Lights, Skating, Dining, Christmas Market, and Virtual Events…Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas Activities you can do this year while also social distancing!
Everyone has different comfort levels (and budgets), so my goal was to come up with activities and ideas for everyone 🙂
I hope you find something for you and your family and friends on this list!
Christmas Light Options
Drive Through Light Show at DTE – Magic of Lights
Runs until Jan 2nd, 2021
Sun-Thurs: 5-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5-11pm (*You must buy advance tickets for Fridays & Saturdays)
(The lines are shorter on weekdays.)
Buy your tickets online to save!
Weekday Advance (Standard Vehicle): $25 ($30 at the gate and $35 at the gate on Sunday)
Any Day Advance (Standard Vehicle): $30 ($30 at the gate and $35 at the gate on Sunday)
Weekday Advance Limo & Party Bus: $45 ($60 at the gate)
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Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens – Winter Wonder Lights – Was current at the time of publishing, but Meadow Brook has unfortunately decided to cancel the event (Updated 12/10/20)
“Light, music, and magic!”
Dates: Dec 11-30, 2020
Duration: ~1.5 hours
Parking: Free + Shuttle Service is available
Accessible to strollers, wheelchairs, and power scooters.
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.
You can enjoy the live organ playing Christmas carols too!
There will also be selfie stations, bonfires, and more!
View this post on Instagram
Runs through Jan 3, 2021
Buy your tickets online. Prices range from $15-$20. Walk up tickets will not be sold. $8 for parking.
Per the website: “Five million LED lights illuminating trees, buildings and over 280 sculptures throughout the front half of the Zoo. Experience the magic of the Detroit Zoo in winter as you take in the lights, sights and sounds of the season for guests of all ages. Children younger than 2 are admitted free.”
Also per the website: “New this year, a portion of tickets have been reserved exclusively for Detroit Zoological Society Members. Space is limited. The best way to guarantee your Wild Lights experience is to purchase your advance tickets today.”
Days and Hours: Select weeknights & Sundays from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5:00 – 10:30 p.m.
There are still tickets available for Jan 3. It sounds like you need to keep checking back because they open up groups of tickets for sale periodically (from what I can gather).
Downtown Rochester
Create your own stroll through Downtown Rochester! All of the business are lit up (per usual), and you can do a little shopping and grab a bite to eat at one of the heated patios or tents available at Chomp or Park 600 (see my post on Heated Patio Dining for all the details).
There will be a Santa Stroll on Sunday, 12/13 from 4-8pm!
View this post on Instagram
Jefferson Avenue Lights
Start out at Blossom Heath Park. They have a food truck and hot chocolate stand outside. Stroll at your leisure up and down the Avenue enjoying the lights. 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!
Runs every night Dec 4-31, 5:30-10:30pm.
This family has gone ALL OUT like you probably have never seen before.
They have been doing this for 39 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!
I tried pulling some photos from Instagram to embed, but photos do not do this place justice!
I just found out at about this today (12/10/20). The map of the drive through Almont should be posted soon, and I will post it here after that. Stay tuned for more details on this one! (Please click the link to the FB event for more details.)
Take a PRIVATE Christmas Light tour with Dream Limousines on a party bus or regular limo! (You won’t have to worry about who is driving, and everyone can get a little boozy if you choose!) I know a lot is cancelled this year, but there are still ways to make it special.
Make it a Bar Hopping Cocktail To Go Party with this list HERE
Create Your Own Light Tour For Free (map)
This map of lights was posted on Facebook! I am not sure who the original creator is, but thank you for sharing it with us!
Bicentennial Park of Grand Blanc – Free Drive Through Light Display!
Weekend of 12/11-12/12 & 12/18-12/19
“Thousands of lights, sweeping lighted arches, and animated displays…”
Hot chocolate and cookies!
Traffic enters through Reid Road.
Please bring an unwrapped new toy or 5 non-perishable food items to be donated.
View this post on Instagram
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!
Dates & Times:
Fri-Sun: 12/11-12/13, 5:30-9:10pm
Fri-Sat: 12/18-12/19, 5:30-9:10pm
Holiday music, hot chocolate, and a take home craft!
Age 2 & under are free!
Resident Fee: $10/person
Non-resident: $12/person
Join in on a Holiday Car Lights Parade!
Sterling Heights: 12/19 @ 6:30pm
Dining Options
There are 33 locations around Metro Detroit for igloo dining, and the list is growing!
Please click the link above to see the restaurants offering igloo dining and the specifics! There are links to reserve online, phone numbers, and food and beverage minimum information. There are over 30 options on the list! (Bookmark it! I update with new options regularly.)
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Not feeling so comfortable with an igloo? Well there are plenty of patio and tent options around town (many with no reservations required and no food and beverage minimums)! Check out a detailed list of over 30 options HERE! (Bookmark it because the list is constantly updating!)
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Carry Out
Please don’t forget to support our local businesses (especially our small family owned restaurants) during this shutdown. If you are not able to support financially, you can like and share their posts so that their potential customers can find them!
Honorable Mention: Honchos in Clarkston has a walk up window where you can get a tasty warm drink!
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Ice Skating
Ice Skating at Blake’s Orchard Square (Armada Location) – Brand New Skating Rink!
Blakes is the GOAT right now! They have truly transformed into a Winter Wonderland with their new skating rink, heated tent, and igloo dining!!!!! (Did I mention that they have 30 rotating taps featuring their beer and hard cider?)
The rink opens Thursday, Dec. 10 and runs through March 28th, 2021
Hours:
Thurs-Fri: 1pm-7pm
Sat-Sun: 11am-7pm
Phone 586.784.5343
Tickets must be purchased online (for a 50 minute skating pass): $10/person (please arrive at least 15 minutes early). No refunds.
Skate rental is $5/person. If you need to rent skates, make sure you are there 20 minutes early. (You can bring your own skates too!)
View this post on Instagram
Campus Martius Tree & Skating (Detroit)
Skating at the rink was paused, but it is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, Dec 9! (As far as I can tell, this is still happening.)
Adult Admission is $11 (including tax)
Child Admission is $9 (including tax)
Military/First Responder Admission is $8 (including tax)
Senior Admission is $9 (including tax)
It is $5 to rent skates no matter what.
Per the website:
Dec 9-Jan 3
Mon-Thurs: 11am-11pm
Fri: 11am-Midnight
Sat: 10am-Midnight
Sun: Noon-10pm
New Year’s Eve: 11am-Midnight
Jan 4-March 7
Mon-Thurs: 11am-6pm
Wed-Thurs: 11am-9pm
Fri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 10am-11pm
Sun: Noon-8pm
View this post on Instagram
Capitol Park Christmas Trees (Capitol Park, Detroit)
There is no skating here, but stop by on your way to Campus Martius.
Grab a breakfast sandwich at Iggy’s Eggies, and walk around soaking up the Christmas spirit!
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Detroit Riverfront (Valade Park)
FREE Christmas Activities! Starts tonight! (12/11/20)
Over-sized outdoor fireplaces, hot drinks, marshmallow roasters, the Sled Shed (free rentals – now we just need snow), synthetic ice curling, and more!
Food take out options:
Geisha Girls Sushi
Smokey G’s Smokehouse
Both open Wed-Sun from 12pm-8pm.
S’more’s Kits for $6!
Free parking available across from the event in a gravel lot (corner of Atwater and Chene).
Weekend Themes:
Dec 11-13: Carolers & Holiday Lights
Jan 15-17: Live Music and Fire & Ice Tower
Jan 29-31: Ice Carving Festival
Feb 12-24: Carriage Rides & Valentines
Event Hours:
Fri: 5-9pm
Sat: 12-9pm
Sun: 12-7pm
View this post on Instagram
Outdoor Christmas Markets/Shopping
Sip N Shop – Curbside & In Person
Sherwood Brewing Co. (Shelby)
Thurs. Dec 10 & Thurs. Dec 17
6pm-9pm
The details according to the events page:
www.sherwoodbrewing.com
Mind Your Inner G
Little Red Knits
The Bakehouse
Honeycomb Naturals
Pink Paper Studios
Monarch Made Jewelry
S & M Candle Co.
The Bakehouse
S & M Candle Co.
Little Red Knits
Honeycomb Naturals
Monarch Made Jewelry
Mind Your Inner G
St. Clair Christmas Market (St. Clair County)
Where: St. Clair Riverview Plaza
When: Fri. Dec 11, 5pm-10pm EST
The details from the event page:
*Ancho Point Bistro – Sausages with fixings & a spiked hot chocolate
*The Craft Loft – handmade crafts & home goods
Fun photo-op displays!
Where: St. Clair Shores Farmer’s Market
When: Sunday, Dec 13, 11am-4pm
The only details I could find: Crafts, Vendors, DJ, Hot Cocoa in our Winter Wonderland.
Holiday Stroll 2020 – Canterbury Village
Michigan Made Festival – Canterbury Village
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Pictures with Santa at the end of the stroll!
$9.99/person
$5 parking
Fri-Sat: 6pm-10pm
Sun: 6pm-9pm
Here are some of the details from the page. Please see the event for full details.
• Elves
• Tunnels of lights
• Holiday Carols around the 43’ Christmas Tree
• Drop your letter into Santa’s large express mail box
• 2 story nutcrackers
• Sing & dance with Frosty and dozens of his friends
• See Jack Skellington, Sally, & friends
• Buddy The Elf
• Grab a hot cocoa or cider at our Main Street hut
• Ralphie
• The Grinch
• Holiday Shopping
• Charlie Brown & Snoopy
• Pavilion with a 7 min amazing light show.
• Fire in the night. Watch the magic of fire twirling …..
• 3 story Santa
• Visit Santa’s Workshop
• 2 story Snowmen
• Dancing Gingerbreads
• Over 50 Xmas trees & giant ornaments in our Winter Wonderland guiding you to see Jack Frost, Elsa & Anna
• Olaf will be hanging out by the Winter Wonderland
• Pictures with Santa *(social distancing rules applied)
Join in for some smores, hot chocolate and favorite classics carols in The Children’s Caroling Corner, sponsored by Genisys Credit Union, on the C Pub patio.
Merry Midtown (Midtown, Detroit)
Where: Midtown, Detroit
When: Sat. Dec 19, 12pm-4pm
From the event page:
There are so many Christmas Markets and Craft Shows going on that I cannot possibly list them all! Check out the Events section from your Facebook profile for more.
If Leaving the House is Not For You
Cooking with Cocktails (Your kitchen)
Cooking classes that you can take from home (on Zoom) for a fraction of the price! (Many of the classes are with our own local chefs too!)
This is a great activity to do with family and friends who live far and/or the ones you may not be seeing this holiday season.
Why sit and stare at each other on a borrowing call, when you can be laughing, and drinking, and cooking?
Some upcoming classes: (Make sure you use my code PARTY 20 for 20% off!)
Sunday, December 13th, 2020
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Gather a few friends and family, even the kids and learn to make a delicious gingerbread that can be shared around the holidays. For the adults, you will also learn to make a great eggnog.
Saturday, December 12th, 2020
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
In this class you will learn how to decipher the formula that gives structure to the classic cocktail. You will learn to interpret how ingredients are related in cocktails in general, how to execute cocktails with perfect balance, detect their critical ingredients, and how to use all this to create your own signature cocktails. All wile sipping on a few drinks in the comfort of our own home. Great for a date night, happy hour with colleagues, or just a fun night in!
Saturday, December 12th, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
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A Sampling of Other Virtual Events
2020 Virtual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train/CP Holiday Train at Home!
Sat. December 12, 8pm EST
Virtual Guided Tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Fri. Dec 18, 7pm EST
Christ Church Cranbrook Christmas Jazz
Fri. Dec 18, 7pm EST
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Live Stream Watch Party
Fri. Dec 18, 8pm EST
Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and supporting these local establishments at this time! (Share, share, share please!)
I hope you found something within your comfort zone and price range that you can do with family and friends (or on your own too)!
Don’t forget to sign up for emails when new posts and events go live!
Chef LaSalle will be teaching us to make his delicious Alfredo Mac and Cheese paired with a Sauvignon Blanc.