Beats, eats and more on tap at Winter Blast

There will be plenty of activities, entertainment and good eats for attendees to enjoy at this year’s Winter Blast Royal Oak, set for Friday to Sunday, Feb. 17-19, in the city’s downtown.

Attendees can take part in a variety of winter activities all weekend long, including:

• Ice skating: Skate for free at The Rink at Royal Oak, the city’s outdoor ice rink presented by M3 Investment Services, located in the heart of Centennial Commons by the Royal Oak Farmers Market. The 60- by 90-foot familyfriendly ice rink accommodates up to 200 skaters at a time, with skate rentals available for $5 a pair. Skates will be available in sizes 9 and up for kids and up to size 14 for adults. Attendees may also bring their own skates if they prefer.

• Skiing/Snowboarding: Learn to ski or snowboard with the help of Mt. Brighton Ski Resort, which will bring state-of-the-art snowmaking machines to Royal Oak for a beginner ski slope experience. Mt. Brighton Ski and Ride School instructors will provide eventgoers with all the necessary gear needed, and a beginner’s skiing and/or snowboarding course before hitting the slopes. Hours for the Ski or Snowboard Experience will be from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

• Snow Slide: The popular snow slide makes its return to Royal Oak, almost twice as high as last year’s slide, according to organizers. Presented by the City of Royal Oak, the 25-foot high and 200-foot long Snow Slide will offer thrill seekers the opportunity to zoom down the snowy white hill on inner tubes. Snow Slide rides will be $5.

• Ice Garden: The Ice Garden, sponsored by Henry Ford Health System, will feature a variety of expertly crafted ice sculptures throughout Centennial Commons, making for festive scenery perfect for family photo ops. On-site ice carving demonstrations will also take place during the festival weekend.

• S’more Stations: Warm up by the fire at the Marshmallow Roasters, presented by The Detroit News and located throughout the festival site on Troy Street. Marshmallow and S’more Kits with everything you need to make a tasty treat will be available for purchase, starting at $3.

Other activities:

• Axe-throwing: The HUB Stadium’s 30-foot Mobile Axe Trailer will be onsite throughout the weekend, offering 12 classic axe throwing stalls ready to help bring out your inner lumberjack. Axe Coaches will be on-site as well to help you perfect your axe throwing skills in the safest way possible.

• Zip line: Thrill-seekers will be lining up to experience the ultimate rush of flying 300 feet across the sky — the length of a football field — 34 feet in the air over the Winter Blast festival. The feature, presented by Baker College and located on Third Street just east of Troy, is the longest and fastest mobile zip line available — according to organizers — and allows two people to zip simultaneously on two lines. Guests on the zip line must be at least 30 pounds and not more than 235 pounds. Tickets are $15 each or two for $25.

• House of Dank Comfort Zone: Take a break from the cold in the ultimate chill zone, complete with igloos and a weekend of live music on the House of Dank Performance Stage. Guests can try their luck with a spin on the Wheel of Wonder Loyalty Game, play a friendly game of corn hole or snap some pictures at the epic photo wall. House of Dank will also have CBD products and merchandise available for purchase.

• Food Truck Rally: In addition to the many restaurants you can find throughout downtown Royal Oak, Winter Blast will host several food trucks throughout the weekend, including: Chick-A-D, Cinnabon, Detroit Hot Sandwich, Egg Roll Diva, Fork in Nigeria, Imperial, Island Noodles, Lil Bro’s Burgers, Mercurio’s Elephant Ear, Mercurio’s Popper, Mr. Deep Fried, Niko’s Gyro’s, and The Little Donut Factory.

• Family Fun: Join sponsor Huntington Bank for fun family activities inside a heated kid’s tent from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Kiddos can spark their curiosity with activity stations and experiments from Michigan Science Center, while exploring their creativity by assembling cute cozy critters using repurposed materials, courtesy of Arts & Scraps. Or, enjoy engaging, interactive performances from magicians, puppeteers, jugglers, musicians and more on the DTE Energy Kids Stage, inside the Huntington Bank Kids Tent. For a full schedule of family activities, visit winterblast.com/family.

Live entertainment

This year’s event will provide a unique showcase of up-and-coming acts along with longtime favorites, who will be performing live across three stages located inside heated tents throughout the festival weekend. Video screens will be placed outside of each tent as well, allowing visitors to enjoy the performances while walking the festival grounds.

Winter Blast Royal Oak music and entertainment lineup

All performances are subject to change SOARING EAGLE CASINO & RESORT STAGE (Inside the United Way 211 Comfort Zone)

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

• 4:30 — 5:15 p.m.: Uc3 Acoustic Trio (Acoustic Variety)

• 5:45 — 6:30 p.m.: Elspeth Tremblay & The Treatment (Rock)

• 7 — 7:45 p.m.: Michael May and The Messarounds (Blues/Rock)

• 8:15 — 9:15 p.m.: The Stone Blossoms (Rock/Classic Rock)

• 9:45 — 11 p.m.: The Family Tradition Band (Country/Rock)

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

• 12:00 — 12:45 p.m.: The Real Dan Minard (Acoustic Variety)

• 1:15 — 2 p.m.: The Luddites (World Music)

• 2:30 — 3:30 p.m.: Virginia Violet and The Rays (R&B/Soul)

• 4 — 5 p.m.: Forge the

Sun (Rock/Classic Rock)

• 5:30 — 6:30 p.m.: Carl Caballero and the Wreckage (Blues/Rock)

• 7 — 8 p.m.: The Ruiners (Garage Rock)

• 8:30 — 9:30 p.m.: Ryan Jay (Country)

• 10 — 11 p.m.: Larry Lee & Back In the Day Band (R&B/Funk)

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

• 11:45 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.: Bobby Brooks (Acoustic Variety)

• 1 — 1:45 p.m.: Rose Thornberry (Alternative/ Soul)

• 2:15 — 3:15 p.m.: The Devil Elvis Show (Tribute Band)

• 3:45 — 4:45 p.m.: All Grown Up (Rock/Soul)

• 5:15 — 6:15 p.m.: The Brett Lucas Band (Blues/ Rock)

• 6:45 — 8 p.m.: Tino Gs Dumpster Machine (Rock)

HOUSE OF DANK STAGE (Inside House of Dank Comfort Zone) FRIDAY, FEB. 17

• 4:45 — 5:30 p.m.: Rebecca Cameron (Acoustic/ Americana)

• 6 — 6:45 p.m.: Jo Serrapere & the LaFawndas (Americana/Country)

• 7:15 — 8 p.m.: Dango Forlaine (Hip-Hop/Soul)

• 8:30 — 9:30 p.m.: 3. (Hip-Hop/Jazz)

• 10 — 11 p.m.: Cye Pie (Soul/Funk)

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

• 11:30 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.: Birjy (Eclectic Variety)

• 12:45 — 1:45 p.m.: Soundslikeotto (Pop/Electronic)

• 2:15 — 3:15 p.m.: YiN (Rock/Soul)

• 3:45 — 4:45 p.m.: Lyons Lane (Rock/Rockabilly)

• 5:15 — 6:15 p.m.: The Incurables (Garage/Rock)

• 6:45 — 7:45 p.m.: Soledad (Pop/R&B)

• 8:15 — 9:15 p.m.: The Oneders (Pop)

• 9:45 — 11 p.m.: Detroit Riddim Crew (Reggae)

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

• 12 — 12:45 p.m.: AcousticAsh (Acoustic Variety)

• 1:15 — 2 p.m.: Nick James and The Holy Rollers (Americana/Alt Rock)

• 2:30 — 3:30 p.m.: Gridiron and Friends (Party Music)

• 4 — 5 p.m.: Reckless Revival (Rock)

• 5:30 — 6:30 p.m.: Universal Xpression (Reggae/ Soca)

• 7 — 8 p.m.: Alise King (R&B/Soul)

DTE ENERGY KIDS STAGE (Inside Huntington Bank Kids Tent)

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

• 4 — 4:30 p.m.: Rocky The Dino Puppet Show

• 4:45 — 5:15 p.m.: Randyl Lee Magic Show

• 5:30 — 6 p.m.: Rocky The Dino Puppet Show

• 6:15 — 6:45 p.m.: Randyl Lee Magic Show

• 7 — 9 p.m.: Versace James

• 9 — 11 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents Botez

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

• 11:15 — 11:45 a.m.: Zippity 2 Guys & A Guitar

• 12 — 12:30 p.m.: Randyl Lee Magic Show

• 12:45 — 1:15 p.m.: Zippity 2 Guys & A Guitar

• 1:30 — 2 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents “Frostology”

• 2:15 — 2:45 p.m.: Zippity 2 Guys & A Guitar

• 3 — 3:30 p.m.: Kevin Devin Music Show

• 3:45 — 4:15 p.m.: Randyl Lee Magic Show

• 4:30 — 5 p.m.: Kevin Devin Music Show

• 5:15 — 5:45 p.m.: Randyl Lee Magic Show

• 6 — 6:30 p.m.: Kevin Devin Music Show

• 7 — 9 p.m.: Detroit

Techno Militia

• 9 — 11 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents SILLYGIRLCARMEN

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

• 11:15 — 11:45 a.m.: Juggler Tim Salisbury

• 12 — 12:30 p.m.: Natspinz Hula Hoops

• 12:45 — 1:15 p.m.: Amazing Clark Magic Show

• 1:30 — 2 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents “Frostology”

• 2:15 — 2:45 p.m.: Juggler Tim Salisbury

• 3 — 3:30 p.m.: Natspinz Hula Hoops

• 3:45 — 4:15 p.m.: Amazing Clark Magic Show

• 4:30 — 5 p.m.: Juggler Tim Salisbury

• 5:15 — 5:45 p.m.: Natspinz Hula Hoops

• 6 — 6:30 p.m.: Amazing Clark Magic Show

• 6:30 — 8 p.m.: House Music

PHOTO COURTESY OF WINTER BLAST ROYAL OAK There will be plenty of activities, entertainment and good eats for attendees to enjoy at this year’s Winter Blast Royal Oak, set for Friday to Sunday, Feb. 17-19.