Michigan festivals adapt as warming winters upend traditions

LANSING – With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasting “warmer-than-average” temperatures for parts of the Great Lakes, winter festivals from Metro Detroit to the Western Upper Peninsula are preparing to adapt.

Many, such as Detroit’s Noel Night, Grand Haven’s Winterfest, the Magical Christmas Parade in Zeeland and Holland’s Winter Dutch Fest, count on seasonal cold to enhance their winter ambiance and allure.

Detroit resident Dorrian Brooks, a frequent winter festivalgoer, reflected on warmer weather’s impact on these long-standing traditions.

“It’s disheartening to imagine a winter festival without the cold and snow – recent warmer winters make the atmosphere feel muted,” she said.

According to the National Weather Service, Metro Detroit recorded its fourth-warmest winter on record last year, with average December temperatures rising from 33 degrees in 2022 to 40 degrees in 2023.

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Some popular winter events already have grappled with the adverse impact of milder seasons. 

In Ironwood, for example, organizers of the Jack Frost Festival of Lights Parade have witnessed how the trend can affect participation, tourism and local businesses.

In recent years, milder winters have forced event cancellations and altered tourism patterns in the U.P. 

Michael Meyer, the director of the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, described the economic toll that can take.

“Last year was very warm here, and many events were canceled. SISU Ski Fest, which attracts over 800 entrants, was canceled due to lack of snow,” Meyer said.

“Lodging income collapsed, and a snowmobile rental business with 70 vehicles rented none,” he said.

For Ironwood, which typically expects over 180 inches of snow each winter, last year’s snow shortage created challenges that some community residents see as long-term. “Without the big snow and the cold U.P. weather, about one-third to half of a four-month economic engine is disabled,” Meyer said.

Despite the uncertain weather, festival organizers in Ironwood and across the state say they’re determined to uphold traditions and keep spirits high.

Lynette Lam, the director of events for Zeeland Festivals Inc., said people in her community can still get in the winter spirit despite the warmer weather. 

“I do not think that weather is a huge determining factor in the holiday spirit in Zeeland. We have such a fun-loving, engaging community that wants to be involved regardless of weather,” she said.

Despite the higher temperatures, Lam said last year’s Magical Christmas Parade had record attendance, noting that “the day of the parade was very cold. However, that did not deter people from showing up.”

“It’s important for winter events like Noel Night to continue, regardless of snow or cold, as they carry on traditions that bring the community together and celebrate the season in meaningful ways,” Brooks said.

In Ironwood, the Jack Frost Festival of Lights Parade, set for December, serves as an example of these efforts. 

While last year’s parade took place with little snow, Meyer recalled how residents gathered to celebrate on green grass, adjusting their expectations while maintaining tradition.

“We had our usual 40-unit parade, and more children turned out due to the warmer conditions,” Meyer says.

For some festivalgoers, snow is more than just weather – it’s essential to the feeling and cultural identity that such events embody. 

Brooks said, “Without the natural winter elements, events like Noel Night lose some of that nostalgic seasonal charm that snow and cold bring, especially for those of us who lived during the winters when it actually snowed and know how different these warmer winters feel.”

Meyer said he is hopeful that Iron Mountain’s resilience will continue to attract visitors who appreciate the state’s winter heritage, snow or no snow. 

“Our parade will go on as scheduled, and as many as we can will do the ‘Heikki Lunta’ snow dance,” Meyer said, referring to U.P. folklore. The tradition has ties to Finnish American and Native American cultures, including a song and dance done to encourage snowfall.

And Lam said she remains confident that the winter spirit will shine through regardless of weather.

“Between parade participants’ festive floats, music and the dark night skies, you really can’t help but get into the spirit, even if the weather is a bit warmer this year,” she said.

This story was originally published by the Capital News Service