2025 January Michigan Ultimate Event calendar

Forget spring fever dreams; Michigan ignites in January! As snowflakes swirl and days shorten, the mitten state unleashes a treasure trove of winter adventure, with exciting events and things to do all month long.

Explore Michigan in January 2025: Top Events, Festivals & Winter Activities

From dazzling ice festivals and heart-pounding sled dog races to cozy fireside feasts and enchanting forest getaways, January unveils Michigan’s hidden magic. So bundle up, grab your mittens, and dive into our ultimate guide to Michigan’s top events, winter festivals, and activities this January. Unforgettable memories await!

Even if you’re not outdoorsy, there’s plenty of fun and unique shows and events hosted indoors to get you out of the house during the long winter. Below you’ll find our comprehensive list of Michigan January events you shouldn’t miss out on.

Exciting Winter Events in Eastern Michigan

Light Up your Night at Detroit Zoo Wild Lights

When: January 2 -5
Where: 8450 W 10 Mile Rd. Royal Oak, MI

Take a walk on the wild side at the Wild Lights event at the Detroit Zoo. Visitors are welcome to walk all throughout the zoo to see millions of LED lights that come together in spectacular displays depicting nature scenes and wildlife sculptures. Note that most animal exhibits will be closed for the evening, but the river otters and beavers are still visible during the event.

Enjoy Winter Spectacular at Bowers School Farm Winter Park

When: January 4 – February 23
Where: 1219 E Square Lake Rd. Bloomfield Hills MI

Head to Bloomfield Hills for a winter spectacular at Bowers School Farm Winter Park. Enjoy snow tubing, ice skating, bonfires, play areas for kids, and more, complete with plenty of warm comfort foods to fuel the fun.

Find Hidden treasures at the 51st Annual Detroit Swap Meet

When: January 4-5
Where: 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi MI

Connect with other collectors and find a new treasure at the Detroit Swap Meet at Suburban Collection Showplace. Celebrating its 51st year, this massive swap meet makes great use of the venue’s 65,000 square feet of space, inviting collectors of all kinds to trade, explore, and find new pieces for their own collections.

Celebrate Winter at the Frost Festival

When: January 17-18
Where: Downtown Rochester MI

Each year Rochester hosts a Frost Festival, where visitors come from all over Metro Detroit for immersive and fun winter festivities. Frost Fest promises a weekend filled with icy delights, from stunning Frozen in Time themed ice sculptures to a carving competition, topped off with a shopping and dining Bingo game that will have you exploring the heart of the city!

Cheer on Your favorite Team at Detroit Red Wings Hockey Games

When: Ongoing All Month
Where: Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave. Detroit MI

Winter is the time for hockey in Michigan and there’s no better place to go than Hockeytown itself. Head to Detroit to see the Red Wings play ice hockey in person at Little Caesars Arena and cheer on one of your favorite Michigan sports teams. It’s the perfect winter outing for all Michigan hockey lovers, make a night of it, or travel in for a weekend of winter fun in Detroit.

Ann Arbor Folk Festival

When: January 24 – 25
Where: Hill Auditorium

The Ann Arbor Folk Festival is a special showcase of folk music that serves as the largest fundraiser for The Ark. The Ark is Ann Arbor’s non-profit home for folk music, meaning that attendance at the festival is crucial for the survival of the genre in the city. Two nights of stellar local folk music fill the Hill Auditorium, including both established and newer up-and-coming folk artists.

West Michigan’s Winter Wonderland: Festive Events and Activities in January

Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week

When: moved to February 1-8

Typically held in January, you’ll want to plan ahead for this fun event. This is a great opportunity to celebrate Michigan craft breweries. For one week, all of Kalamazoo participates in a festival of celebration, where the brewing culture of the region is highlighted. From dinners, to tastings, tours, and more, there’s plenty to do and see during Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week. You’ll likely even be able to meet the many brewers, distillers, and winemakers from the area and learn about the processes and why and how the Kalamazoo region makes such stellar brews.

World of Winter Festival

When: January 10 – March 2
Where: Downtown Grand Rapids

World of Winter at Grand Rapids is the largest winter festival you’re going to find in the midwest. Complete with ice skating, artistic installations, live music, and plenty of food, this festival gets the people of Grand Rapids outside and active to enjoy the wonderful winters we have in Michigan.

Visit the Hunter Ice Festival in Niles, MI

When: January 17-19
Where: Downtown Niles MI

Over 150 ice sculptures line the streets of downtown Niles during the Hunter Ice Festival. Bring the family out and take a stroll through town to see some magnificent temporary pieces of art. It’s the perfect chance to get outside for a family friendly winter event.

January Events and Things to Do in Central Michigan

Mid Michigan RV and Outdoor Adventure Show

When: January 16-19
Where: MSU Pavillion, 4301 Farm Ln., Lansing MI

It’s no secret that Michiganders love camping, and as the winter keeps more campers at home, Lansing hosts their annual RV show. Head to the capital to see stunning new and vintage RVs from lightweight to luxury models. Whether you’re looking for a more rustic camper experience or have a goal to try glamping this summer, you needn’t look any further than this RV show.

Annual Ice Sculpture Festival

When: January 17 -18
Where: Downtown Tecumseh MI

The Annual Ice Sculpture Festival is a great family friendly activity in central Michigan. If you head to downtown Tecumesh, you’ll be greeted by dozens of beautiful ice sculptures, but that’s not all. There are other art installations as well, and if you’re looking for a bit of extra fun, try the scavenger hunt.

Zehnder’s Snowfest

When: January 29 -February 2
Where: Downtown Frankenmuth, near Zehnder’s restaurant

Celebrate the joy of the winter season the “Little Bavarian” way. In Frankenmuth, the German heritage and influence is strong and the winter festivities are uniquely their own. Snow sculpting, ice carving, and fireworks are among the best of this festivals offerings, which may sound typical, but when you sit down for a chicken dinner at Zehnder’s you’ll see why this celebration is unlike any other.

January Events in Northern Michigan

Explore the Enchanted Trail at the Highlands

When: January 1 – February 22
Where: 600 Highland Dr. , Harbor Springs MI

Experience the magic of long winter nights by booking a hike on the Enchanted Trail in Harbor Springs at Boyne Highlands, one of Michigan’s top ski resorts. For three hours, starting at 5:30pm, walk or snowshoe the snowy trail lined with the soft warm glow of lights. At the end of the trail, you’ll find a cozy rustic yurt where you can warm up and relax at the bonfire with s’mores and hot drinks.

Wilderness Sleigh Ride and Dinner at Treetops

When: Ongoing All Month
Where: 3962 Wilkinson Rd. Gaylord MI

For a romantic getaway at a Michigan winter resort, find your way to Gaylord Michigan, where The Treetops Resort is hosting the perfect set of events for couples. A romantic sleigh ride, dinner, and a stay in one of Michigan’s best and coziest ski resorts makes for the perfect couples getaway this winter.

Thinsg to Do in january in the Upper Peninsula

Heikinpäivä Finnish- American Festival

When: January 25
Where: Hancock MI

With the strong Finnish heritage found throughout the UP, it should come as no surprise that Hancock, Michigan, near Houghton on the Keweenaw Peninsula, hosts a Finnish-American festival. This event, called Heikinpäivä, celebrates the population’s connections to Finland with food, a tori (market), dancing, art and more. There’s even a polar plunge, for the bravest visitors.

SISU Ski Fest

When: January 11
Where: 213 S Marquette St. Ironwood MI

This upper peninsula festival combines all the best things about winter in the UP: cross country skiing, the great outdoors, Finnish heritage and pasties to be served after the event. SISU itself is a Finnish concept, meaning determination, bravery, and resilience in hard times, making it the perfect moniker for such a challenging race in the northwesternmost region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Annual Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race

When: January 11 -12
Where: Muskallonge Lake State Park, 29881 Co Rd. 407 Newberry MI

Each year, in the Upper Peninsula, Muskallonge Lake State Park hosts the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race near Tahquamenon Falls. Back for 2025 after being cancelled last year due to lack of snow, this is a fun event. If you’ve never seen a sled dog race, now is the time to go. This race attracts visitors from all over the region and the globe. In the coming years, the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race will partner with two other large upper peninsula sled dog races to create the Superior Crown Sled Dog Series, so now’s the time to get invested.