ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and...

131/13Paint the ParkBy Skyla Jewell-Hammie | SJewell-Hammie@mlive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI— This month, the largest winter festival in the Midwest will return for its fifth year. The World of Winter Fest, hosted by Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., runs from Jan. 10 through March 10 with over 100 art installations, live performances and activities for the public — all designed to bring people outside for fun and good community during the cold-weather months. All events and activities are free to attend. Attendees can walk from one to another, but it’s best to plan several days of experiences to soak it all in. This year’s festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, with the opening celebration featuring fire pits, an interactive LiteBrite board, yard games, local food trucks and more. Keep scrolling to view highlights for the festival, including more than 20 large-scale installations available daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Top Attractions Ah-Nab-Awen Park Soloveiko Songbirds - Inflatable songbirds from different regions of Ukraine that share their distinctive melodies at the press of a button.The Hive - An immersive light installation featuring a towering honeycomb structure made of custom high-density LEDs that pulse with color and movement, perfectly synced to an original 10-minute music competition.The Singing Tree - An interactive lighting installation that transforms sound within the environment into visual experiences. The Blue Bridge Kinetic Perspective - Row of 18 illusions, each composed of two circles spinning in sync that reveal a hidden geometry and vanishing point at the eye level of visitors.Snail Trail - Group of oversized snails made of steel and sound-activated light.Sturgeon - This colorfully illuminated sculpture is located just off the Blue Bridge, raising awareness for a threatened species in Lake Sturgeon. Canal Park Apogee - A 23-foot wide by 12-foot tall aluminum structure that comes to life with dynamic, space-themed visuals mapped onto its surface.Doodle Benches - A series of playful, robot-inspired benches that come to life with simple lines, vibrant colors and creative lighting.Messie the Grand River Monster - Features a purple monster whose 14-ft. tentacles emerge from the Grand River to explore the city.Rainbow Willow Tree - Vibrant display of lights around a willow tree.Stargaze - Astral-inspired steel sculpture that showers visitors in light as they walk around it. Celebration Cinema Studio Park Arctic Friends - Large-scale papier-mâché sculpture depicting four animals ice fishing, drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows and warming up over a bonfire.Disco Heart - Adorned with golden ornaments that resemble shimmering disco balls. Gillet Bridge Alarum - “Wing” in Latin is an immersive light and sound installation shaped like the wingspan of a bald eagle. Grand Legacy - Honors the rich history of the Grand River through vibrant projections, stunning artwork and interactive elements. Lyon Square Fireflies - Lights moving within a vibrant yellow structure topped with a grass roof to evoke a magical atmosphere.Starlight - Steel structure with cut-outs of celestial patterns that glow from within. Sixth Street Park Birdhouse - Lighted birds and bird sounds come alive when cranked.Manidoo Bawating - “Spirit of the Rapids” in Anishinaabe is an 11-foot-tall sculpture representing and honoring symbols and traditions of the Indigenous community along the Grand River and throughout the Great Lakes region.Skeleton Lighting Crew - Group of holiday-hearted skeletons attempting to create a lighting display.STORM - Abstract geometric lighting bolt that crackles, sparkles and pulsates in a synthesized display of static electrical discharge.Live Performances and Events Calder Plaza Jan. 18 - Silent DiscoJan. 19, Feb. 15 - Sound Bath and MeditationFeb. 1 - Winter’s a DRAGFeb. 7 - Jashin: Celebration of LifeFeb. 8 - Circus WonderlandMarch 1 - Noodle FestFeb. 22 - HipOpera Rosa Parks Circle Jan. 25 - Fire & Ice performers and live ice carvingFeb. 17 - Paint the ParkJan. 31, Feb. 12 - Disco on Ice Feb. 23 - Human Hungry Hippo Tournament See the full schedule of events here. Parking If you’re traveling by car, there will be plenty of parking spots, including the Area 9 Parking Lot at 250 Seward Ave. NW., which costs $3 per day. If you prefer not to drive, you can catch the free DASH Shuttle, which circles downtown and stops every 15 minutes, or ride the Rapid bus system. Downtown the Transit app to plan this year’s World of Winter Fest trip. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Grand Rapids” daily newsletter. Skyla Jewell-Hammie Stories by Skyla Jewell-HammieLocal Eats: Try the thin-crust supreme at Big John’s Pizza in WhitehallWorld of Winter cancels new drone show in Grand Rapids amid safety concernsNew bar opening this weekend taps into Grand Rapids’ pickleball crazeDetroit nonprofit partners with West Michigan schools to boost literacy If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.