2025 – 2026 Christmas & Winter Break Activity Guide
West Michigan is at no loss for outdoor winter activities like ice skating and sledding. But this place really comes alive over winter break, when many local organizations offer special programming and activities for kids who are out of school.
Be on the lookout for free things to do in winter to make your break a little easier on your budget.
After having a later than usual break last year, most parents are breathing a sigh of relief this year. We’re back on a more normal winter break schedule this year, with most west Michigan schools on break from Dec 19 – January 4.
So what will you do with your two weeks of winter break? If you use this list, the answer is, “have a lot of fun!”
in this article
Featured Winter Break Activities
*this is a sponsored section of GRKIDS
Instead of using quarters, guests just pay admission and play as much as they want!
Pinball Land takes you back in time with wall-to-wall retro atmosphere packed with the best games of all time.
From Pac Man to the latest pinball machines, Pinball Land has something for everyone at a price anyone can afford.
In addition to being open 6 days a week for walk-in players (closed Mondays), Pinball Land can be rented out for private Birthday Parties and educational Field Trips.
Come have a ball at Pinball Land!
💬Probably the best place for pinball I’ve ever been to! The whole facility has a great vibe, and the owner couldn’t be nicer, especially with kids. We celebrated my kid’s birthday here - now I just want to go back and play. - Tony P
Ages: Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Probably the best place for pinball I’ve ever been to! The whole facility has a great vibe, and the owner couldn’t be nicer, especially with kids. We celebrated my kid’s birthday here - now I just want to go back and play. -Tony P
Visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and PEPPA PIG World of Play for a full day of festive indoor activities.
Please note that adults must be accompanied by a child in order to enter LEGOLAND Discovery Center and PEPPA PIG World of Play.
SEA LIFE Aquarium is great for all ages.
💬 Great place for kids to play! Very safe, and tons of different activities for them to stay busy with. -Alex P
Ages: Babies, Elementary Kids, Middle Schoolers, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Tweens
Craig’s Cruisers is West Michigan’s destination for family fun with over 120,000 square feet of indoor recreation!
Plus, dine in our amazing buffet: full salad bar, pasta, breadsticks, pizza (gluten & dairy free pizza available upon request), chicken, mac-n-cheese, cookies, ice cream, Pepsi products and more!
Offerings include:
• Trampoline Park & Slide Zone
• Go-Karts
• Laser Tag
• Glow Golf
• Cruiser Coaster
• Bumper Cars
• Frog Hopper
• Arcade
💬It was a lot of fun and there’s a lot of things to do, highly recommend this place. It looked clean and safe, I highly recommend bringing your kids here and spending some quality fun time with them.
Ages: Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
It was a lot of fun and there’s a lot of things to do, highly recommend this place. It looked clean and safe, I highly recommend bringing your kids here and spending some quality fun time with them.
This winter, guests can see Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family, a traveling exhibit created by the Australian Museum with life-sized cast skeletons, hands-on interactives, and real specimens.
Seasonal displays are also back, including the festively decorated Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibit and the new exhibit, The Grand Junction, featuring massive LEGO displays by the West Michigan LEGO Users group and the Herpolsheimer's Child Passenger Train.
Check out our digital calendar for upcoming themed days during Snowflake Break!
Ages: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
From imaginative play zones and exciting slides to sensory play areas and climbing structures, there’s something for every child ages 1–10.
Parents can relax while kids burn off energy in a safe, clean, and cozy environment.
Make this winter break unforgettable at HappyKids Indoor Playground—where playtime warms up the coldest days!
💬 HappyKids Indoor Playground is our family’s favorite spot! Safe, clean, and full of fun activities. My kids never want to leave — the staff is friendly, and every visit feels special!
Ages: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids
This DIY art studio offers pottery painting, wood signs, glass fusing, and potter’s wheel lessons.
All ages are welcome for pottery painting during open studio hours. No experience needed, their friendly staff will help you through the process!
Follow them on social or join their newsletter for updates.
Check their website for holiday hours and events. RSVP early!
Ages: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Beat the winter blues with nonstop action at BattleGR! Kids ages 5–14 can join our exciting Day Camp Days packed with games, laser tag, and more.
Then ring in the New Year with family play sessions and special teen and adult events featuring food, drinks, and unforgettable fun.
Space fills fast—learn more at battlegr.com
Ages: Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Join us December 22-23 and 29-30 from 10 AM-2 PM for themed crafts, games, and interactive STEAM activities for the whole family.
Then celebrate early at Countdown to Noon on December 31 where we'll drop thousands of balloons.
All activities included with admission. Sponsored by Charles River Laboratories and Consumers Energy.
Ages: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Open skating from 1:30 - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday in addition to our normal hours December 19 - January 2.
Closed: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Open: New Year's Day.
New Year's Eve Skating Party: Wednesday, December 31 from 6:30-9:30 PM.
Ring in the New Year early with a balloon drop & countdown!
Ages: Elementary Kids, High Schoolers, Middle Schoolers, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Tweens
Winter Break Extended Hours are almost here! Opening Daily at 11 AM, running through Winter Break!
Reserve a time to play 24 Hours ahead, or walk in day of!
Fun for everyone, and warm! Always 72 and Sunny at Great Lakes Glow Golf.
Ages: Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Groups of six or more are welcome to reserve a space.
Come in and paint and leave your piece with us, one week later you can pick up your masterpiece! We do shipping as well.
Ages: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Immerse yourself in pottery painting at our studio, where enjoyment for the entire family is only a brushstroke away. Create masterpieces and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime!
Ages: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
Dec 20-Jan 4 - two weeks of aquatic fun!
Younger kids will enjoy the water playground and indoor splash pad, while older kids will love our zip line, obstacle course, inflatable iceberg, and three-story water slide.
Open 7 days a week!
Ages: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids, Tweens, Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers
From Dec 18 - Jan 4, enjoy daily special programs like Giftworks and live performers, included with admission.
Explore two floors of hands-on fun!
Visit grcm.org for details.
Ages: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary Kids
Squeeze in a Few Last Christmas Activities
Holiday events still left on your bucket list? Sneak in some of these festive Christmas activities over winter break.
If your family loves the magic of the snow and twinkling lights this time of year, grab some hot chocolate, a few blankets, and take a ride around town checking out the Christmas light displays in your area.
The GRKIDS Holiday Lights Tour lists houses with some pretty amazing light displays, all recommended by our readers.
Drive one (or several!) of our curated routes.
There are also a lot of grand drive-through Christmas displays and walk through Christmas light shows around Michigan that are also sure to thrill the kids.
One of our favorite local drive-through Christmas lights shows, boasting over a million twinkling lights, is the Christmas Lite Show at LMCU Ball Park.
Stop into Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and enjoy the Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World where you will find dozens of internationally decorated trees and can explore the railway garden exhibition, a seasonal favorite in many households.
ENLIGHTEN is back again this year at FMG. This is a Christmas light show experience you do NOT want to miss.
Outdoor Activities Over Winter Break
Michigan winters can be blustery and cold, but they are also beautiful.
If the snow has come, spend the afternoon at one of these sledding hills.
There are even more active ideas in the Winter Outdoor Play Guide.
Kids can learn to luge at Muskegon Winter Sports Complex.
Or maybe you’ll want to try another winter craze: snow tubing. Here’s where you can snow tube in Michigan.
Indoor Activities Over Winter Break
If the cold weather has you rethinking life in the Midwest, there are still plenty of options to have fun AND stay warm over Christmas Break.
Younger kids would enjoy a stop at Horizon Kids Complex during open gym hours. You can also take them to a nice library play area.
Need more than open gym? Try HappyKids Indoor Playground. It’s the perfect place to keep kids active, social, and smiling—no matter the weather!
Pinball Land in Rockford will entertain kids and adults.
BattleGR has tons of laser tag and other tactical games. They also have a special winter break camp for kids.
Play a round of mini golf or bowl under the UV lights at Great Lakes Glow Golf.
Craig’s Cruisers is the ultimate family play destination with go-karts, trampolines, mini-golf, laser tag, slides, roller coaster and so much more.
Kids with all the moves would love roller skating. Favorites are Tarry Hall and GR Skate & Event Center.
If you’re longing for the 80 degree days of summer already, grab your bathing suit and splash around at Holland Aquatic Center, where kids can go down a 150-foot water slide and re-live some of the joys of summer.
Or try one of these other great indoor pools around West Michigan.
Movie buffs can see what shows are at Celebration Cinemas this season.
Hands-On Activities Over Winter Break
There are lots of great ways to keep your kids learning while still having fun.
Start with a trip to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Explore their unique exhibits during their Snowflake Break, featuring family-friendly activities. Learn all about the T-Rex and other dinos in Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family, this season’s traveling exhibit.
The Children’s Museum has Boxes & Weathering Emotions, two fan-fav rotating exhibits, along with tons of other interactive exhibits per the usual greatness of GRCM.
Take a clay class or paint pottery at Accidental Art.
The Mud Room is offering open studio time where kids can paint pottery or a wood sign. Paint a Pot in Holland also has drop in paint time.
Road Trip Ideas for Winter Break
If you’ve got cabin fever, then hit the road for some fun with the kids.
Drive over to Portage for an immersive aviation experience at the Air Zoo. You really have to see this place to believe how fun it is.
Head to Great Lakes Crossings Mall on the east side of the state for all kinds of family fun. Kids (and adults) of all ages will love playing at LEGOLAND Discovery Center while younger kids will squeal in delight at Peppa Pig’s World of Play. Be sure to visit SEALIFE Aquarium, too.
Winter Break Calendar of Events
Looking for something to do on a specific day of winter break? Use this calendar of winter break events to find your fun!
Is there a place where I can print a list of all the different activities to do over Christmas break?