*Updated for 2022* The best Christmas light displays around town will help get you into the Christmas spirit this season!
If you’re interested in Tree Lighting Ceremonies, check out this post too.
Wayne County Lightfest (Westland)
Starts on 11/17 & Runs Every Wed-Sun through 12/24/22
6pm – 10pm
Cars: $5 cash
Commercial Van/RV/Limo: $20 cash
Mini-Bus: $25 cash
Bus: $50 cash
There will be two food truck and a mailbox for Santa Letters.
A Ford House Christmas (Ford Estate – SCS)
Dates: Nov 18, 2022 – Dec 30, 2022 (Thursdays – Sundays…please click here to see various dates)
Travel back in time and spend the holiday season with the Ford family. Enjoy a lighted shuttle ride to the house for a holiday tour of the historic home. Continue the festivities in the Visitor Center where you will partake in holiday crafts and entertainment. A concession stand will be available as well.
Admission: $18 for adult members, $20 for adult non-members and $9 for children, $12 for children non-members.
Times: 5:30p – 8:30p (Entries every 1/2 hour).
Other Fun Events This Season:
Glenlore Trails (Commerce Twp)
Starting Nov 17, 2022 (Thursdays – Sundays)
Immersive Night Walk
Great for families, dates, friend groups, etc.
General Admission: $15-$25
Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll (Lake Orion)
Nov 23, 25-27
Dec 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 22-23
Frosty, Buddy the Elf, the Grinch, Olaf, & more will be there too!
C-Pub will have beer, wine, hard ciders, cocktails, etc. w/firepits.
Santa Claus will be there (of course), photo ops, & bring your letters straight to Santa’s personal mailbox!
Tickets are $15. Children under 2 are Free. Onsite parking is $5.
Drive Through Light Show at DTE – Magic of Lights
Nov 18, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
Sun-Thurs: 5:30-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5:30-11pm
(The lines are shorter on weekdays.)
Ticket prices are higher when purchased on the event date.
Online Ticket Prices Range from $20-$30 depending on date and other factors.
View this post on Instagram
Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens – Winter Wonder Lights
Nov 25, 2022 – Dec 30, 2021
“Light, music, and magic!”
Indoor Sites with Outdoor Lights!
Holiday Walk by Day (Indoors/Day Event) and Winter Wonder Lights by Night (Outdoors/Night Event)
Two separate events. Separate tickets and prices for each.
*Tickets must be purchased online in advance*
Duration: ~1.5 hours
Parking: Free + Shuttle Service is available
Tickets are on sale now – you must purchase in advance online. Tickets are booked for a specific date and time to limit the capacity.
Self-guided outdoor event.
Concessions available such as popcorn, glow-in-the dark cotton candy, hot meals, seasonal and specialty drinks, cocktails, kid-friendly drinks, etc.
View this post on Instagram
Nov 20, 2021 – Jan 9, 2022
Select Weeknights
Sundays: 5-9pm
Fri & Sat: 5-10:30pm
Buy your tickets online.
General Admission Prices Start at $17
Parking is $8
There will be a limited number of Walk-Up Tickets available.
New this year is a Wild Life Lodge that will include holiday décor for you to enjoy, live entertainment, bar service, s’mores, and more!
Big Bright Light Show (Downtown Rochester)
Nov 21, 2022 – Jan 21, 2023
Every Evening from 5pm-Midnight
Most stores are open Monday-Saturday until 9pm
View this post on Instagram
This one is indoors and it includes 200 trees!
You get a 2 hour window to do your own self-guided tour.
Three levels (it’s a private residence).
Unfortunately it is not handicap accessible at this time.
No walkers or strollers. No food. No pets.
Ticket Pricing: $25/adult & $20/child
You can add a meal at Foxfire Fixin’s in Marine City too!
From their site:
Fantasyland is a magical place filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the Christmas season. Open every year since 1964, we continue the tradition so many families look forward to each year.
See what it’s like up at the North Pole, where Santa’s elves are busy building, repairing, polishing, baking, tending reindeer, and all of the other chores that go into making Christmas happen.
You’ll hear carols being sung by our Fantasyland School childrens’ choir, and the figures in the Shadow Boxes The aromas of peppermint, cookies and chocolate hang in the air. Be sure to see the trains upstairs in the Lincoln Park Train Club. Make your visit with us even more special by taking a few moments to chat with Santa himself!
Hours:
Mondays & Tuesdays: Closed
Wed – Fri: 4 pm – 8 pm
Sat – Sun: 2 pm – 8 pm
Christmas Eve: 10 am – 2 pm
Nite Lights – Michigan International Speedway (Brooklyn)
Nov. 24 thru Dec. 31, 2022
Open everyday – Including holidays
Hours:
Sun – Thurs; 5:30 – 9PM
Fri – Sat; 5:30 – 10PM
Prices:
$30 per car/vehicle (Sun – Thurs)
$35 per car/vehicle (Fri & Sat)
$45 per limo/motorhome/mini bus
$100 per tour bus
This one has a NiteLights Express Train that you can purchase tickets to ride too!
Trolley in the D (Leaves from Troy)
21+ Event
This is a BYOB Christmas Light Trolley Tour that visits some of Detroit’s “most extravagant light attractions”!
3 Different Trolleys or Buses to choose from
3 Different Routes as well! Tickets include admission into some of the following great attractions (see site for full details):
Detroit Zoo Wild Lights
Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll
Rochester Big Bright Light Show
Campus Martius
Holiday Lights @ Greenfield Village (Dearborn)
You need to be ready to pounce on these tickets as soon as they become available because they sell out FAST!
Unfortunately, they are sold out for 2022, but keep this one at the top of your list for 2023 if you’re interested!
Hollydazzle @ MI Renaissance Festival (Holly)
Free Parking!
Runs from Nov 25-Dec 31
Ticket Info:
Adults (13+): $21.95
Kids (5 – 12): $7.95
Elf Bundle (1 child & 1 adult): $21.95
Most vendor booths accept credit/debit cards. Festival does not accept personal checks or foreign currency in any locations.
Immersive Nutcracker @ Detroit’s Lighthouse ArtSpace (Detroit)
The Family Pack Basic Price (for 4 people) starts at $26.99!
These are the same people who brought you the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit!
Campus Martius (Detroit)
I have talked about this one so much already this year (in the Christmas Tree Lighting Post), but I figured I should mention it again!
It’s a nice FREE way to enjoy some lights!
You can also browse the Cadillac Square Markets and warm up in the Lodge!
Blossom Heath Park Tunnel of Lights & Jefferson Avenue Lights (SCS)
Head to Blossom Heath Park. They have food trucks and a hot chocolate stand outside. There are a few heated patios and tents open in St. Clair Shores as well! (Check out this post!) The lights here are a little more modest compared to maybe Rochester, but this sounds like a perfect evening stroll to me.
Nicol’s Christmas Light Extravaganza (Sanilac)
This one is a little bit out of the way, BUT definitely worth a mention!
No details have been posted yet for 2022, but the details from last season are still below. I am sure they will be similar this year!
Runs every night starting early December through the end of the month, 5:30-10:30pm.
This family has gone ALL OUT like you probably have never seen before.
They have been doing this for 41 years. It looks like the show is all coordinated to a Christmas playlist of 21 songs.
Please check out their Facebook page (linked above) for more details!
Should be happening again this year! I will keep an eye out for details. The Facebook group is linked above.
Holiday Walking Night Presented by Genisys Credit Union (Bicentennial Park, Grand Blanc)
December 16, 2022 at 5:30-8pm (Free)
Dec 20 & 22 is $20 per car 6-8pm
Walk takes approximately 25 mins.
It is wheelchair accessible.
“Thousands of lights, sweeping lighted arches, and animated displays…”
Walk the trail with friends & family!
Trail of Lights – Horse Drawn Wagon Rides (Davison)
It’s a bit of a drive (unless you already live father north), but it looks like a lot of fun!
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides: Dec 9 & 11 (Resident Fee: $12/person, Non-resident: $15/person)
Walking Nights: Dec 10, 16-18, 22-23 (Resident Fee: $3/person, Non-resident: $4/person)
Dogs allowed on Walking Nights Only
Holiday music, hot chocolate, and a take home craft!
Age 2 & under are free!
