Winter Blast Merges Into Expanded Royal Oak Holidays After 20 Years

After a 20-year run, the popular Detroit-area Winter Blast festival is ending as a standalone event and merging into the expanded Royal Oak Holidays celebration starting November 21, 2025. Royal Oak Holidays will span five consecutive weekends with themed activities, featuring many beloved Winter Blast attractions such as zip line rides, carnival attractions, ice sculptures, and free skating, all now free of charge. The merger aims to create a bigger, more accessible holiday experience with an expanded outdoor market, visits with Santa, and additional festive events, providing more value and time for families to enjoy. Festival producer Jon Witz highlighted that this change “supercharges” the event by combining favorites into a longer holiday season. Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier praised the new format as a better investment for the city, offering a more predictable weather window and enhancing the festive atmosphere downtown. Complete event details and schedules can be found at royaloakholidays.com.