festivities feature a wine and beer tasting throughout Marshall’s downtown starting a 6pm. Enjoy food, craft beers and specially selected wines. There will also be live ice sculpting!
Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park
462 Scenic Dr., Muskegon
msports.org
Formerly known as Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, this park has everything you need to have an amazing winter. One of the few winter luge tracks in the U.S.A.? Check. A 1,400-foot dual zipline that runs in winter? Check. Skiing trails, ice skating, sledding? Check! In fact, you can even come in summer for the only wheel luge track in the U.S., archery, hiking trails and more.
Walk Among Lights In The Sky
Boyne Mountain
boynemountain.com
Boyne proudly presents an all-new immersive light experience, Lights In The Sky, featuring over 150,000 twinkle lights. The captivating display transports you to a world of wonder and awe. Spend an enchanting evening under the stars and feel the luminous magic of the season.
Tours Around Michigan
toursaroundmichigan.com
Even if you’ve lived in West Michigan your whole life, there’s still an incredible amount to see in your own backyard, and Tours Around Michigan is here to help. Whether you’re a local or an out-of-towner, their ultimate goal is to inspire guests to keep exploring, diving into the city’s history, culture, legends, flavors and so much more. Choose from a Ghost Tour, Church Tour, Art Tour, Riverfront Tour, a more general city tour, and beyond! They have also received endorsement from Accessible Travel World, which means these tours are fully welcoming for people using wheelchairs, needing sign language interpreters, or other accommodations.
Take Advantage of Holland’s Snowmelt System
Downtown Holland
holland.org
Holland isn’t just a cute little town on the lakeshore, it’s also chock full of places to see and things to do, made even better by the city’s snowmelt system in the winter. If you’re looking for a magical Hallmark winter moment, come to Holland, have a drink at Big Lake Brewing, a bite at Waverly Stone Gastropub, a latte at Lemonjello’s Coffee, shop at one of many boutiques — we could go on all day!
Experience the Magical World of Winter
Downtown Grand Rapids
Jan. 12-March 10
worldofwintergr.com
The World of Winter is Grand Rapids’ way of making life not just bearable, but incredibly fun in the heart of winter. Over 100 FREE events, a ton of unique interactive art installations, astonishing performances, more than 50 ice sculptures, activities, programs and more will take over Downtown Grand Rapids. Not only is it fun, but it’s great for social media. Here are just a few of the many highlights this year:
Luminary Light Night Parade
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
Jan. 12
Join for the Opening Celebration with a parade of paper lanterns! You can bring your own after building one at a drop-in event at the Children’s Museum on the 6th and 7th. The event will include local food trucks, local DJs, a special GR Gold drumline performance and more.
Ice Park & Food Truck Rally
GR Public Museum
Jan. 20
Enjoy delicious food trucks, jams with the musical maestros of Frosty Boyz Entertainment, and outdoor games! Plus: Snap a selfie on the ice throne. The list of ice-cold games includes shuffleboard, plinko, foosball, chess, checkers, cornhole, ice skee-ball, tic-tac-toe and air hockey.
Winter’s a Drag
Calder Plaza
Feb. 3
Michigan Drag Brunch is proud to bring you this FREE event in partnership with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Watch the Brunchettes/Queens work the stage! Enjoy brunch food from local food trucks. Plus, giant yard games and a photo opportunity with the crown-shaped ice sculpture!
Noodle Fest
Calder Plaza
March 9
Get ready for Noodle Fest – where chefs battle it out to whip up the tastiest noodle dishes! Picture awesome food, live entertainment and vendors dishing out $6 bowls of noodle goodness. You decide the winner by throwing in your votes with your donations. Think of it like a chili cookoff, but arguably even cooler.
Winter Beer Fest. Courtesy Photo.
FOOD & DRINK
Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week
Jan. 12-21
kazoostate.com
Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week, now going into its 14th year, is a weeklong series of events that celebrate the craft beverage industry, including food and drink pairings, specialty tappings, make and take, games, trivia, education and more. This celebration is for anyone who shares a passion and an affinity for hand-crafted products, made by people who care about an enriching experience. Like to be active? Kick off the week with the annual Snow Jog, a winter race!
4th Annual Mardi Gras Bar Crawl
The BOB
Feb. 10
mardibarcrawl.com
Celebrate Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) with this annual bar crawl bringing Bourbon Street to Grand Rapids. Expect an incredible day of green, purple and gold, beads, masquerade masks, color-changing cups, discounted food and drinks, and more fun across 8 bars downtown.
Drink Outside at Winter Beer Fest
LMCU Ballpark
Feb. 24, 1-6 p.m.
mibeer.com
Winter Beer Fest is one of the defining events of West Michigan. Entering its 18th year, the festival puts beer in the spotlight with hundreds and hundreds of options, alongside local music, impressive performances, and ice sculptures—and it’s all outdoors in the snow. Your ticket includes admission and 15 tokens for beer samples. Bundle up, and cheers!
4th Annual Grand Rapids Bourbon Fest
Studio D2D Event Center
1157 Century Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
March 2, 4 p.m.
grandrapidsbourbonfest.com
Grand Rapids Bourbon Fest is an indoor bourbon festival hosted with more than 200 whiskeys and bourbons, store picks, classic cocktails and high-end bottle section. Most of the list is bourbon but there will be a few non-bourbon options such as beer, wine & non-alcoholic options—plus food trucks, live music, vendors and more!
Allison Russell at St. Cecilia Music Center. Courtesy Photo.
MUSIC
Winter Wheat Festival
The Intersection
133 Cesar E. Chavez, Grand Rapids
Jan. 13, 1 p.m.-midnight
sectionlive.com
Have you ever wished that the wonderful Wheatland Music Festival feeling could last all year long? Have you ever wanted to share in Wheatland camaraderie, dance, and music during the winter doldrums? Then come enjoy nearly 12 hours of music on two stages! They’ll have Cajun, Americana, Bluegrass, Latin, and Traditional music, plus Honky-Tonk dancing, food and companionship.
Gimme Gimme Disco
The Pyramid Scheme
68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Feb. 2, 7 p.m.
pyramidschemebar.com
Calling all Dancing Queens! Here we go again! If you can’t get enough ABBA, boy do we have a dance party for you. Gimme Gimme Disco is a DJ-based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits, along with plenty of other disco hits from the 70s and 80s like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, & Cher. So take-a-chance and you’ll be dancing all night long.
Sam Hunt
Van Andel Arena
130 WS. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m.
vanandelarena.com
Sam Hunt is a multi-talented, five-time GRAMMY-nominated, Diamond-selling, award-winning hitmaker of a country artist. With a distinctive blend of country, pop and R&B, Hunt rose to fame with hits like “Leave the Night On” and “Body Like a Back Road.” His genre-defying style and soulful lyrics have earned him widespread acclaim, making him a standout figure in contemporary country music.
The Surfrajettes
Bell’s Eccentric Café
355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo
March 15, 7 p.m.
bellsbeer.com
The Surfrajettes are a four-piece instrumental combo from Toronto. Since forming in late 2015, the band has charmed audiences with their clever mix of psychedelic rock and reverb-drenched surf music, sky-high beehives, go-go boots, and eyeliner as thick as their guitar strings.
Experience Awe-Inspiring Acoustics
St. Cecilia Music Center
24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
scmc-online.org
St. Cecilia Music Center is an astonishing, world-class venue that’s not just beautiful to see, but to hear as well. They have an incredible lineup coming through in 2024, with a wide variety of artists. Stop by on January 16 for singer-songwriter Allison Russell; come through February 29 to celebrate leap day in style with Aimee Mann; or stop in March 7 for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s “Instrumental Array” show.
Get Social With Salsa
Fifth Street Hall
grsalsa.com
One Sunday per month, GR Salsa Social head to the Fifth Street Hall for a gathering of dance for all levels, whether you’re single or a couple, new or inexperienced. Enjoy the classics of salsa, bachata and merengue as you join the community and learn impressive new moves.
Jazz Your Night Up
GRNoir Wine and Jazz
35 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
grnoir.com
If you need a place to chat, snack and sip wine, with built-in conversation breaks for live jazz, head to GRNoir. The atmosphere is plush but extremely welcoming, fitting with the bar’s mission to help introduce “regular” people to wine and jazz, two pursuits often seen as high society in today’s world. Essentially, the whole place is a conversation piece.
Hear a Concert Under the Stars
Grand Rapids Public Museum
grpm.org
With the ability for pretty much infinite variety in visuals, the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s planetarium makes for a magical, spectral stage. Thanks to spiffy modern technology, artists are able to shift the mind-blowing visuals in real-time with the music. All kinds of bands have taken the stage, from psychedelic and atmospheric to acoustic, electronica and shoegaze. Check the museum’s website for this season’s lineup, including Silent Spirit, Brother Wolf and Sarena Rae.
COMEDY
Laugh with Tim Meadows
Wealthy Theatre
1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
Jan. 19, 8 p.m.
grcmc.org
Tim Meadows is an American actor, comedian and writer, one of the longest-running cast members on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he appeared for 10 seasons from 1991 to 2000. You’ve likely also seen his comedic chops on display in Mean Girls, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Trainwreck. Come see his show at Wealthy Theatre!
Stavros Halkias: The Fat Rascal Tour
GLC Live at 20 Monroe, 11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
livenation.com
Oh, what a little rascal! Comedian Stavros Halkias cheerfully skewers tech culture, air travel, sex, breakups and himself in this raunchy and riotously acerbic stand-up tour, so popular that GLC Live had to add a second date.
Lewis Black: Goodbye Yeller Brick Road
GLC Live at 20 Monroe, 11 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Feb. 16, 7 p.m.
livenation.com
After 35+ years as a touring stand-up, the hilariously outspoken comedian Lewis Black is parking his tour bus for good next year, marking the end of his legendary world touring career. Armed with his trademark rants and razor-sharp wit, Black tackles everything from politics to pop culture as he says goodbye to the road.
The PERAs Tour
Kalamazoo State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo
March 29
kazoostate.com
Come get cozy with Joe Pera as he performs from all 10 of his studio albums in a 3-hour long show—just kidding, but you won’t want to miss this show regardless. There’s no comedian out there like Joe Pera. The soft-spoken man delivers jokes in such a subtle way, some people have a hard time even telling what’s a joke, and that’s what makes him so great. Come, laugh, go home and put on an episode of “Drifting Off with Joe Pera.”
PERFORMANCES
Michigan Drag Brunch
Bobcat Bonnie’s
Jan. 21
midragbrunch.com
MI Drag Brunch is making sure you have access to drag year-round, with shows around West Michigan every few weeks. Check out the first Bobcat Bonnie’s show of the year on January 21st with the Brunchettes. One ticket includes a brunch meal, welcome drink and two-hour performance.
Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
Feb. 1-4
vanandelarena.com
Embark on a quest with Mickey Mouse and pals as they follow Captain Hooks’ treasure map for clues to find Tinker Bell—on ice! Elsa, Belle, Buzz, Woody, Moana and all your other favorite Disney stars join the fun adventure in this unforgettable show for the whole family.
Dance With The Stars
DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Feb. 13, 8 p.m.
devosperformancehall.com
Dancing with the Stars is back on tour to heat up this winter with a dazzling, sexy, high energy, brand-new live production! This year’s all-new stage show will feature your favorite professional dancers from the hit television series performing glittering new numbers, as well as some of the unbelievable showstoppers featured in season 32. All with special guest and fan favorite Charity Lawson of The Bachelorette.
INDOOR ADVENTURES
Blacksmith 101: Smithing With Your Sweetie
Blandford Nature Center
1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Feb. 10, 12-4 p.m.
blandfordnaturecenter.org
You and your sweetie (or a buddy!) are invited to join Blandford’s experienced blacksmith for a special couples-only Valentine-themed afternoon in the forge! You will learn basic forge safety and metalsmithing skills to create your own heart-shaped item from start to finish. No experience required. Now that’s hot.
Fowling Warehouse
6797 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids
fowlingwarehouse.com
It’s not bowling, it’s not football, and it has nothing to do with waterfowl (as far as we know). Instead, it’s a combination of the two sports, that’s both casual and competitive in the same way bowling or cornhole is. Here, you can satisfy your urges to chuck a bowling ball down the lane by throwing a football right at the pins in a 45,000-square-foot warehouse with a wide selection of craft beer, plus a full bar and NA bevs. Good luck with your chucks!
Chairoscuro International Film Series
Wealthy Theatre
1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
Jan. 21-March 17
chiaroscurogr.com
Chairoscuro’s mission is to connect world cultures, promote greater understanding of diverse peoples, and celebrate the universal human spirit through exceptional international cinema. Each year they choose an overarching theme and then selecting five highly acclaimed international films. This year’s theme is Passages, exploring the idea of womanhood through the passage of time, space and experience. A brief panel discussion is offered immediately after. A reception in the lobby follows with complimentary food and drink.
Game Night Out
House Rules Board Game Lounge
404 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
houseruleslounge.com
Bring your own game, buy one off the shelf, or borrow one of 200-plus games from the Lounge Library. Then, choose from one of 20 drafts, which feature not just craft beer but craft soda, root beer, build-your-own seltzer and more! On top of that, the cooler has hundreds of CBD, kombucha, seltzer, tea, coffee options and more. Game on.
Dive Into Virtual Reality
Amped Reality
2923 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids
ampedrealityvr.com
Amped Reality goes far beyond even when VR sets can do at home. You can play the popular VR games like Beat Saber and Superhot, of course, but they also have great games for groups, like virtual escape rooms and traveling through nature. It’s all amplified by the Haptic Vests, which provide feedback on your body.
Climb Kalamazoo
136 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
climbkalamazoo.com
With 44 climbing walls reaching 25-30 feet high and spanning over 10,500 square feet, it’s safe to say Climb Kalamazoo is a climber’s paradise. Belay lessons, rope climbing, bouldering, a pro shop — they have it all.
The Mud Room
1971 E. Beltline Ave., Grand Rapids
themudroom.us
Parents of young children and adults who like to make things are well-served by this Grand Rapids business. Visitors are able to create pottery, wooden signs, and glass art, and to paint pottery, too. In a world where so much of what we do is digital, getting to hold something you created is that much more powerful.
Air Zoo
6151 Portage Road, Portage
airzoo.org
In addition to over 100 historic aircraft, the Air Zoo’s science center houses flight simulators, an experience theater, amusement rides, hands-on exhibits, a restoration program for WWII planes rescued from the bottom of Lake Michigan and a one-of-a-kind indoor mural that reaches 32 feet tall and 800 feet wide! It’s the perfect destination for the whole family.
"Come From Away" at Miller Auditorium. Courtesy Photo.
THE ARTS
Brick by Brick: The Creative Art of LEGO Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids
Through May 19
artmuseumgr.org
There’s always impressive exhibitions to be explored at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, but this LEGO display is a must-see. Guests can enjoy the installation Rainbow World created by builders from Bricks & Minifigs, alongside inventive designs from community members. Also enjoy hands-on activities including a LEGO building area, a minifigure drawing activity and a scavenger hunt throughout the museum.
Come From Away
Miller Auditorium
Jan. 30-31
millerauditorium.com
The award-winning Come From Away has been traveling around North America and is landing in Kalamazoo this winter. This moving musical takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
The Gilmore Piano Festival
Kalamazoo
April 24-May 12
thegilmore.org
The Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival is a crown jewel in West Michigan’s arts scene. This bi-annual festival brings the greatest pianists and accompanying musicians from all around the world for newly commissioned world premieres, free community concerts, films, workshops, musical theater and so much more. It’s an astonishing undertaking we’re incredibly lucky to have here, an absolute must for anyone who considers themselves a fan of music or the arts at large.
Step Into the World of Bugs
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids
Through Feb. 4
grpm.org
Bugs aren’t gross—they’re fun! Crafted by the renowned New Zealand museum Te Papa, in collaboration with the five-time Academy Award-winning film studio Wētā Workshop, Bugs is a high-impact, hands-on experience for the whole family. It’s organized around four immersive chambers, from the stunning orchid mantis to the lovely dragonfly to the brain surgeon of a jewel wasp. Fascinating for all ages!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: The Exhibit
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
11 Sheldon Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Through Jan. 14
grcm.org
The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum proudly hosts The Traveling Exhibit Series, bringing nationally acclaimed traveling children’s exhibits to town. The latest is Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, based on the popular PBS KIDS TV series which follows kid adventurers traveling back in time to learn from real-life inspirational figures.
Shake It Up with Snow Globes
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon
Through Feb. 11
muskegonartmuseum.org
Strange Winter: The Snow Globes of Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz is an exhibition featuring unique, eerie, and fantastical worlds of unexpected scenes within a snow globe. With a peculiar take on the traditional snow globe, artists Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz create scenes that explore the uncertainties and tragedies of life with dark, humorous, and strangely charming narratives.
The Seasons: Reimagined
West Michigan Symphony
Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.
westmichigansymphony.org
There are multiple world-class symphonies in the region, and West Michigan Symphony easily fits that bill. The orchestra prides themselves on providing classical music for everyone, which includes this February’s globe-spanning show. Four Seasons. Two Hemispheres. Dynamic violinist Chee-Yun returns to guide you on a journey through them all. Vivaldi’s beloved Seasons will be played side by side Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.
Break Room Therapy. Courtesy Photo.
STAFF PICKS
SARAH SUYDAM
The Commons | I love going to the Commons with friends, ordering a cocktail and playing some games like I’m back in my grandma’s basement. The vibe is warm and cozy, just like what you’d want during the colder months.
Winter Thrifting | I can’t resist venturing out into the snow to pop into area secondhand and vintage stores (like Elevated GR) to see what treasures await. Because the new year is a popular time for people to donate or get rid of unwanted items, I know I’m sure to find something great.
Get Inked | Weirdly enough, getting a tattoo is a great winter activity! It injects some excitement into the months that can get rather stale, and it’s a much easier time of year when it comes to healing. No sun exposure, no chlorine, no sweat ... you’re golden. Gareth Hawkins at Sovereign Arms is always my go-to!
MICHAELA STOCK
A Hot Cuppa | Nothing warms up a cold winter day like a hot cup of coffee. Stovetop Coffee Roasters Lab & Roasting space downtown Holland is the perfect place to sip fine espresso and check out their new brews. The large and airy space is a perfect place to meet friends, too.
Live Like Pennyroyalty | Pennyroyal Cafe & Provisions has some of the best croissants and pastries West Michigan has to offer. Tucked away in the snowglobe city of Saugatuck, you can grab a snack or meal at their cozy, cabin-like location near the water.
Listen Close | Formerly known as the Listening Room, Midtown GR is a small capacity venue that hosts everything from live music to comedy acts. When the weather outside is frightful, bundle up and head to a show—it’ll be sure to take your mind off the cold.
ERIC MITTS
Maple Sugar Festival | If the frigid temps of winter have you craving spring already, head out to the Kalamazoo Nature Center for the Maple Sugar Festival on March 9. Savor the sweetness of the coming season with the fresh flavors directly from the forest, and leave with some bottles of pure Michigan magic to make your pancakes perfection all year long.
Late Nights with Prior Noon | The winter weeks aren’t usually when bands hit the road, but Grand Rapids pop country group Prior Noon plans to spend most of the snowy season playing shows all around West Michigan. They’ll start off joining Battle Creek country artist Sage Castleberry for concerts at Bell’s Brewery Jan. 13 and The Stray Feb. 2. They’ll also be performing at Butcher Block Social in Caledonia Jan. 26, Gravel Bottom in Ada Feb. 18 and The Liquid Note in Otsego Feb. 23.
Take a Break and Break Stuff | The tension of the coming election year already overwhelming you? Holiday stress still weighing you down? Experience a new form of therapy at Break Room Therapy in Grand Rapids. Providing a safe space to smash and destroy anything from glasses and mugs to computers and TVs, the location lets you use baseball bats and crowbars to unleash and relieve that lingering winter rage.
ALLISON KAY BANNISTER
Paddle the Pine | Rafting in winter may seem like something left to the daredevils, but Pine River Paddlesports Center has created a serene, dry, and definitively un-perilous activity that allows the rare opportunity to enjoy Michigan’s waterways in winter. Guided by an expert, this just over an hour scenic experience requires a little bundling up, but it’s worth it for the bragging rights alone.
Luge and More Near the Lakeshore | The Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park, in Muskegon, offers hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating during the day and on lit trails at night. Plus, the chance to glide Olympic style on its 650-foot luge track. Season passes are available so you can go back all winter long.
Dash Through the Snow | Okay, dashing may be an overstatement of what can be done on snowshoes, but if you’ve ever wanted to try out this sport, with low investment, there are several spots around Michigan that rent snowshoeing equipment. Check out Wittenbach-Wege Center in Lowell, Blandford Nature Center on the West Side, and Pigeon Creek in West Olive—and then hit the trails!
