DETROIT –
The Motown Winter Blast returns to Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit for the seventh consecutive year Feb. 11-13. The celebration of winter and family fun, dining and music welcomes several new sponsors, including the General Motors Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and GalaxE.Solutions, and will provide visitors with a non-stop lineup of winter activities.
"Through the years, Winter Blast has touched the community in many ways," said Jonathan Witz, event producer, in a press release. "The festival serves as a backdrop to bring people from all over metro Detroit and beyond to the downtown area. It's a great economic boom for the City of Detroit. We are also excited to announce extended hours as we will now open on Friday at 11 a.m., instead of 3 p.m., thanks to the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan."
"The Motown Winter Blast is one of my favorite events and I am proud that it is back in Detroit for its seventh year," said Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh. "The 2011 festival will showcase the many great things our city has to offer not only during the winter months, but all year long."
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) will also be the title sponsor of snowshoeing, an activity that offers festival guests the opportunity to enjoy a fun, casual physical activity at the festival. BCBSM's support of the festival will allow an earlier opening on Friday. There also will be a special link on the website homepage called "Get Fit at Winter Blast courtesy of BCBSM" that will describe ways festival-goers can engage in exercise activities at the festival.
"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is very excited about the opportunity to bring this family-focused, physical activity to the festival," said Andy Hetzel, vice president of Corporate Communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. "Our organization is committed to building a healthier Michigan by supporting initiatives that get people moving and eating healthier." One of those healthy initiatives is the opportunity to ice skate for free at the Campus Martius Park skating rink courtesy of Charter One Bank; and Winter Blast is the only time each year where Metro Detroiters can skate at no charge in the fabulous and fun skating rink.
"Since its inception, Winter Blast has served the community in so many ways," said Robert Ficano, Wayne County executive. "The festival is an outstanding way to showcase our region, support local businesses and help unite neighbors in a common cause. Wayne County is proud to be home to Winter Blast."
Winter Blast organizers are also excited to announce new activities for the family and a warm weather getaway opportunity courtesy of Radio Disney AM 910 and the DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan. On Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, Radio Disney AM 910 and DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan will be inside the Meijer Family Tent. From the Meijer Family Stage, B.C. and the AM 910 Radio Disney Road Crew will rock out during the D-Tour, a one-hour high-energy show full of games, music and tons of prizes for the whole family.
Everyone 16 years of age and under are encouraged to visit the Radio Disney AM 910 booth to enter a drawing for a chance to win a family trip to attend ESPN The Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios March 3-6, 2011. Also on Saturday and Sunday, children will be able to try out their Sports Casting skills live on the air.
"The support from our new sponsors is a huge lift for the festival. It's great to see the General Motors Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield so involved in Detroit," added Witz. "The new activities brought to the festival by Radio Disney AM 910 and the DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan will truly bolster our family offerings."
For the second consecutive year, the Winter Blast will partner with Matrix Human Services and the Grosse Pointe Rotary in support of "Breaking the ICE on the cycle of Poverty" program. Volunteers from each organization will help collect nonperishable food items, new clothing and books at the festival gates as part of a special Detroit's Winter Blast voluntary "admission fee." All donated items will be used to support a massive service project that will fight hunger in metro Detroit. Last year, more than 600,000 pounds of items were collected, and this year the festival wants to exceed that mark.
"We are thrilled to join Motown Winter Blast for the second year in a row to fight hunger in southeast Michigan," said Marcella Wilson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Matrix Human Services. "It is through the generosity of our community that we will make a difference in the lives of those with the greatest need."
Another new sponsor of the festival is GalaxE.Solutions, which recently moved into the Campus Martius Park neighborhood. "Downtown Detroit, Campus Martius and the Woodward Avenue corridor helped attract us to this city to build a health care IT hub," said Tim Bryan, chairman and CEO of GalaxE.Solutions. "We are proud to join our neighbors in ensuring this outstanding event takes place in 2011, attracting people to the city and one of the country's finest urban parks."
Snowmaking returns to Winter Blast with special snow cannons that will add to the festive, winter environment. The cannons will augment natural snow to guarantee snowshoeing and snow hills for children to enjoy. In addition, many other favorite outdoor activities from previous years will return, such as marshmallow roasting, professional and amateur ice skating exhibitions, and brilliantly carved and lighted ice sculptures. Three stages will boast more than 50 performing musical acts. All Winter Blast concerts are free. The festival also will offer an arts and crafts area, food from 10 restaurants and caterers, and other entertainment.
The three-day festival will be open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 12 and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Feb. 13. Originally created as the backdrop for Super Bowl XL, the festival attracted more than 75,000 people last year. For additional public information, visit http://www.winterblast.com or call 313-963-8418.
