The World of Winter festival kicks off on Friday, January 12.

The festival will start with the Luminary Light Night Parade from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at Ah-Nab-Awen Park (1/12/24).

This event will feature a Lantern Parade that is open to anyone, as well as food trucks, DJs, a complimentary s’mores station, a special performance by the Grand Rapids Gold Drumline and a sneak peek at John Ball Zoo’s 2024 Lantern Fest.

For families and kids that would like to walk in the parade with their own lantern, the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is hosting two drop-in lantern building days on Saturday, January 6, and Sunday, January 7.

Take home lantern building kits will also be available at the DGRI office (29 Pearl St. NW) beginning on Monday, January 8.

The Luminary Light Night parade will kick-off two months of over 100 art installations, events, ice sculptures and window displays celebrating winter Downtown.

For a full list of art installations and a complete calendar of events, please visit WorldOfWinterGR.com.

Stay up to date on all the latest festival news on Instagram and Facebook, as well.