GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The largest winter festival in West Michigan starts this week in Grand Rapids. It features unique attractions, events and art. The festival started as a way to bring business to downtown during the cold winter months.
Periwinkle Fog, a gift shop, is delighted that the sixth World of Winter is about to start.
“During the winter months here, when it's typically slow season for retail, the weekends, it really brings crowds down to see World of Winter, all the sculptures, all the activities, the music,” said Periwinkle Fog Co-Owner Lisa Radeck.
She says the festival’s big crowds bring customers to her store.
“We see a bump in customers coming down. We see the Greater Grand Rapids Area and, you know, cities beyond, from Lansing to the east side of the state, come in on the weekends,” said Radeck.
Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) says the winter months were slow before World of Winter.
“We wanted to give folks a reason to come downtown during January and February and enjoy everything downtown has to offer, including the outdoor spaces, but definitely all the great businesses we have as well,” said Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Communications Director Bill Kirk.
Last year, DGRI said that 4.8 million people visited downtown in January and February.
“That's a great amount of visitor traffic, and that translates into good things for our businesses,” said Kirk.
With so much to do and see, DGRI is optimistic that attendance for this year’s festival will be just as big or larger.
“It's a chance for people to come see some international art and local art, that they're showcasing it for the very first time right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan,” said Kirk.
The opening ceremony is Saturday night from 6–9 p.m. World of Winter runs until March 2.
For a full schedule of events and to see a map of all art installations, visit the festival's website.
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