Winter Attractions & Things to Do

Overview

Being surrounded by the Great Lakes means Detroit can have some patches of pretty cold and snowy weather in Winter. But being the weather chameleons they are, Detroiters adapt to the conditions and turn it into tons of fun! There are plenty of Holiday activities with or without the snow in December and ice and snow activities from December through March. Check out your options below!

Holiday Related

There's plenty of action and excitement in Detroit during the Holidays. America's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks things off Downtown along Woodward Avenue. The celebrations continue with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes at the Fox Theatre and Breakfast with Santa at the Detroit Zoo. The annual Holiday Walk through the amazing 110-room mansion at Meadow Brook Hall and Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village are musts this time of year. And Holiday lights are ablaze throughout the metro Detroit area, none better than the displays at the Wayne County Lightfest on Hines Drive, the Unger Family display in Royal Oak, and Dominos Farms in Ann Arbor.

Ice Activities

With 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan can't be beat for ice skating and hockey in Winter. Gather your skates and head to one of the many Detroit area Parks for a great outdoor experience. Not comfortable on a frozen lake? No worries -- pay a visit to Detroit's fantastic Campus Martius Park showcasing an outdoor ice skating rink in an exciting urban setting. Those looking for a more sedentary activity will enjoy the Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular, featuring 150 creative designs meticulously carved by local, national, and international artists.

Snow Activities

Winter's not complete unless you've taken full advantage of nature's gift -- the snow! A few runs down one of the many Michigan Ski Slopes are a good way to start. Sledding or tobogganing offered at a number of Detroit area Parks is another great option. For those seeking the ultimate sledding experience, check one of the Midwest's most unique attractions, The Fridge. This thrilling, 1,000 foot-long refrigerated toboggan run whisks riders down a 55-foot vertical drop at speeds of over 30 miles per hour. Indoors is the last place you want to be in Detroit during Winter!