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Detroit
Winter
Blast
returns
to
Campus
Martius
and
Cadillac
Square
Feb.
12-14,
2016
Annual
festival
will
feature
all new
“Taste
of
Detroit”
food
tent,
return
of
popular
attractions,
including
the
Meridian
Snow
Slide
and
Bedrock
Zip
Line,
new
tourism
promotion
and
community
event
donation
to Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters,
Meridian
Health
Plan
extends
title
sponsorship
through
2018
DETROIT
-
Downtown
Detroit
will
bustle
like
it’s
2006 as
Meridian
Winter
Blast
presented
by
Quicken
Loans
returns
to
Campus
Martius
Park for
the 12th
year,
Friday,
Feb. 12
through
Sunday,
Feb. 14.
Visitors
will be
able to
enjoy an
array of
seasonal
family-friendly
fun and
expanded
offerings
for
adults
as the
annual
event
continues
to grow
in both
excitement
and
activity.
In
celebration
of
Detroit’s
food
renaissance,
Meridian
is
sponsoring
the new
“Taste
of
Detroit”
food
tent.
Outstanding
metro
Detroit
restaurants
and
chefs
will be
providing
enjoyable,
quality
food
from
LaDolce
Vita,
Red
Crown,
(revolver),
Slow’s
To Go,
El
Asador,
El
Barzon,
Hudson
Café,
Andiamo
Italia,
Detroit
Seafood
Market
and
Famous
Dave’s.
This
year’s
festival
will
include
the
return
of two
crowd
favorites:
the
Meridian
Snow
Slide,
featuring
a 200
ft.
thrill
ride
down
Michigan
Avenue,
and the
Bedrock
Zip Line
Adventure,
offering
guests
the
chance
to fly
300 ft.
down
Woodward
Avenue.
Both
attractions
provide
great
momentum
for a
full
programming
line-up
that
will be
announced
next
month.
Organizers
are
pleased
to
announce
that
Detroit-based
Meridian
Health
Plan has
extended
its
title
sponsorship
for two
more
years,
through
the 2018
festival.
This is
the
fourth
year
Meridian
Health
Plan has
been the
title
sponsor
of
Winter
Blast.
"It has
been a
joy to
be part
of
Meridian
Winter
Blast
presented
by
Quicken
Loans,
and it
has been
exciting
for us
to watch
it grow
in size
and
stature.
We are
pleased
to
continue
our
title
sponsorship
for two
more
years,"
said
Sean
Cotton,
chief
administrative
officer
and
executive
vice
president
of
Meridian
Health
Plan.
“As a
family-owned
business
we are
proud to
help
bring
this
family-oriented
event to
metro
Detroit.”
Quicken
Loans
also has
returned
for the
fourth
year as
presenting
sponsor
of the
event,
part of
its
larger
effort
to
support
events
in
Detroit
that
attract
city
residents
and
visitors
downtown
to have
fun with
the
entire
family.
“Each
year the
Winter
Blast
brings a
huge
spark of
activity
to
downtown
Detroit
with
winter-themed
activities
the
entire
family
can
enjoy,”
said
Lisa
Dancsok,
Quicken
Loans
vice
president.
“There
is
nothing
better
than
seeing
families
together
making
memories
right in
the
heart of
downtown
Detroit.”
"This
year’s
Meridian
Winter
Blast
presented
by
Quicken
Loans
reminds
me very
much of
the 2006
event
during
the
Super
Bowl
year,”
said
Jonathan
Witz,
Winter
Blast
event
producer.
“Much
like
Detroit’s
rejuvenation,
we’re
experiencing
a rise
in both
interest
and
activities,
as
demonstrated
by the
return
of
Meridian
Snow
Slide
and
Bedrock
Zip Line
Adventure,
as well
as the
all new
‘Taste
of
Detroit’
Food
Tent.
We’re
proud to
continue
as
Detroit’s
premier
winter
festival
that
draws
thousands
each
year and
is an
annual
tradition
reflecting
the
rebirth
of the
downtown
area."
A new
“Little”
event
for Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
to
ensure
the
continuation
of a key
community
holiday
tradition
Meridian
Winter
Blast
presented
by
Quicken
Loans
will be
providing
substantial
community
support
by
hosting
a day of
fun and
free
activities
for more
than 250
metro
Detroit
adult
volunteers
(“Bigs”)
and the
children
they
mentor
(“Littles”).
The “Big
and
Little
Blast”
will
include
free
admission,
complimentary
Meridian
Snow
Slide
and
Bedrock
Zip line
rides,
free
skate
rentals
and
lunch
from
Happy’s
Pizza.
The
event
will
replace
the
annual
Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
Holiday
party, a
10-year
tradition
that was
cancelled
this
year due
to a
lack of
funding.
“The
Winter
Blast
has
really
come
through
for our
organization
and our
Bigs and
Littles,”
said
Jeannine
Gant,
President
and CEO
of Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
of
Metropolitan
Detroit.
Now we
can
deliver
a really
special
day for
our
kids, a
thank
you for
our
mentors
and one
very
cool
winter
experience
all
around.”
New
Hometown
Tourist
Promotion
to take
center
stage
Also new
to the
2016
festival
is the
Winter
Blast
“Hometown
Tourist
Giveaway”
will
feature
a chance
for
festival
visitors
to win
more
than 20
regional
tourism
packages
from the
Detroit
Metro
Convention
&
Visitors
Bureau.
Prize
packages
include
complimentary
overnight
stays at
top
metro
Detroit
hotels,
including
the Book
Cadillac,
Detroit
Marriott,
Henry
Hotel,
the
Hotel
St.
Regis
and
more.
These
prizes
include
dining
certificates
and free
admission
to
museums
and
cultural
attractions
like the
DIA,
Detroit
Zoo,
Motown
Museum
and
more.
“This is
an
outstanding
way to
showcase
the
culture
and
attractions
of our
region,
and
we’re
thrilled
to
partner
with the
Meridian
Winter
Blast to
offer
these
great
prizes
that
reflect
how
great
metro
Detroit
is for
tourism,”
said
Larry
Alexander,
president
of the
Metro
Convention
&
Visitors
Bureau.
Founded
in 2005,
this
signature
wintertime
event
debuted
as a
backdrop
and kick
off of
the
official
countdown
to Super
Bowl XL
in
Detroit.
The
inaugural
Winter
Blast
attracted
more
than
200,000
people.
Meridian
Winter
Blast
presented
by
Quicken
Loans is
made
possible
by the
generous
support
of its
sponsors:
Meridian
Health
Plan,
Quicken
Loans,
Bedrock
Real
Estate
Services,
DEGC/Detroit
DDA,
DMCVB,
Great
Expressions,
Great
Lakes
Beverage,
General
Motors
Foundation,
Marketing
Associates,
Michigan
Lottery,
MetroPCS,
St. John
Providence
Health
System,
Pepsi,
Power
Home
Remodeling
and the
Westin
Book
Cadillac.
More
information
about
the
festival
will be
announced
next
month.
Winter
Blast is
Detroit’s
celebration
of
winter
experiences,
dining,
music
and
family
fun held
in
downtown
Detroit’s
Campus
Martius
Park
from
Friday,
Feb. 12
through
Sunday,
February
14.
Originally
created
as the
backdrop
for
Super
Bowl XL,
the
festival
attracted
more
than
75,000
people
last
year.
For
additional
information,
visit
www.winterblast.com
or call
(248)
541-7550.
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