Oakland County community calendar Dec. 14 and beyond – The Oakland Press

Community events

• The Oakland County Treasurer’s Office has opened the annual Financial Empowerment Arts Contest. Oakland County public high school students are invited to submit 2-D artwork (including drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, and illustration) or video that reflects the theme of financial empowerment, with entries due by 11:59 p.m. on March 13, 2026, oakgov.com/arts.

Fundraisers/Charitable events

• Volunteers of America Michigan is coordinating their annual Adopt a Family program and asking the metro Detroit community to help support their neighbors in need by purchasing and delivering holiday gifts to families. Those interested in adopting a family can visit www.voami.org/adopt-a-family to register, review gift wish lists, and select a family to adopt, by Dec. 15.

• Farmington Hills police and firefighter/paramedics are teaming up with Toys for Tots, through Dec. 16, donate unwrapped toys in the lobby of the Farmington Hills Fire and Police Departments on the campus of Farmington Hills City Hall, 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, www.fhgov.com.

• The Bloomfield Township Police Department is hosting Holiday Charity Campaign-Gift Cards for Veterans. The police department is collecting gift cards to any major box stores and grocers to distribute to multiple Oakland County veterans and their families this holiday season. Gift cards can be donated through Dec. 18, at the front desk of the Bloomfield Township Police Department, 4200 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Twp., https://bloomfieldtwp.org/police.

• “Crafted in Kindness,” a handmade hat and mitten drive, at The Hawk Makerspace. Knitters, crafters can donate crafted items through Dec. 20, which will then be distributed to older adults in need through the City’s Adults 50 & Better Division. Crafters will be entered for a chance to win prizes from The Hawk Makerspace, www.fhgov.com.

• DRAW presents Christmas Of Hope 2025, the annual benefit concert for disaster victims, , Dec. 21, at Flagstar Strand Theatre, Pontiac, https://flagstarstrand.com, ticket prices vary.

• The Birmingham Fire Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for The Bottomless Toy Chest through Dec. 22. Donated toys can be placed in collection boxes in these Birmingham locations: Fire Station 1, 572 S. Adams Road; Fire Station 2, 1600 W. Maple Road; Baldwin Public Library, 300 W. Merrill St. and Birmingham City Hall, 151 Martin St., (248) 530-1906. The Bottomless Toy Chest is a nonprofit devoted to delivering toys to hospitalized pediatric oncology patients.

• The Giving Machine-Focus: HOPE in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is hosting a donation kiosk through Jan. 4 at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets at Entrance E (at Nike Store and Bass Pro Shops) in Auburn Hills. Visitors can purchase donations to support Focus: HOPE’s mission to help end food insecurity and build equitable opportunities for families in Metro Detroit, www.focushope.edu.

• Gleaners Community Food Bank seeks food donations of nonperishable items, monetary donations, and volunteers to donate their time. Upcoming shifts are available through the Gleaners volunteer portal at https://gcfb.volunteerhub.com/vv2. Monetary donations can be made at www.gcfb.org/give-now.

Holiday activities

• Holly Dickens Festival is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays, through 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, www.hollydickensfestival.org.

• Old-Fashioned Christmas is noon-4 p.m. Dec 20, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, Non-members $5 and members free, No registration required, www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms.

• Horse drawn carriage rides and Santa visits are at select times, Saturdays-Sundays, through Dec. 21, and Dec. 24, Shain Park, 270 W. Merrill St., downtown Birmingham, www.allinbirmingham.com.

• Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams takes place at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 through Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak. Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams returns to brighten the holidays for patients in the pediatric unit at Corewell Health Children’s in Royal Oak. The public is invited to gather with friends and neighbors at 8 p.m. sharp for 10 minutes to shine beams of light toward the pediatric unit windows at Corewell Health Children’s to show support for children and their families. In return, patients will use flashlights to send back their own festive glow.

• The Village of Rochester Hills shopping center is hosting “Trees For A Cause” featuring 10 decorated Christmas trees, each created by a local nonprofit organization. Visitors can view the decorated trees and then cast an in-person vote inside the Village Art Gallery for their favorite through Dec. 31. The gallery is located between Chico’s and Williams Sonoma at the Village of Rochester Hills at 104 N Adams Road, Rochester Hills. The nonprofit receiving the most votes will be awarded a $5,000 donation, courtesy of The Village of Rochester Hills.

• Holiday House Tours and All Aboard! Model Railroad Exhibit takes place noon-4 p.m. 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 is on 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.

• Glenlore Trails-Aurora Interactive Holiday Night Walk is Thursday to Sunday evenings, Dec. 4-Dec. 28, at 3860 Newtown Road, Commerce Twp., one-mile walk through experience in wooded setting, ticket prices vary, purchase online at www.GlenloreTrails.com.

• Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo takes place 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.

• Royal Oak Holidays features themed weekends of festive activities Nov. 21-Dec. 21, including visits with Santa and skating at The Rink at Royal Oak at Centennial Commons in downtown Royal Oak. The rink is also a collection site for The Bottomless Toy Chest, www.royaloakholidays.com.

• Innovation Hills Holiday Lights Display is offered 5-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday until Jan. 11. Holiday lights along walking paths at Innovation Hills Park, 2800 W. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills. Parking in the main parking lot is $1.50/hour, payable through ParkMobile (app, QR code, text, or call) or purchase an Annual Pass, www.rochesterhills.org/departments/parks_and_natural_resources/trailsandparks/innovationhills.php.

• The Big Bright Light Show is 5 p.m.-midnight Nov. 24-Jan. 18, with buildings illuminated with holiday lights, downtown Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com.

Parks/Outdoor activities

• The “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport program app is $30, and allows 4th and 5th-grade students to ski for free, up to three times through the season, at more than 25 participating Michigan ski areas, when accompanied by a paying adult. Local participating ski areas include Mt. Holly Ski Area in Holly and Mt. Brighton in Brighton. The cost of the app (to download on a cell phone) is $30 per child, which covers operational expenses, all lift tickets are donated by the ski areas. Register at the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association website, www.goskimichigan.com.

• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply. Annual vehicle passes are $40 for residents or $45 for non-residents. Senior citizen pricing on annual passes are available in-person at toll booths or park offices with ID as proof of age.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Solstice events

• City of Auburn Hills Winter Solstice Lantern Walk: Dec. 19, Hawk Woods Park and Campground,  3799 Bald Mountain Rd, Auburn Hills, family event to check out the night sky with a local astronomy group, create a winter craft by a campfire, and walk an illuminated woodland trail, www.facebook.com/CityofAuburnHills, (248) 370-9353.

• Cranbrook Winter Solstice is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 20, Cranbrook Art Museum and Cranbrook Institute of Science, https://cranbrookartmuseum.org/events/winter-solstice, $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Scandinavian-inspired artmaking, from Winter (Monster) Wonderland puppet shows in deSalle Auditorium and greeting card crafting in the Art Lab, alongside performances by the musical ensemble Swedish Folk.

• The Winter Solstice Forest Therapy Walk is 1-2:30 p.m. Dec. 21, at Lyon Oaks County Park, $20/person. Preregistration is required at OaklandCountyParks.com, 248-858-0916.

Support resources

• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.

• Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.

Submit community events online at https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.