East Lansing’s Winter Fest to Feature Winter Olympics Style Games, Crafts, Market, Ice Carvings and More

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, is it officially winter yet? Maybe not, but that’s no reason not to celebrate.

The East Lansing Winter Fest returns to the Hannah Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event features live entertainment, bounce houses, Winter Olympics style games, crafts, ice carvings, fire pits and s’mores stations, popcorn and hot cider, a photo booth, food trucks and a winter market.

Colleen Armitage, community events specialist and farmers market manager for the City of East Lansing, helped manage a few parts of Winter Fest last year. She’s stepped up to manage the 2025 event entirely, which she said has been stressful, but exciting.

Winter Fest will feature inflatables and Winter Olympics style games. (Courtesy photo)

“We try to make sure we have as many free things as possible to give people an affordable way to have a good time,” Armitage said. “It’s important to have these events so everyone is on the same playing field. If you are a family struggling, you shouldn’t be left out. This is a really great way to come out, have a really good time, build some memories with your family — and not have to worry about it breaking the bank.”

Hosted by the East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts, this year’s Winter Fest is Winter Olympics themed.

“We’re doing a bunch of Winter Olympics games in the gym, we’ll also have games and inflatables too. The kids can do a certain amount of games, and once they’re completed, they’ll get a gold medal and get to stand on the podium like the Olympics. It will be a lot of fun,” Armitage said.

Other kids activities include free face paintings, crafts, a movie playing in the theater, inflatables and other games. Attendees of all ages can enjoy free hot cider and popcorn, outdoor food trucks and a make-and-take hot chocolate station. There will also be a winter farmers and craft market featuring local bakers, Peculiar Coffee Company and more.

A favorite feature of Winter Fest every year is the live ice carving demonstrations, said Armitage.

“It’s just exciting to watch someone create out of a block of ice,” she said. “This event is really about spending quality time with your family, your friends, meeting strangers and becoming friends. It’s all about a sense of community, and I really love that.”

The ice carvings are a fan favorite at Winter Fest each year. (Courtesy photo)

Armitage said the city’s lineup of free events that includes Winter Fest, the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival and Movies in the Park help make East Lansing a fun place to be.

“We try to give back to the community and make it a really great place to live,” she said. “It shouldn’t be just for college students — it’s for everybody.”

Winter Fest has had a few different iterations, previously known as Winter Glow outdoors, and before that, included a chili cook off. Previous events have brought more than 2,000 people.

There will be a coat check and free parking at the Hannah Community Center. The event is free and there is no registration or RSVP required.