Winter Blast guest riding down the Baker College Zip Line.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Not even Arctic-like temperatures stopped people from venturing outdoors to enjoy metro Detroit’s annual winter festival, Winter Blast Royal Oak. The festival, held Feb. 18 through Feb. 20, in downtown Royal Oak, proved to be a success in the first year of its new location.
“We are pleased to see Royal Oak carry on metro Detroit’s annual winter tradition with excellence,” said Jon Witz, festival producer. “We would like to thank Oakland County and Royal Oak city officials for helping us pave the way to another successful Winter Blast. Royal Oak citizens and visitors from all over metro Detroit responded well to the festival and played a huge part in supporting our community causes, which is reflected in our numbers.”
Over the course of Winter Blast Royal Oak weekend, the festival attracted approximately 80,000 people: 5,000 on Feb. 18; 30,000 on Feb. 19; and 45,000 on Feb. 20 as estimated daily attendance figures. Winter Blast Royal Oak, which took place east of Main Street and south of 11 Mile Road through 3rd Street and surrounding the Centennial Commons Downtown Park, included winter-themed experiences, family activities, live entertainment and more.
Notable features of this year’s Winter Blast included a new outdoor ice rink sponsored by M3 Investments; a giant snow slide, presented by Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel; a Polar Plunge, sponsored by Howard & Howard; and a Zip Line sponsored by Baker College, which took riders soaring 34-feet high and 300-feet above the ground. A portion of the sales from the Baker College Zip Line, totaling $3,000, will benefit United Way’s 2-1-1 program, a 24/7 crisis hotline that connects local families to resources of need.
“Baker College was proud to be a partner with this year’s Winter Blast and sponsor of the exciting Zip Line Ride,” said Pete Karsten, president of Baker College of Auburn Hills and the College’s upcoming Royal Oak campus. “The event was a great time to enjoy winter festivities outside or take in some delicious food and music inside the warming tents. Being a part of community events like the Winter Blast is one of the reasons we are so excited to be moving to Royal Oak.”
Baker College Student Nurses Association club members also hosted a table at the event to pass out snacks and prizes and distribute information about winter safety and heart health.
Learn more about Baker College’s new Royal Oak campus on our Royal Oak Campus Page.
About Baker College
Founded in 1911, Baker College is one of Michigan’s largest, private nonprofit colleges and the top private transfer school in the state. Baker College has multiple on-ground campus locations and two affiliate sites across the state, as well as an online global campus offering more than 40 academic program options for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Learn more at www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Winter Blast Royal Oak
Winter Blast Royal Oak is a celebration of winter experiences, dining, music and family fun, originally created as the backdrop for Super Bowl XL. For additional information, visit WinterBlast.com.