DETROIT ( WXYZ) — Winter Blast, Detroit’s tradition of winter fun, has a new name, new logo and new schedule. It’s also now free to attend.
Quicken Loans Winter Blast Weekends returns for the 14th year to Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit, featuring winter-themed attractions and seasonal family-friendly entertainment. The event has grown to 12 days in 2019, and will be hosted over four weekends. The remaining weekends are: Jan. 25 – 27, Feb. 8 – 10, and 15 – 17.
For the first time, the festival has been strategically planned to maximize the weather – whatever it may be. There will be something different to do every weekend, including recurring activities such as ice skating, ice sculptures, marshmallow roasting, food trucks, family activities and live music, as well as rotating activations including Boyne City Slopes, The Winter Slide, zip lining down Cadillac Square, carnival rides, and the opportunity to skate for free all weekend long at Campus Martius Park.
Free ice skating takes center stage in the heart of downtown. This health and wellness initiative provides festival patrons the opportunity to ice skate for free at The Rink at Campus Martius Park for the opening and closing weekend of the festival, presented by Delta Dental. The weekend for free ice skating is Feb. 15 – 17.
Ice skating also will be available during festival weekends two and three, Jan. 25 – 27 and Feb. 8 – 10. Adults can skate for $10; children 12 and under and seniors (59 and older) skate for $8. Skate rental is $5 per pair.
Weekend two, Jan. 25-27, also presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, will have Michigan’s two largest ski resorts, Boyne Highlands of Harbor Springs and Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, deliver a learn to ski and snowboard experience to the city of Detroit. The resorts will be utilizing their proprietary Boyne Low-E fan guns, the world’s most energy-efficient, marginal-temperature snowmaking system, to make snow for the event. A Prioth snowcat will be used to expertly build and groom a slope offering beginner level terrain. Event goers will have the opportunity to be fitted for ski or snowboard gear, partake in a 20-minute beginner lesson, and walk away with special offers from the resorts and Boyne Country Sports.
The popular four-lane, 30-foot high Winter Slide makes its comeback this year on the third Quicken Loans Winter Blast Weekend presented by Delta Dental, Feb. 8 – 10, whisking riders through a dark tube at up to 20 MPH, and dropping them at a 40-degree angle. There also is a 30-degree drop slide for children and those who like their adventure at a gentler pace.
Returning the final weekend, Feb. 15 – 17, presented by Delta Dental, is the longest, fastest mobile zip line in Michigan. The 20-second ride allows two riders to zip simultaneously on separate lines, 34-feet above the ground. The high-speed experience will give riders panoramic views of Campus Martius from high above Cadillac Square, as they soar through the air.
Attendees can stay warm at one of the many roasting stations located throughout the event, courtesy of the Detroit Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Marshmallow and s’more kits will be available for purchase.
Ice carving demonstrations take place during the event courtesy of US Ice.
Jan. 25 - 27, 2019: Presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
o City Slopes (skiing and snowboarding exhibition) – courtesy of Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands
○ Food truck rally – courtesy of Kroger
○ Family activities – courtesy of Chemical Bank
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the DDA
○ Strolling entertainment
○ Local music showcase
Food Truck Rally Participants
o Hero or Villain
o The Nosh Pit
o Soaring Eagle Cuisine Machine
Feb. 8 - 10, 2019: Presented by Delta Dental
Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
○ Special Olympics Polar Plunge
○ Food truck rally – courtesy of The Kroger Co.
○ Ice sculptures – courtesy of US Ice
○ Family activities – courtesy of Chemical Bank
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the DDA
○ Winter slide
○ Local music showcase
Food Truck Rally Participants
○ Beans & Cornbread
○ Bigalora
○ Hero or Villain
○ Buffy's Mexicasian Grill
○ The Nosh Pit
○ Soaring Eagle Cuisine Machine
Feb. 15 - 17, 2019: Presented by Delta Dental
Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
○ Free skating at Campus Martius Rink (normally $10 per person)
○ Ice sculptures – courtesy of US Ice
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the DDA
○ Zipline
○ Local music showcase
○ Family activities
○ Strolling entertainment
Food Truck Rally Participants
○ Imperial Ferndale
○ Chick a D
○ The Monkey Truck
Learn more by visiting https://www.winterblast.com/
