The holidays are a time to deck the halls and light the trees! All throughout Metro Detroit and downtown Detroit, tree lighting ceremonies are bringing together neighbors and friends alike for holiday festivities, caroling, crafts, and of course, spectacular displays of our finest and tallest trees!
Friday, November 14 – 6:30pm (Tree lighting at 7pm)
@ Kellogg Park, Plymouth
Head to Main Street for holiday lights and watch the Salvation Army Plymouth Corps kicks off their Red Kettle Campaign. Bring a donation for a chance to win gift cards from Downtown Plymouth businesses!
Thursday, November 20 – 5pm
@ Downtown Lake Orion
Kick off the holiday season with Lake Orion’s Tree Lighting Ceremony. Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus, Live Entertainment, Fire Pits, Roasting Marshmallows and Hot Cocoa will keep you warm and festive until our business person of the year flips the switch and lights the tree. You can also get a head start on your shopping passport!
Friday, November 21 – Tree lighting at dusk
@ Downtown Wyandotte
Tree Lighting is Friday night and Cookie Walk Friday and Christmas Parade is Saturday morning.
LIGHT THE LIGHTS TREE LIGHTING
Friday, November 21 – 6pm (Tree lighting and fireworks at 7pm)
@ Fountain Walk, Novi
Visit with Santa and character meet and greets. Shop the holiday market and listen to live music. Don’t miss the tree lighting at 7pm and fireworks.
DETROIT TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, November 21 – 4pm
@ Campus Martius, Detroit
A Detroit tradition for families is back in-person and it will be bigger, brighter, and better than ever. The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) and DTE Energy Foundation are proud to present the 20th annual Detroit Tree Lighting. The official kick-off of the holiday season will be held at the award-winning Campus Martius Park from 5 p.m. – midnight on Friday, Nov. 22, and the public is invited to participate in a full schedule of free festivities and entertainment
HOLIDAY LIGHTED PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING
Friday, November 21
@ Downtown Northville – 6:30pm
Join the thousands of parade-goers as the holiday season officially kicks off with the Holiday Lighted Parade. Bands, dancers, floats, and of course, Santa, make this annual favorite a great family tradition! The Parade begins at 6 PM and will be followed by the official tree lighting in Town Square, Downtown Northville at 8:00 PM
HOLIDAY GLOW & CHRISTMAS MARKET
Saturday, November 22 – 1pm (Santa’s arrival and tree lighting around 5:45pm)
@ Downtown Brighton
This year the Christmas Market will be on Main Street from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Bring your holiday spirit and do some shopping. We will also have the children’s activities starting at 1:00 pm. Guests will enjoy the always-popular Jollie Choo-Choo train, pictures with the reindeer, a nativity petting farm, reindeer games, letters to Santa, and tasty holiday treats!
HOLIDAY HOOPLA & TREE LIGHTING
Saturday, November 22 – Tree lighting at 5:40pm
@ Waterford Township Hall
Celebrate the season with various FREE holiday activities including a visit and photo opportunity with Santa, a reindeer visit, crafts, cookie decorating, and more! This event is held outdoors, please dress for the weather.
Monday, November 24 -7pm
@ Downtown Rochester
Mark your calendars for Lagniappe & the kick-off of The Big, Bright Light Show as we cover the buildings of downtown with over 1.5 million points of glimmering light! We will flip the switch at 7 pm and the light show will continue to be aglow every night from 5 pm to Midnight through January 18, 2026!
Tuesday, December 2 – 6pm
@ Burgh Historical Park, Southfield
Head to Burgh Historical Park in Southfield for the annual tree lighting & visits with Santa.
Friday, December 5 – Tree lighting at 6pm
@ Shain Park, Birmingham
All are invited to join Santa and Birmingham’s Mayor for entertainment and the lighting of a 41-foot holiday tree adorned with over 40,000 LED lights! Be sure to stay for Winter Markt, Birmingham’s annual German-themed market featuring local artists, European cuisine, kids activities, visits with Santa and more!
Friday, December 5 – 6pm
@ Shelby Township Municipal Grounds
At Christmas Aglow the community lights its 34-foot Christmas tree and welcomes Santa Claus as he makes his first stop to greet the township.After lighting the tree, visitors can head into the library for free photos with Santa Claus until 8:30 p.m.
Friday, December 5 -Tree lighting at 6:30pm
@ Wixom Community Center
Join us for a fun-filled night as we welcome the holiday season to Wixom! Our giant tree will come alive when Santa and his reindeer arrive! There will be crafts and snacks to follow the tree lighting.
Friday, December 5 – 6pm
@ Downtown Auburn Hills
There is nothing more magical than watching a Christmas tree lighting up for the first time during the holiday season! The City of Auburn Hills Tree Lighting Ceremony is a time for the community to come together to celebrate the start of the holiday season. We have many activities planned for people of all ages!
SOUTHGATE’S TREE LIGHTING & SANTA’S CHRISTMAS EXPRESS
Friday, December 5 – 5:30pm
@ Kiwanis Park, Southgate
Join Southgate’s Annual Tree Lighting and Santa’s Christmas Express Train Rides! The park will be lit up with beautiful decorations and light displays sponsored by local businesses. The Great Lakes Live Steamers welcome families to come ride the train through the park to Southgate’s North Pole to visit with Santa and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate.
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, December 5 – Tree lighting at 6:30pm
@ City Hall, Troy
Join us for our Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5 at The Rink at Stine Community Park. The evening will kick off with ice skating being open to the public at 5 pm and the Tree Lighting Ceremony starting at 6:30 pm in front of The Great Hall. Mayor Ethan Baker will lead the lighting event and will be joined by local a local choir and band, and of course Santa!
HOMETOWN HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY & SANTA ARRIVES
Saturday, December 6 – 6pm
@ Pierce Park, Chelsea
Join the annual light parade in Chelsea and see Santa!
WINTERFEST PARADE & TREE LIGHTING
Saturday, December 6 – Tree lighting at 6pm
@ Heritage Park, Taylor
The parade steps off at 5 p.m. from the Taylor Recreation Center, and ends at the Sheridan Open Air Pavilion in Heritage Park. The Tree Lighting and Firework display will immediately follow the parade (approx. 6:15 p.m.).
Saturday, December 6
@ Downtown South Lyon
From the “Christmas in the Country” Craft Show at South Lyon High School to the Holiday Spectacular Lighted Parade and tree lighting ceremony, this event is sure to offer something for everyone!
Saturday, December 6 – 5:30pm
@ Dodge Park, Sterling Heights
There will be a tree lighting, holiday music with caroling, visits with Santa, a petting farm, refreshments, pony rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, train rides, ice skating, warming fires and much more!
MERRY & BRIGHT: LIVONIA’S HOLIDAY PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING
Sunday, December 7 – Parade at 4pm, tree lighting to follow
@ Livonia Civic Center
The parade will begin at Frost Middle School, continue north on Stark, east on Lyndon, north on Farmington, and east on Civic Center Drive ending in front of City Hall. Once at City Hall, the mayor will be joined by Santa and Mrs. Claus for the tree lighting festivities. Afterward, youngsters are invited to visit Santa at the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library where they can also enjoy crafts, entertainment and refreshments.
