Quicken Loans Winter Blast Weekends will return for the 14th year to Campus Martius, featuring winter-themed attractions and seasonal entertainment.
The event will grow to 12 days in 2019 and will be hosted over four weekends: Jan. 19-21, 25-27, Feb. 8-10 and 15-17.
The first weekend will run Saturday through Monday and all other weekends are Friday through Sunday. Woodward Avenue will remain open during festival weekends.
Officials say there will be something different to do every weekend, including ice skating, ice sculptures, marshmallow roasting, food trucks, family activities and live music, as well as rotating activations including Boyne City Slopes, the Winter Slide, zip lining down Cadillac Square and carnival rides.
Patrons will be able to ice skate for free during the opening and closing weekends of the festival.
The inaugural weekend will include family activities, a local music showcase and an exclusive Saturday DJ showcase from the Movement Festival.
Weekend two, Jan. 25-27, will have Michigan’s two largest ski resorts, Boyne Highlands of Harbor Springs and Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, deliver a learn to ski and snowboard experience.
Event goers will have the opportunity to be fitted for ski or snowboard gear, partake in a 20-minute beginner lesson, and walk away with special offers from the resorts and Boyne Country Sports.
The four-lane, 30-foot high Winter Slide makes its comeback this year on Feb. 8 – 10, whisking riders through a dark tube at up to 20 MPH and dropping them at a 40-degree angle. There also is a 30-degree drop slide for children and those who like their adventure at a gentler pace.
Returning the final weekend, Feb. 15 – 17, is the longest, fastest mobile zip line in Michigan. The 20-second ride allows two riders to zip simultaneously on separate lines, 34-feet above the ground.
The proposed schedule is as follows:
QUICKEN LOANS WINTER BLAST WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Subject to change
Jan. 19 - 21, 2019: Presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Monday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
○ Free ice skating at Campus Martius Rink (normally $10 per adult)
○ Food truck rally – courtesy of Kroger
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the Detroit Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
○ Ice sculptures – courtesy of US Ice
○ Family activities
○ Local music showcase
○ Saturday nightonly:DJ showcase from the Movement Festival
Food Truck Rally Participants
○ Beans & Cornbread
○ Taste of Nawlins
○ Chick a D
○ Fortune Cookin'
○ Imperial Ferndale
Jan. 25 - 27, 2019: Presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
o City Slopes (skiing and snowboarding exhibition) – courtesy of Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands
○ Food truck rally – courtesy of Kroger
○ Family activities – courtesy of Chemical Bank
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the DDA
○ Strolling entertainment
○ Local music showcase
Food Truck Rally Participants
o Hero or Villain
o The Nosh Pit
o Soaring Eagle Cuisine Machine
Feb. 8 - 10, 2019: Presented by Delta Dental
Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
○ Special Olympics Polar Plunge
○ Food truck rally – courtesy of The Kroger Co.
○ Ice sculptures – courtesy of US Ice
○ Family activities – courtesy of Chemical Bank
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the DDA
○ Winter slide
○ Local music showcase
Food Truck Rally Participants
○ Beans & Cornbread
○ Bigalora
○ Hero or Villain
○ Buffy's Mexicasian Grill
○ The Nosh Pit
○ Soaring Eagle Cuisine Machine
Feb. 15 - 17, 2019: Presented by Delta Dental
Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
○ Free skating at Campus Martius Rink (normally $10 per person)
○ Ice sculptures – courtesy of US Ice
○ Marshmallow roasting – courtesy of the DDA
○ Zipline
○ Local music showcase
○ Family activities
○ Strolling entertainment
Food Truck Rally Participants
○ Imperial Ferndale
○ Chick a D
○ The Monkey Truck
