Everything Merry and Bright this Season
It’s that time of year, the holidays have officially kicked off in the area. Here’s a list of the top holiday attractions for your family, your kids and girlfriends. Enjoy! xx
Merry and Bright and all things Birmingham
Santa Walk – Birmingham
November 26th, Welcome Santa to town and introduce him to Birmingham with a walk through downtown. Stop at shops along the way, before concluding at Santa’s quaint home in Shain Park. Pre-registration is recommended.
Santa House – Birmingham
Bring your wish list to Santa’s House at Shain Park. The ‘Big Guy’ is ready to visit with good little girls and boys – he’s even bringing his reindeer. Reservations are needed.
Hop aboard a complimentary horse-drawn carriage for an illuminated tour of the holiday lights and beautifully decorated downtown. The carriage rides begin in Shain Park. Carriage rides are first come, first served – no reservations needed! November 26th – through the end of December.
Tree Lighting Ceremony // December 2
The holiday festivities ramp up with the annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday, December 2nd at 6pm. The special event features Santa, live caroling and the lighting of the holiday tree adorned with over 40,000 LED lights!
Friday, December 2 – @ Shain Park, Birmingham
Experience the magic of the holidays at the annual Birmingham Winter Market featuring displays from local artists and vendors, European cuisine, thousands of holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment
Experience the magic of the holidays at the annual Birmingham Winter Markt, featuring displays from local artists and vendors, European cuisine, thousands of holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment, complimentary carriage rides + more. December 2 – 4th.
Strap on some skates and hit the ice at Barnum Park. It’s free and open to the public. Opening date for season is TBD
Merry and Bright and all things Detroit
Cadillac Lodge, Monroe Street Midway + Campus Martius Ice Skating Rink
Plan your visit downtown for Friday, November 18th and experience the holiday magic.
Opens Thursday, November 10th, so mark your calendars
The enclosed tented area with plush seating gathering space will be serve up family-friendly fun and seasonal treats. Next to the Lodge is the Holiday Market featuring 18 local businesses in picturesque, pop-up shops that make checking names off your gift list a lot easier.
NEW! Make sure to check out the Monroe Street Midway’s Winter Wonderland. A one-of-a-kind experience downtown and most of the activities are FREE. There’s an Arctic Slide! Opens Friday, November 11th.
Take a walk thru a Winter Wonderland and drop your letter off to Santa at 1001 Woodward. This interactive holiday display features Santa’s Cabin, a gingerbread house, and festive decor. Stop for selfies and to deliver your wish list. Winter Wonders is open Fridays 4pm to 8pm and Saturdays & Sundays 12pm to 4pm, now through January 2, 2022.
Make the most of the early evening and drive downtown to check out the five giant bells, each with a hanging swing set. Guests can swing on each bell, and once all five are rung, a unique song and light display will be activated. The one-of-a-kind installation is designed to bring people together – specifically during the holiday season. Beacon Park is a open from 6am to 10pm and the Swinging Bells will be on display until Sunday Jan. 9, 2022.
Bundle up and head to the Detroit Riverfront for Winter at Valade Park! Each weekend, starting December 10th, visitors can warm up by oversized outdoor fires, enjoy hot seasonal alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, make s’mores on the custom marshmallow roasters, grab a sled from the Sled Shed (featuring free sleds when it snows), play synthetic ice curling and more. Don’t miss Holly Jolly Riverfront December 10th – 12th
DETROIT TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, November 18 – @ Campus Martius, Detroit
The tree lighting ceremony will feature a Michigan-grown, 60-foot Norwegian Spruce wrapped in more than 19,000 multi-colored lights and ornaments. The event begins at 5 p.m. and is free to the public. Enjoy a magical evening of stage and rink performances to kick off the holiday season in the city.
Wayne County Lights
Experience lights from the comfort of your car. Load up the kids with hot chocolate and enjoy! Wayne County Lightfest is open Wednesday through Sunday from 6pm to 10pm.
November 17th to December 30th and $5 a car
ALL OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES
BIG BRIGHT LIGHT SHOW
Monday, November 21 – @ Downtown Rochester
Mark your calendars for Lagniappe & the kick-off of The Big, Bright Light Show as we cover the buildings of downtowns with over 1.5 million points of glimmering light!
and more. Warming stations, visits with Santa*and the Kinderhaus children’s activity area are sure to please visitors of all ages!
ROYAL OAK JINGLE & LIGHT PARADE
Saturday, December 10 – @ Downtown Royal Oak
The Royal Oak Jingle takes place Saturday, December 10th and will fill Downtown Royal Oak with traditional holiday activities like photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, a cookie crawl and a Light Parade on Main Street in the evening and tons more.
HOLIDAY NIGHTS IN GREENFIELD VILLAGE
Meadow Brook Hall is located in Rochester on the campus of Oakland University. Winter Wonder Lights will run Thursdays through Sundays beginning Friday, November 25th and runs through December 30th. Tickets are $22 each for adults aged 13 and up, $12 for youth aged 3-12 and free for children 2 and under.
Glendore Trails
Bundle up and make the most of the early darkness with a family stroll through Glenlore Trails’s Aurora, the winter display returns on Thursday, November 17th.
The Detroit Zoo will be aglow for 40 magical nights with more than five million LED lights illuminating trees, buildings and over 280 sculptures throughout the front half of the Zoo. Experience the magic of the Detroit Zoo in winter as you take in the lights, sights and sounds of the season for guests of all ages.
Add some light to your holidays! Magic of Lights is a holiday drive-thru light display located in Clarkston, Michigan at the Pine Knob Music Theater.
- Dates: November 18 – December 31
Sponsored by:
Tony Giacco Design, LLC. Residential design and interior renovations, focused on architectural additions and bespoke new build homes.
