Metro Detroit Christmas Activities

metro detroit christmas activities

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)

 

See the FAQs HERE

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

Detroit Zoo – Wild Lights 

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!

 

 

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!

 

 

Deck Out Almont 12/12/20

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.)

 

 

Dream Limousines, Inc.

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

Book Your Limo 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

 

A post shared by Jennifer Wilson (@jenniferwilson1979)

 

 

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!

Clinton Twp: 12/18 @ 6:30pm

Mt. Clemens: 12/19 @ 4:30pm

Sterling Heights: 12/19 @ 6:30pm

 

 

Dining Options

Igloo Dining

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.)

 

Heated Patio & Tent Dining

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!)

 

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!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Honcho (@eat_honcho)

 

 

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

 

A post shared by blakefarms (@blakefarms)

 

 

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.)

 

Purchase Tickets Online

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

 

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!

 

 

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

 

 

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:

SHOP IN PERSON OR PRE-ORDER AND PICK UP CURBSIDE THE DAY OF THE EVENT.
PRE-ORDERS will be handled by individual vendors…comment and contact them for purchases and payment.
IN PERSON: MASKS REQUIRED AND SOCIAL DISTANCING STRONGLY ENFORCED. If the state is still prohibiting dine in services on any of the SnS dates, only the retail part of the brewery will be open and all food and beverages will be available curbside only.
A FREE #shoplocal tote bag to the first 10 shoppers.
Enter to win a $100 VISA gift card. One entry for every purchase made!
Vendors all make their products locally so you can feel good about supporting local this holiday season. Check ’em out at
www.sherwoodbrewing.com
Dec 10
Mind Your Inner G
Little Red Knits
The Bakehouse
Honeycomb Naturals
Pink Paper Studios
Monarch Made Jewelry
S & M Candle Co.
Dec 17
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:

The first ever outdoor, socially distanced, Christmas Market in the beautifully decorated St. Clair Riverview Plaza/Courtyard!
Local Restaurants will be offering walk up food & drink specials, shops will be open, and local vendors and businesses will have handmade specialty items for sale. This event is open to the public, no tickets required.
Here’s what you have to look forward to:
FOOD & DRINK
*Ancho Point Bistro – Sausages with fixings & a spiked hot chocolate
*Black & Bleu BBQ – Serving specialty BBQ items
*Drifter’s – Hot soup & Coffee
*Mannina’s Wine House – Crepe’s and Mulled Wine’s
*War Water Brewery – Pretzel & Cheese Dip with Specialty Craft Beer
VENDORS
*The Craft Loft – handmade crafts & home goods
*Red Barn Vintage Antiques
*Handmade Jewelry by Sheryl Burnham
*Wood Ornaments by Don Raymo
*Earthly Element Pottery
* Specialty Handmade Books by Mike Monroe
*Metal Art by Derek Graham
*Hand Crafter Signs by Doug & Jen
*Visit with our local US Military Recruit teams and thank them for their service!
PLUS:
Fun photo-op displays!

Click here to see the event.

 

 

Christmas Fair & Market

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.

• ~1 million lights on display
• 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)
𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹:
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.
(social distancing rules apply)

 

 

Merry Midtown (Midtown, Detroit)

Where: Midtown, Detroit

When: Sat. Dec 19, 12pm-4pm

From the event page:

Join us for a fun afternoon of festive and socially distant shopping on Canfield and Cass in Midtown, Detroit!
Your favorite Midtown business are coming together with some outdoor cheer, music, refreshments and more to help you get your holiday shopping done locally and safely. Masks are required.
Catch a live masked DJ set from festive holiday DJs Kris and Kringle outside of City Bird.
Warm up with some hot coffee from James Oliver Coffee, popping up on Canfield Street!
Shops Include: Art Loft, Avalon Bakery, Bon Bon Bon, City Bird, Cold Truth, Little High Flyers, Motor City Brewing Works, Nest, Nora, Source Booksellers, Spread Deli, Third Man Records
Please see the event page for more details!

 

 

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!)

29.99

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.

 

$24.99

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!

 

$29.99

Saturday, December 12th, 2020

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

 

 

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!

Metro Detroit Christmas Activities

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