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Winter Festivals Guide

By Jenny S. January 16, 2017
Shake off the winter blues and get ready to celebrate the season at a local winter festival near you! Click on each highlighted event title for more details.

Fire & Ice Festival 



The Fire & Ice Festival in Rochester, sponsored by Oakland County Credit Union, will fire up the weekend of Jan. 20-22 in spite of unseasonably warm temperatures and no snow in the forecast. The festival committee is replacing some of its winter-driven events with a variety of outdoor family-friendly activities from Oakland County Parks and Recreation.

Dates & Hours:
Friday, January 20: 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturday, January 21: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday, January 22: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Updated Events include:
- Fireworks (Friday & Saturday at 8pm)
- TasteFest Food/Beer Tent and Food Trucks
- The 25-foot tall rock climbing tower
- 5-in-1 Sports inflatable that features soccer, basketball, baseball, football, and Frisbee
- Go Cache which teaches the basics of geocaching
- Retro Games which will include many field day favorites like sack races, tug-o-war ropes, kickball, parachute games, and more.
- Go Golf to practice golf swings at an inflatable target
- Go Fish Backyard Bass Clinics using poles rigged with plugs and plastic fish to teach the basics and safety of fishing
- Dog Sled Rides (Farmers' Market Parking Lot)
- Zipline Rides
- Broom Ball Exhibition
- Ice sculptures & Collegiate Ice Carving Competition
- Pet Adoption
- Carriage Rides
- Big Bright Light Show, and more!

Fire & Ice Shuttle:
Shuttle parking for the Fire & Ice Festival is available at the Buffalo Wild Wings Rochester Hills location at 1234 Walton Road, East of Livernois. Parking and shuttle service to downtown Rochester is free of charge. Shuttles will continuously run between Buffalo Wild Wings and downtown Rochester. The designated pick-up and drop-off location in downtown Rochester will be at E. Fourth and Main.

Shuttle Times:
-Friday, January 20: Shuttle begins at 5pm. Last pick-up in downtown Rochester at 9pm
-Saturday, January 21: Shuttle begins at 10am. Last pick-up in downtown Rochester at 9pm
-Sunday, January 22: Shuttle begins at 10am. Last pick-up in downtown Rochester at 5pm

Shiver by the River 



Come celebrate winter in Clarkston at the 4th Annual Shiver by the River in Depot Park! Try ice skating, shoe shoeing, games, broom ball, crafts, fire pit & s'mores, hot chocolate, chili, and more! There will be a warming station and lots of opportunities for FREE all ages family fun!

Date & Hours: Saturday, January 21st from 1 - 4 pm.
Location: Depot Park, 375 Depot Road Clarkston
Cost: FREE

Winter Carnival at Marsh View Park



Get ready to have snow much fun at Oakland Township Parks and Recreation's Winter Carnival held at Marsh View Park! Snow or no snow, bundle up for loads of FREE family fun! 

Date & Hours: Saturday, January 28th from 12 - 4pm.
Location: Marsh View Park, 
3100 East Clarkston Road, Oakland Township
Cost: FREE

Schedule of Events:

12:15 - 1pm & 2:15 - 3pm: 
A Winter Dweller's Celebration: Join us as Genot "Winter Elk" Picor entertains us with interactive stories, games, and dances.

1:15 - 2pm & 3:15 - 4pm: 
Stick & Ring Craft: Learn how to make the old time Stick & Ring game. Winter Elk will show you how. 

"Magic Joe" is Back!: This celebrated magician will amaze us with magic tricks in the warming shed.

Light Saber Training: Calling all Padawans! Come train in the ways of the Jedi with Chewbacca and then put your skills to the test to defeat the Dark Side.


Ongoing Events:
- Ice Skating: Come skate on our new ice rink! Limited number of skates available. Bring your own if you have them.

- Kiddy Sledding: Have some fun sledding! Children ages 5 and under. Limited number of kiddy sleds available for use.

- Ice Sculpture Demonstrations: Watch ice carvers sculpt frosty works of art right before your eyes. Photo ops available.

- Archery Target Shoots: Ever played Minecraft? Or dreamed of shooting like Katniss Everdeen? Here's your chance to target shoot! There will be a USA Archery Certified Instructor. Ages 6 and up. 

- Appearances by Chewbacca and Darth Vader!

- Warm Beverages & Pizza while supplies last!

WinterFest at Seven Ponds Nature Center



Join us for our annual winter fun day. Included is a bonfire on the ice, ice cutting, mammal tracking, snowshoe walks, cross country skiing, and ice skating. Inside will be children's crafts. Remember to bring a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or pillowcase to stamp with animal tracks. Programs on winter animals and ice cutting will also be offered. Includes a campfire lunch of a hot dog, chips, and hot chocolate too! Bring your own skates and cross country skis or try out the center's snowshoes. In case of snow and/or ice shortage, alternate activities will be planned. 

Date & Hours: Saturday, January 28th from 10am - 3pm
Location: Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Rd., Dryden
Cost: $3/non-members & FREE for members


Macaroni Kid Lake Orion, Rochester Hills, Oxford is full of useful information like this on our Event Calendar.

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