The holiday season is well underway and 2025 is just over the horizon. For many people, small businesses included, the start of a new year is slower (not to mention colder and darker); Downtown, however, gets lit. Throughout January and February Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) hosts World of Winter (WoW), the largest winter festival in the US, filling a much needed gap in Downtown’s activity calendar which helps ensure year-round Downtown activity.
Why it matters: Festivals like WoW contribute to Michigan’s wintertime economy, helping give small businesses a boost when the hustle and bustle of summer gives way to the slower winter season.
Beyond helping small businesses, WoW also provides people with alternative outdoor winter activities that don’t center around sports, making it more accessible for everyone, especially to families looking to get out and create lasting memories.
By the numbers: Downtown saw 4.8 million visits during the 2024 World of Winter Festival, a 4% increase from 2023. While not the only driver of Downtown pedestrian traffic, WoW certainly contributed by…
- Programming 55 Events
- Installing 70 interactive art pieces
- Carving 81 Ice Sculptures
- Partnering with 39 small businesses to activate their storefront windows
Join us Downtown after the holidays to experience World of Winter, the largest winter festival in the US!
