'Fan Zone' details announced for Hockeytown Winter Festival

Winter Festival in Detroit leads up to NHL's Winter Classic at Big House in Ann Arbor

DETROIT – Hockey fans will have five days of fun in December outside Comerica Park in downtown Detroit -- all leading up to the big NHL Winter Classic game.

Event organizers on Wednesday announced the Coke Zero Fan Zone at the Sirius XM Hockeytown Winter Festival, December 27-31.

The fan zone will be free to fans holding tickets to that day's hockey games at the Hockeytown Winter Festival.

Admission for non-ticketholders is $5 each day with tickets available for purchase at the entrance.

The festival will feature events and more leading up to the big game: the NHL's 2014 Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on New Year's Day at Michigan Stadium.

Download: 2014 NHL Winter Classic fan guide

Read: Winter Classic expected to draw 107,000-plus fans

Fan Zone exhibits, games & activities:

  • Premier artifact exhibit hosted by the Hockey Hall of Fame

  • Full-size street hockey rink for ages five and older

  • Open skate on a full-size synthetic ice rink (hockey skates only please)

  • Hardest shot radar cage game

  • op shot electronic hockey net game

  • Mini-sticks game

  • Bubble hockey game

  • Video game challenges

  • SnowZilla simulated toboggan slide

  • Bounce house

Autograph & photo opportunities, food:

  • Stanley Cup display with photo opportunities

  • Q&A sessions with Red Wings and Maple Leafs alumni

  • Alumni autograph booths

  • Locker room displays and photo opportunities in the stall of a favorite Wings or Maple Leafs player
  • Local musical acts

  • Popular food truck vendors

  • Dtroit restaurants

  • Hot cocoa and s'mores stations

  • Fire pit warming stations

Hockeytown Winter Festival game lineup

Dec. 27-28: Great Lakes Invitational

Dec. 27: Early game - Michigan State vs. Michigan Tech. Late game - Western Michigan vs. Michigan

Dec. 28: Early game - third place game. Late game - championship game

Dec. 29: Ontario Hockey League doubleheader

1st Game - Windsor Spitfires vs. Saginaw Spirit
2nd Game - London Knights vs. Plymouth Whalers

Dec. 30: American Hockey League - Toronto Marlies vs. Grand Rapids Griffins

Dec. 31: Alumni Showdown

Jan. 1: NHL's 2014 Winter Classic - Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings

The Coke Zero Fan Zone is sponsored by Bridgestone, Molson Canadian, Coke Zero, Comerica Bank, Kroger, Southwest Ontario Tourism, McDonald's, Verizon and American Rentals.