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 11th
@ 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 17
@ 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.
Friday, November 18
@ Downtown Wyandotte
Tree Lighting and Cookie Walk Friday and Christmas Parade is Saturday morning.
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.
TREE LIGHTING & LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE
Friday, November 18
@ Allen Park Historical Museum
Tree lighting ceremony at the Historical House followed by lighted Christmas parade from the Historical House, down Park Avenue to White Street, ending at the Allen Park Community Center.
WINTER, WINE & WHIMSY HOLIDAY MARKET – TREE LIGHTING
Friday, November 18
@ Fountain Walk
The second annual Winter, Wine & Whimsy includes artisan vendors, live entertainment, visits from Santa, and children activities.
HOLIDAY LIGHTED PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING
Saturday, November 19
@ Downtown Northville
Hometown Holiday is a community celebration that kicks off the holiday season. The celebration begins with the parade and the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree in Town Square. Northville is decorated in holiday splendor to warm your hearts which will get you in the holiday spirit.
HOLIDAY GLOW & CHRISTMAS MARKET
Saturday, November 19
@ Downtown Brighton
Guests will enjoy the always-popular Jollie Choo-Choo train, pictures with the reindeer, a nativity petting farm, reindeer games, arts and crafts, and tasty holiday treats! There will be local performances starting at 4:30 pm, then Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their way down Main Street to join the Mayor of the City of Brighton. The Mayor will give Santa the key to the city so Santa is sure to get into all the homes on Christmas Eve! Santa will then magically light up the Mill Pond.
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!
Thursday, December 1
@ Shelby Township Municipal Grounds
Shelby Township’s biggest Christmas event and tradition, the annual Christmas Aglow and tree lighting occurs at, kids crafts at Kris Kringle Castle, marshmallow roasting and the “Holiday Express” train display. 7 p.m. on the township municipal campus at 52700 Van Dyke Ave.
Thursday, December 1
@ Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices
Kick off the Holiday season with some festive fun including: a small craft project, coloring contest, visits with Santa, cookies, sleigh rides, and more. Be there when we present Santa with the key to the city!
Friday, December 2
@ Downtown Wayne
Come on out to Wayne’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting sponsored by Wayne DDA, Hillcrest Bible Church and Wayne Historical Society. We will have carolers, Santa for the kids, hay rides, a Christmas market, free cookies and hot cocoa, crafts and much more!
TREE LIGHTING & VISITS WITH SANTA
Friday, December 2
@ Burgh Historical Park, Southfield
Head to Burgh Historical Park in Southfield for the annual tree lighting & visits with Santa.
Friday, December 2
@ Shain Park, Birmingham
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 and more. Warming stations, visits with Santa*and the Kinderhaus children’s activity area are sure to please visitors of all ages!
Friday, December 2
@ 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 2
@ Downtown Auburn Hills
A free family fun event featuring the arrival of Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Mayor to light our enormous Christmas tree on the corner of Squirrel and Auburn Roads downtown.
SOUTHGATE’S TREE LIGHTING & SANTA’S CHRISTMAS EXPRESS
Friday, December 2
@ 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!
HOMETOWN HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY & SANTA ARRIVES
Saturday, December 3
@ Pierce Park, Chelsea
Join the annual light parade in Chelsea and see Santa!
Saturday, December 3
@ Civic Center, Clinton Township
Bring your whole family and join neighbors from across Clinton Township at a night full of fun. Boys and girls will have a chance to personally visit Santa and give him their Christmas list. Enjoy the music of the season, ice sculptures, horse-drawn trolley rides, and light refreshments as we usher in the holiday season.
WINTERFEST PARADE & TREE LIGHTING
Saturday, December 3
@ 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 3
@ 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 3
@ 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 4
@ 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.
Sunday, December 4
@ Fire Station 5, Farmington Hills
The beautiful trees at City Hall will be illuminated as well as a 20-foot candle which represents our commitment to peace and unity in Farmington Hills. Throughout history, lights have been a universal symbol of hope, wisdom, and perseverance, regardless of background, tradition, culture or belief. Lights represent hope for the present and the future. Please join us for this traditional community event! Santa will make a visit and refreshments will be served after the ceremony at Fire Station Headquarters.
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.
Saturday, December 10
@ Waterford Township Hall
The family friendly event includes reindeer visits, cookie decorating, crafts, photos with Santa and concluded with the tree lighting ceremony.
Photo credit: Facebook