Quicken Loans is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Motown Winter Blast as thousands of metro Detroiters head to Campus Martius to celebrate winter in the D February 8-10!
There’s fun for everyone, whether you want to play in the snow with the kids, listen to music, eat great food or bar hop!
With so much to see, my advice is to walk around Campus Martius Park and Cadillac Square to see all of the cool events and decide what you’d like to visit first.
Winter Fun for Everyone
Snowshoeing: As part of their “Get Fit” campaign, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan presents this classic wintertime activity with free snowshoes available in youth and adult sizes!
Ice Skating: There’s only one weekend you can skate for free at the Campus Martius rink and it’s during Winter Blast, thanks to Charter One Bank! If you need to rent skates, they’re available for $3, but the first 250 renters will get to rent for free courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan & Blue Care Network.
Skating Demonstrations: Local professional and amateur figure skaters will be showcased as part of the ice skating exhibitions, featuring the Detroit Skating Club, St. Clair Shores Skating Club, Skate Company, New Edge Figure Skating Club and Compuware Arena.
Ice Sculptures: Bring your camera, because beautifully carved and lighted ice sculptures will be on display in the Flagstar Bank Ice Garden located in Cadillac Square. Sit on an ice throne, place your head in the open faces of a carved Eskimo family, and see iconic Detroit buildings come to frozen life. On Friday, you can see local carvers giving live demonstrations.
Sled Dogs: The Snomad Racing Sled Dogs travel around North America to race other teams and are making a pit stop in downtown Detroit. Michigan native Amanda Vogel returns with her retired lead dog Buz and friends to wow all visitors. You can see these magnificent sled dogs every three hours starting at 11 a.m. on Friday and noon both Saturday and Sunday.
Hockey Fun: Visit the Comfort Zone in Cadillac Square because the Detroit Red Wings will have a pair of interactive hockey games where fans will have a chance to win prizes. On Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m., Great Expressions Dental Centers is presenting a hockey shot competition where all participants will receive a t-shirt and smile bag and the grand prize winner can select a dental care package, free braces, two tickets to an upcoming Red Wings game or a weekend in Detroit courtesy of the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel.
Hot Beats and Eats
Music: Grab a hot chocolate and chill out at a handful of Comfort Zones; heated tents that give you an opportunity to warm up or listen to popular local artists. Check out the performance schedule for great acts on the Fathead, Michigan Lottery and Meijer stages.
Local Flavor: Located on Monroe Street outside Compuware, the Greektown Casino-Hotel Taste of Detroit Tent features great local cuisine and bands on the Michigan Lottery Stage. Enjoy food and drinks from Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, Detroit Seafood Market, Palm Palace, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Bear Claw Coffee, and many more.
Girl Scout Cookies: For a little dessert, visit the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan Cookie Van, where you can buy Thin Mints, Samoas and many more, plus have the chance to win Girl Scout cookies for a year!
Marshmallow Roasting: Sticky sweet s’mores are back, thanks to Meridian Health Plan. Purchase a marshmallow roasting or s’more kit and huddle around the burners located just outside the atrium at Compuware.
Kids Zone
Variety Shows: Kids and parents alike will enjoy the variety of shows from Pure Imagination Magic Show and Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff, featuring, magicians, jugglers and comedians.
Radio Disney: On Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., Radio Disney AM 910, will provide interactive entertainment themed around the hit Disney Junior series “Doc McStuffins,” including a stuffed animal check-up station where kids can check their toys’ height, reflexes and heartbeat.
Mad Science: New this year, and located in the Cadillac Square Tent, is Mad Science, featuring foggy dry ice storms, gravity-defying beach balls and more, running every 90 minutes starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and noon on the weekend. Hands-on stations include, a color changing lab, a bubble shower, science trivia where contestants can win prizes, and a slime station, where kids can take home free slime!
Make a Weekend of It
Stay the Night: The historic and luxurious Westin Book Cadillac (1114 Washington Boulevard) will be offering a $129/night rate (valid only during Winter Blast) that includes overnight valet parking for one car.
Bar Hop: Check out some of the most popular bars in town while participating in the official Winter Blast Afterparty, Bar Blast. Tickets are only $5 and you can ride a shuttle bus to and from all the stops!
Winter Blast hours are 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday. Each visitor is asked to donate a canned food item, a book, or $1 to enter the festival, with all donations benefitting Matrix Human Services’ “Break the Ice” on the Cycle of Poverty Initiative.
Parking is available for a fee in the Compuware Parking Garage and other municipal parking lots nearby. People Mover Stations (Cadillac Center, Broadway and Financial District) are close to the activities and are open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
More than 75,000 guests are expected to attend the 2013 festival. We hope to see you there! For more information on all of the Winter Blast activities and to view an event map, visit http://www.winterblast.com.
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