DETROIT – Supercross revs into Ford Field and winter festivals are turning blocks of ice into amazing art.
10 things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit
Winter Blast Royal Oak (Downtown Royal Oak), Friday to Sunday: Winter Blast is on this weekend for three full days of family fun. Thousands of visitors will flock to Downtown Royal Oak for live music, food trucks, ice sculptures, rides, axe throwing and marshmallow roasting. Head to the Medieval Village and try archery, get entranced by the fire dancers, meet Vikings and even a knighting ceremony. Rock out with Billy Gunther & Midwest Riders, Larry Lee & Back in the Day and so much more. Winter Blast is free to attend and is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. More info and schedule here.
Plymouth Ice Festival (Downtown Plymouth), Friday to Sunday: The sidewalks of Downtown Plymouth will be lined with dazzling displays of ice with professional carvings perched in front of stores and restaurants. Each one starts as a 350 lb. block of ice and is sculpted by some of the world’s best carvers. Don’t miss the throne made completely out of ice to be dubbed ice royalty. Warm up at several heating stations while enjoying a beverage from the Ice Bar. Open 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Join us Friday at 5:30 p.m. when Local 4 goes In Your Neighborhood live from the Plymouth Ice Festival. More info here.
Romeo WinterFest & 5K (Downtown Romeo), Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Head up the Van Dyke Freeway for the annual WinterFest filled with fun activities throughout the day for the whole family. Walk around and find freshly made ice sculptures or get cozy at several warming stations around Downtown. Take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage or take a bite out of the “Chilly” cook-off. Warm up for the WinterFest 5K and Snowman Dash on Saturday starting at 9:45 a.m.. More info and race registration here.
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone In Concert (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Friday 7:30 p.m.: Calling all muggles: hop on board the Hogwarts Express and get immersed in John William’s iconic score performed live by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Join Harry, Ron and Hermione as they visit the Wizarding World for the first time in the movie that began the international phenomenon. Conducted by Justin Freer. Tickets start at $69. Get tickets here.
Annual Ice Carving Show (Downtown Mount Clemens), Saturday & Sunday: Returning for its 18th year, watch as professional artists saw, chip and carve beautiful designs from giant blocks of ice. Head to the Fountain Stage to find a map of where you can find each sculpture or head to the Cherry St. Mall for some cornhole. Open Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free. More info here.
Shiver on the River (Dossin Great Lakes Museum), Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Head to Belle Isle for a free family eco-fair. Here you can learn all about natural resources through fun and interactive activities like caricature drawings, crafts, a magic show and live ice carvings. Admission is free. More info here.
Downtown Trenton Winterfest, Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Head Downriver for some family fun at Winterfest. Find over 20 ice sculptures freshly carved throughout Downtown Trenton, as well as deals and discounts at participating restaurants and businesses. Warm up at the heated tent for beer, food and live music. There will be free train rides, a cornhole tournament, games for kids, crafts and more. More info here.
Supercross (Ford Field), Saturday 2:30 p.m.: Ford Field is getting down and dirty, filled with 26 million pounds of dirt. Supercross and the racers are revving up with some of the world’s most challenging tracks that will test the athletes both physically and mentally. Don’t miss Supercross champion Eli Tomac competing for another title. Get tickets here.
Regeneration: Black Cinema (Detroit Institute of Arts), opening Sunday: Deeply influential, yet often overlooked: the impact of Black filmmakers and actors in cinema is explored through costumes, props, photographs and posters. The interactive exhibit includes a selection of full restored, rarely seen films, newsreels and home movies, documentaries and more. The exhibit is included with DIA admission. More info here.
WICKED (Detroit Opera House), ongoing: Broadway’s blockbuster musical is back for its highly anticipated return to Detroit. Fly to the Opera House and discover what happened in Oz before Dorothy dropped in. It’s the untold story
Find more events with our Live Guide calendar here.