Here is a list of upcoming activities and events to ring in the holiday season, including tree lightings, holiday markets, and visits with Santa.
• Sing & Stroll Tree Lighting Ceremony: 5-7 p.m. Nov. 20, downtown Lake Orion, horse and wagon rides, fire pits with s’mores, community caroling (songbooks provided!), dance and musical performances, and welcome Santa. tree lighting at 6 p.m., followed by photos with Santa, create ornaments with Orion Art Center to hang on the tree, downtownlakeorion.org.
• 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.
Light the Village Holiday Event at The Village of Rochester Hills Shopping Center. (Photo courtesy of The Village of Rochester Hills)
• 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, 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. Royal Oak Holidays features five themed weekends of festive activities through Dec. 21.
Ice skaters enjoy Royal Oak’s public rink at a previous Winter Blast. Photo courtesy of Catalyst Media Factory.
• Glenlore Trails-Aurora Interactive Holiday Night Walk: Friday to Sunday evenings Nov. 21-Nov. 30, and Thursday to Sunday, Dec. 4-Dec. 28, at 3860 Newtown Road, Commerce Twp., one-mile walk through experience, ticket prices vary, purchase online at www.GlenloreTrails.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, which kicks off Nov. 24.
• Holiday Lighted Parade: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 21, downtown Northville, special Sensory Zone along Linden St., after the parade is the official tree lighting at Northville Town Square, www.northville.org/holiday-lighted-parade.
• 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.
• Arts & Greens: Nov. 22-23, Bogie Lake Greenhouses, 1525 Bogie Lake Road, White Lake Twp., (9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday), 18th annual event, partnership between Huron Valley Council for the Arts and the greenhouses, www.huronvalleyarts.org, free admission.
• 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.
• Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo: evenings, select dates, Nov. 22-Jan. 4, outdoor event, adv. gen. advance ticket prices vary, free for children younger than 2, parking is $8, purchase tickets at https://detroitzoo.org/events/wild-lights.
• Davisburg Christmas Market: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 23, at Springfield Oaks, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg, thebespokemarkets.com, $2 admission, www.facebook.com/groups/618971923690444.
• Holiday Market Pop-Up: 10 a.m.-3 p.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.
• Annual Lagniappe event and Big Bright Light Show: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 24. Lagniappe, a Creole word for “a little something extra,” embodies the spirit of giving and appreciation, hosted by Rochester merchants. 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.
• Annual Mighty Gobbler 5K Run/1Mile Walk: 8-11 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27, hosted by Lutheran Church of the Master, Troy. Pre-registration for the 5K is $37 through Nov. 25 and $32 for the 1M, and then fees increase by $5 November 26 and 27. Portion of the proceeds will benefit Micah 6 Community in Pontiac and Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, two local non-profit organizations serving people in need. Runners are also encouraged to bring canned goods to help stock the food pantry at Troy People Concerned. To register, visit mightygobbler.com or call 248-643-0176 for information.
• Holly Dickens Festival: Lighted parade is 6 p.m. Nov. 28, (includes a sensory-friendly portion). Festival continues 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 29-Dec. 14, downtown Holly. Stroll the streets of historic Battle Alley, visit shops, enjoy strolling Christmas carolers, street performers, holiday lights, roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, children may visit with Santa in the Tiny Tim Children’s Tent, Run like the Dickens Race is Dec. 6, register at www.hollydickensfestival.org.
• Holiday House Tours and All Aboard! Model Railroad Exhibit: noon-4 p.m. Nov. 28-30 and select Saturdays, Sundays and weekdays in December, at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, buy tickets at the door, general adm. is $5/adults, www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms.
• 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 Stroll: Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, and 22-23, holiday lights, Santa, characters, carolers, at Canterbury Village, 2325 Joslyn Road, Orion Twp., ticket prices vary, register at www.canterburyvillage.com, free for ages 2 and younger, free parking.
• Holly Dazzle: evenings, Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 22-24, 26-28 and 31, at 12600 Dixie Hwy., Holly, winter wonderland stroll along a three-quarter mile outdoor trail, adorned with Christmas scenes, 248-634-5552, purchase tickets at www.hollydazzles.com.
• Visits with Santa at Holiday Castle: Nov. 17-Dec. 23, (10 a.m.-7:55 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon – 5:55 p.m. Sunday), Somerset Collection, Troy, North Grand Court. Guests can reserve a photo session with Santa at https://somersetevents.as.me/SantaPhotos, photo prices vary.
• Plaid Friday: Nov. 28, and shoppers are encouraged to wear plaid and shop downtown Rochester, and Small Business Saturday is Nov. 29, downtown Rochester. Enter for a chance to win a $1,000 Downtown Rochester Shopping Spree, instructions at www.downtownrochestermi.com/small-business-saturday.
• 53rd Annual Elf Shelf Arts and Crafts Show: Nov. 29, Troy High School, 4777 Northfield Parkway, Troy, troywomensassociation.org, $3 per person.
• Birmingham Santa Walk: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 29, walk with Santa, hot chocolate while supplies last 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Santa visits are noon-4 p.m. Nov. 29 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 30. Free horse Drawn Carriage Rides are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 29-30, Small Business Saturday activities, parking is free in structures, register for Santa Walk at www.allinbirmingham.com.
• Elf Shelf Arts & Craft Show: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 29, at Troy High School, 4777 Northfield Parkway, featuring over 200 booths of handcrafted gifts, seasonal décor, jewelry, textiles, hosted by the Troy Women’s Association, (248) 988-0426, www.troywomensassociation.org, $3 donation at the door to benefit scholarships and local charities.
• Handmade for the Holidays: Tuesday-Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 20, hours vary, Huron Valley Council for the Arts, 205 W. Livingston Road, Highland Twp., https://huronvalleyarts.org.
• 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.
• Tannenbaum Teas: Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, guided Holiday Walk tour, premiere tea, a professional portrait of your group and valet parking. Tickets are $125 each.
• Starlight Stroll: Dec. 3, Meadow Brook Hall’s ballroom, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, holiday elegance that includes live music, open bar, strolling dinner, and complimentary valet, meadowbrookholidays.com, tickets are $150 each.
• Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s Shop & Champagne preview fundraiser is 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 3, featuring sparkling beverages, a gourmet strolling supper and early-access shopping with tickets at $90 in advance at BBArtCenter.org or call 248-644-0866.
• The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s (BBAC) Holiday Shop is Dec. 4-19, (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.–Sat; and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays) at BBAC, 1516 S. Cranbrook Road, Birmingham, featuring handmade gift items from hundreds of juried artists, free admission to Holiday Shop.
• The Holly Jolly Folly: 6 p.m. Dec. 5, at 1491 S. Lapeer Road, Lake Orion, fundraiser for the Orion Lighted Christmas Parade which takes place Dec. 6, 248-802-5521, www.orionlightedparade.com, tickets are $60+.