Winter in West Michigan: Five ways to enjoy the season

When the weather gets cold and you’re looking to get out and about, make the most of the season with a variety of indoor and outdoor events and activities in West Michigan. For Lakers living on the Valley Campus, many of these opportunities are just a Laker Line ride away. Check out the Laker Line schedule to find the closest stop to your destination. 

World of Winter Grand Rapids

Did you know that Grand Rapids is home to the largest free winter festival in the U.S.? From January 9 to March 1, enjoy an array of events and celebrations all around the city. The festival features recurring events, like Food Truck Fridays, as well as many one-time events like an Ice Piano Performance on Jan. 23, Snowga (snow yoga) on Jan. 25, Human Hungry Hippo on Feb. 28 and much more. 

Visit the World of Winter website for a full list of events, parking and public transportation information and more.

Ice Skating

Head to Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids to enjoy ice skating through February  24 (weather permitting). Rosa Parks allows walk-up skating as well as reservations. Visit the City of Grand Rapids website for information about parking, reservations, hours of operation and more.

Head west to Holland and explore the new Holland Ice Park, opened in 2025. The park, located on Sixth street, contains an ice skating pond, a 700-foot skating ribbon and a separate curling sheet. Visit the Holland Ice Park website for open skate times and to purchase tickets, which must be purchased in advance of your visit. The park will be open through March 15 (weather permitting). 

Snowshoe rentals

If you’re a current GVSU student, faculty or staff member, Outdoor Adventures through GVSU’s Recreation & Wellness has a collection of items, including snowshoes, available to rent at no cost. Looking for more adventure? Tents, sleeping pads, camping stoves and more are also available to rent. Visit the Equipment Rentals webpage for more information on the rental process.

Looking for an off-campus location to snowshoe? The Experience GR website offers a list of nearby locations.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

While you may be inclined to only visit in warmer months, don’t be fooled—voted the Best Sculpture Park in the United States by USA TODAY 10Best readers for three years in a row, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has plenty to keep you entertained during the winter months. With new exhibits, lectures, a 3D printmaking workshop, recurring jazz brunches and even a Valentine’s Day dinner , there is something for everyone. Head to the Frederik Meijer Gardens website for more information about winter offerings. 

Fun for the Family

If you’re looking for an outing that’s sure to keep the kids entertained, West Michigan boasts a number of events to help everyone enjoy the winter season. Grand Valley’s Sibs + Kids weekend , which runs from January 30–31, will include events like an ice cream social, relay race, glow-in-the-dark dance party and even a mock college class for kids to get a taste of college life. 

Off-campus, when the days get snowy, you can find plenty of nearby sledding opportunities in the Grand Rapids area. GRKids provides a list of sledding locations in the area. 

Looking for something indoors? Downtown Grand Rapids is also home to many museums, including the Grand Rapids Children's Museum , Public Museum , Art Museum , Gerald R. Ford Museum and more that provide an educational and engaging indoor experience.