Activities kick off the holiday season in Oakland County – The Oakland Press

Here is a list of upcoming activities and events to ring in the holiday season, including tree lightings, holiday markets, and visits with Santa.

• Canterbury Village tree lighting event: 5-8 p.m. Nov. 14, (tree lighting at 6 p.m.) Canterbury Village, 2325 Joslyn Road, Orion Twp., www.canterburyvillage.com. This event is free to attend, donations of dry or canned goods are being collected to benefit The Village Food Pantry.

• Simply Unique Market: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 15, Oakland Expo Center, 2212 Mall Dr E, Waterford Twp., www.oaklandexpocenter.com, (888) 858-EXPO, $5 entry, free for ages 12 and under.

• Ferndale Underground Holiday Market: Nov. 15-16, (10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday) in the basement of the DOT parking structure at Allen and Troy Streets (one block west of Woodward) in downtown Ferndale. Admission is free. Donations of canned and/or dried food items or cash, collected for the Jingle & Mingle Food Drive Campaign to benefit the Renaissance Vineyard Food Pantry and FernCare Free Health Clinic, www.undergroundferndale.com.

• Holiday Kick-Off “Light The Village”: 6-9 p.m. Nov.  21, The Village of Rochester Hills Outdoor Shopping Center, 104 N. Adams Road, annual fireworks display is at 7:15 p.m. and free visits with Santa are 8-9 p.m., giveaways, face painting, live holiday music and performances, free shuttle service to/from Van Hoosen Middle School is available starting at 5:30 p.m., TheVORH.com. Free visits with Santa are offered on select dates through Dec. 24, during Santa’s hours by walk-up only.

• Royal Oak Holidays: Opening weekend and Lighting of the Park: Nov. 21-23, downtown Royal Oak. Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. Nov. 21. With its merger with Royal Oak Winter Blast, festivities include The Rink at Royal Oak skating season opening, located in Centennial Commons, the Royal Oak Holiday Market, Cookie Crawl, mini carnival rides and inflatables, live performances and visits with Santa, starting at 7:15 p.m. From 4-9:30 p.m., families who bring four canned goods or make a monetary donation to the Metro Detroit Youth Club’s (MDYC) Holiday Basket Program, will receive unlimited mini carnival rides and inflatables for their family. For a $2 donation to the food basket program, guests can receive free carnival rides and inflatable wristbands for up to two family members. The Rink at Royal Oak will also serve as a collection site for the annual toy drive to support The Bottomless Toy Chest, www.royaloakholidays.com.

• Magic of Lights: Nov. 21-Jan. 3, standard hours-5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Sunday, holiday hours-5:30-9 p.m. (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve – closed on New Year’s Day), Pine Knob Music Theatre Parking Area, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Twp., ticket passes must be purchased online at magicoflights.com/events/clarkston, prices vary.

• Festival of Trees Cocktail Preview: 7-10 p.m. Nov. 21, The Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow, Rochester, strolling dinner, silent auction and a cash bar and chance to bid on holiday items before the event opens to the public, www.downtownrochestermi.com/festival-of-trees, $50+. Proceeds benefit The Big, Bright Light Show.

• Festival of Trees: Nov. 22-23, (10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday), The Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow, Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com/festival-of-trees. Admission is free, proceeds benefit The Big, Bright Light Show.

• Holiday Hoopla and Tree Lighting ceremony: 3-6 p.m., Nov. 22, at Waterford Township Hall, 5200 Civic Center Drive, Waterford Twp. The Tree Lighting will take place at 5:40 p.m. Visit and photo opportunity with Santa, a reindeer visit, crafts, cookie decorating, and more, free outdoor event.

• Davisburg Christmas Market: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 23, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg, thebespokemarkets.com, $2 admission, www.facebook.com/groups/618971923690444.

• Holiday Market Pop-Up: 10 a.m.-3p.m. Nov. 23, Friendship Circle’s Soul Gallery, 5586 Drake Road, West Bloomfield Twp., featuring limited-edition, handcrafted items created by artists with special needs, 50% of the purchase price goes directly to the artists, and the other 50% is reinvested into the studio and its mission, shop online through Dec. 31 at https://gallery.friendshipcircle.org.

• Rochester merchants to host the annual Lagniappe event, 6-9 p.m. Nov. 24. Lagniappe, a Creole word for “a little something extra,” embodies the spirit of giving and appreciation. The program starts at 6 p.m. on stage on the crosswalk of W. 4th Street & Main, downtown Rochester. At 7 p.m., The Big, Bright Light Show will illuminate buildings downtown, followed by a fireworks display. Afterward, children can visit with Santa from 7:15-9 p.m. The Big, Bright Light Show will run nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight through Jan. 18. During the Lagniappe event, Main Street will be closed to traffic from Second Street to University Drive from 5-9:30 p.m. For information, visit www.downtownrochestermi.com/lagniappe.

• Holiday Window Contest: Nov. 24-Dec. 4, downtown Rochester, the community can vote for their favorite window. The winner will be announced at the Kris Kringle Market, www.DowntownRochesterMI.com.

• Holiday Walk and Winter Wonder Lights: select dates Nov. 28-Dec. 30, Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, on the campus of Oakland University, annual indoor daytime Holiday Walk, and the outdoor evening light show, featuring music and concessions, meadowbrookholidays.com, (248) 364-6200, ticket prices vary.

• Very Merry Brunch: Nov. 28 and Dec. 22 in Meadow Brook Hall’s ballroom, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, brunch before exploring the three main floors of the mansion decorated for Holiday Walk, meadowbrookholidays.com, tickets are $75 each.

• Holiday Tea & Tour: select dates Nov. 30-Dec. 21, in Meadow Brook Hall’s Dining Room, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, includes admission to Holiday Walk. Tickets are $85 each.