Motown Winter Blast announces schedule of festivities and entertainment lineup

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Family fun and exciting entertainment return when the Motown Winter Blast presented by the Ambassador Bridge kicks off at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit, Friday, Feb. 10 – Sunday, Feb. 12. Festivalgoers will enjoy a lineup of favorite returning attractions and can expect a number of new activities as well. Making a welcome reappearance will be free snowshoeing, dogsledding, and snowmaking.

“The stage is set and we are ready to deliver a high-quality show to downtown Detroit,” said Jonathan Witz, event producer. “Today’s announcement speaks to the momentum behind this event. With so many community organizations and corporate citizens coming together to help put on the festival this year in spite of economic setbacks, we view our overall situation as nothing but a huge victory for the quality of life and a positive promotion for downtown Detroit and the region.”

A diverse array of exciting winter programming is on the schedule, including live entertainment and special interactive events. Supported by a mix of great food and family-centered activities, this year’s winter celebration will take place once again in and around Campus Martius Park. The event hours will remain the same as last year: Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.


Festivalgoers enjoy the ice rink, this is the only weekend all year long that visitors can skate for FREE.  (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

FESTIVE WINTER EXPERIENCES INCLUDING FREE SKATING COURTESY OF CHARTER ONE BANK!
Detroit’s signature winter festival boasts value-conscious activities for children of all ages. Festival patrons can ice skate for free at the Campus Martius Park rink for the entire festival weekend courtesy of Charter One Bank. This is the only weekend all year long that visitors can skate for FREE. In addition, local professional and amateur figure skaters will be showcased as part of the Ice Skating Exhibitions. From synchronized ice-skating teams to up-and-coming couples and even speed skating demonstrations, four distinct ice skating clubs – including the legendary Detroit Skating Club – will perform and entertain the crowds at Campus Martius Park throughout the entire weekend.



Beautifully carved and lighted ice sculptures again will be on display in the Greektown Casino Ice Garden. Among the many unique sculptures will be a mini casino, complete with a slot machine, roulette wheel, Motown Winter Blast-themed bar and even a three-piece band. Also included in the garden will be a majestic twelve-foot tall ice castle that will enchant and delight as the fantastic frosted centerpiece. Additionally, visitors can snap photos with family and friends on one of two ornately carved ice chairs or an ice bench. Or, they can swing by the sculpture of an Eskimo family and pose in any of the four open faces for another set of memorable pictures.


Guests also will enjoy marshmallow roasting stations sponsored by Health Plan of Michigan. Positioned throughout the festival, the stations will provide a fresh supply of wood and a warm gathering place to roast reasonably priced marshmallow and s’mores packets for the entire family. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

THE SNOW MUST GO ON!
Snowmaking also returns to Winter Blast with special snow cannons that will add to the festive, winter environment. Donated by Shanty Creek Resorts, the cannons will supplement any natural snow to guarantee snowshoeing and snowy hills for children to enjoy, as well as a snow blizzard for visitors to walk through during the event.



One of the many snow-related activities available to visitors will be dogsledding. Sled racer and Michigan native Amanda Vogel will return with the Snomad Racing Sled Dogs to give festivalgoers the authentic winter experience.   (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

AMBASSADOR BRIDGE COMFORT ZONES
Even with chilly temperatures, there is no need to feel cold as guests can find heat every 150 feet with the Ambassador Bridge Comfort Zones. Comfort Zones include the Compuware Atrium, Three large heated tents and the First National Bank Building Lobby, home of the Fox Sports Lounge, which will feature comfortable seating, big screen televisions, beer samples, and a special appearance on Friday by the Fox Sports Girls.


On the menu from the Hudson Café.  (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

THE QUICKEN LOANS TASTE OF DETROIT
Motown Winter Blast is pleased to bring back a real treat for festival attendees. The Quicken Loans Taste of Detroit will showcase the amazing array of culinary delights from around the metro area. Featured will be a wide variety of food and drinks from favorite restaurants, eateries and caterers to warm up and satisfy everyone’s taste buds. Establishments providing the delicious fare that festival patrons will enjoy include: Detroit Seafood Market, Hudson Café, Palm Palace, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Jackson’s Five Star Catering and others.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT
All family fun and activities will unfold on the Walmart Stage at the festival. Kids of all ages will enjoy the high-energy comedy and magic of Chris Linn’s Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff as well as the classic hijinks of Rosco the Clown and a Punch and Judy puppet show. Ventriloquist Vikki Gasko-Green and her colorful cast of characters will take to the stage throughout the weekend and will have every member of the family laughing. Radio Disney will return for three hours on Saturday and Sunday, lineup of family fun and adventure in the form of science themed games and cool prize giveaways. Families will take part in an exclusive pre-premiere screening of Disney XD’s Lab Rats and one lucky family will take home an electronics and gadgets package sizeable enough to build their own bionic lab valued at $500.

FOR THE THIRD YEAR: HELP END THE CYCLE OF POVERTY
For the third consecutive year, Motown Winter Blast will partner with Matrix Human Services and the Grosse Pointe Rotary in support of “Breaking the ICE on Poverty” program. Volunteers from each organization will help collect children’s books, nonperishable food items, or one dollar at the festival gates as part of a special Motown Winter Blast “admission fee.” All donated items will be used to support a major service project that will fight hunger in metro Detroit and continue the festival’s commitment to fostering literacy.

THE OFFICIAL WINTER BLAST AFTER PARTY
Sure to attract the 21 and older crowd after hours on Friday will be the Official Winter Blast After Party at Greektown Casino, the place to warm up after Winter Blast. Located a short walk from the Winter Blast at Monroe, Greektown Casino is Detroit's Winning Address and your spot for post Winter Blast fun. With more than 2,500 of the most exciting slots and video poker machines, action-packed table games and a live Poker Room, Greektown Casino in Detroit is 100,000 square feet of pure gaming thrills. Visitors will enjoy the Casino, watch the game at Shotz Sports Bar & Grill or dine at Bistro555. They also can stop by the Greektown Casino-Hotel booth inside the Taste of Detroit tent during Winter Blast to receive special invitations and coupons for food and drink specials.

MOTOWN WINTER BLAST BAR BLAST
Real Detroit Weekly and Greektown Casino-Hotel help festival patrons (21 and older) heat up Saturday evening with the official Winter Blast Bar Blast. The “Snow-Torius” pub crawl will feature a dozen of downtown Detroit’s most famous and infamous drinking establishments including The Centaur, The Town Pump Tavern, The Old Shillelagh, Delux Lounge, Big City Bar and Grill, Fishbone’s Rhythm Café, Dirty Trick, Bookies Bar and Gril, The Fountain Bistro, Pulse Lounge, Cheli’s Chili Bar, Asteria, and Shotz in Greektown Casino Hotel. Shuttle service will be provided to transport participating patrons from venue to venue by Bar Blast promoters. The cost of this event is $5.

SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE CITY
With all of the excitement of Winter Blast festivities and after parties, why go home? Organizers are again offering festival patrons the opportunity to “Spend the Night in the City” at Westin Book Cadillac Hotel Detroit at special Winter Blast discounted weekend rates. In addition to the convenience of a mini-vacation downtown, the hotel indulges the senses with amenities such as contemporary rooms, flat screen TVs, guest room services, valet parking, indoor pool fitness center and spa. The Westin Book Cadillac Hotel is offering stays for $135, which includes complimentary overnight valet parking for one car. Guests only need to present the official Winter Blast program at check-in. Located just two blocks from all the Winter Blast excitement, the iconic Westin Book Cadillac provides a warm and refreshing retreat after a long day of festivities.

The return of Winter Blast is made possible with the generous support of many corporate citizens, including The Ambassador Bridge Company, Michigan Lottery, Detroit Downtown Development Association, General Motors Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, US Bank, Greektown Casino, Wayne County, Quicken Loans, Charter One Bank, Ilitch Holdings, Health Plan of Michigan, Marketing Associates, Walmart, Detroit Receiving Hospital, GalaxE.Solutions, MetroPCS, Brown Forman, Great Lakes Beverage, Pepsi, and more.

All weekend entertainment schedules and any additional information can be found online at www.winterblast.com. Motown Winter Blast is produced by Jonathan Witz, president of Jonathan Witz & Associates.