Guides · Michigan · Holidays 2026
Michigan Holiday Events 2026: Tree Lightings, Parades and Light Shows by City
Detroit’s tree lighting, Silver Bells in Lansing, the Grand Rapids Santa Parade, Wild Lights and Holland’s windmill light show, with dates checked against each organizer’s page.
Michigan’s holiday season starts a week before Thanksgiving this year. Three of the biggest nights land on Friday, Nov. 20: the Detroit Tree Lighting at Campus Martius, Silver Bells in the City in Lansing and the downtown tree lighting in Traverse City. Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo hold their parades the next day. This guide lists the dated events we could confirm on organizers’ own pages, city by city, with a link to each source. Times are Eastern.
Jump to a city: Detroit · Royal Oak · Dearborn · Ann Arbor · Lansing · Grand Rapids · Holland · Kalamazoo · Saginaw and Frankenmuth · Mount Pleasant · Traverse City · Petoskey · Grand Haven (Tri-Cities)
Detroit
Detroit Tree Lighting
When: Friday, Nov. 20, 4 to 9 p.m.. Where: Campus Martius Park. Cost: Free.
A 70-foot Michigan-grown Norway spruce with 25,000 LED lights is lit after a countdown with Santa. Olympic ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates headline the skating show, food trucks line Monroe Street from 1 p.m., and WDIV airs a live special at 7 p.m. Source: Downtown Detroit Partnership. Our story: details and what to know.
Noel Night
When: Saturday, Dec. 5: daytime 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., evening 5 to 9 p.m.. Where: Midtown and the Cultural Center. Cost: Free.
Midtown’s holiday open house returns after a year off, with shops, museums, churches and galleries taking part. A new New Center Holiday Market follows at the Fisher Building on Saturday, Dec. 12. Source: Midtown Detroit Inc.. Our story: details and what to know.
More Detroit news and things to do
Royal Oak
Lighting of the Park
When: Friday, Nov. 20, 4 to 9 p.m.. Where: Centennial Commons, downtown. Cost: Free.
Skating at The Rink, Santa visits, food trucks and live music, with the ceremony on the Royal Oak Public Library steps. Check the city’s calendar for the exact ceremony time. Source: City of Royal Oak. Our story: details and what to know.
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo
When: Nov. 21, 22 and 27-29; Dec. 4-6, 10-23 and 26-31; Jan. 2-3. Gates open 5 p.m.. Where: Detroit Zoo. Cost: $17 to $25 online, $27 at the gate; parking $8.
More than 500 animal- and nature-themed light displays, with the eastern Erb Discovery Trails lit for the first time. Friday and Saturday nights run to 10:30 p.m., other nights to 9 p.m. Closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1. Source: Detroit Zoo. Our story: details and what to know.
More Royal Oak news and things to do
Dearborn
Dearborn Wanderlights and Christmas tree lighting
When: Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 to 8 p.m.; displays through Jan. 3. Where: PEACE Park West, 22271 W. Village Drive. Cost: Free.
The city’s 32-foot tree lights up with Santa’s first visit of the season, then runs an hourly light show. The Downtown Dearborn Jingle Bell Bash follows Saturday, Dec. 12, noon to 5 p.m. Source: City of Dearborn. Our story: details and what to know.
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
When: Dec. 3-6, 10-13, 17-23 and 26-28, 6:30 to 10 p.m.. Where: Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford. Cost: Ticketed; parking $10.
Carolers, skating, Model T and wagon rides and a fireworks finale each night. The Henry Ford said Dec. 5, 12 and 19 general admission was sold out as of Nov. 9; other nights were still on sale. Source: The Henry Ford. Our story: details and what to know.
More Dearborn news and things to do
Ann Arbor
Midnight Madness and KindleFest
When: Friday, Dec. 4: Midnight Madness 5 p.m. to midnight; KindleFest 5 to 10 p.m.. Where: Downtown (Main Street, State Street, Kerrytown); KindleFest at Kerrytown Market & Shops. Cost: Free.
Downtown shops stay open late with specials, Santa and live music, while Kerrytown’s outdoor KindleFest market has artisan vendors, food and fire pits. Store hours vary. Source: Main Street Ann Arbor; Destination Ann Arbor.
More Ann Arbor news and things to do
Lansing
Silver Bells in the City
When: Friday, Nov. 20: village 5 to 9 p.m.; parade 6 p.m.; tree lighting about 7:30 p.m.. Where: Downtown Lansing and the state Capitol. Cost: Free.
The Silver Bells Lighted Parade (more than 70 entries) is followed by the lighting of Michigan’s official Christmas tree, a 60-foot Iron Mountain spruce, then a drone show and fireworks over the Capitol. Rain or shine. Source: Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau. Our story: details and what to know.
More Lansing news and things to do
Grand Rapids
Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade and tree lighting
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 5 p.m.; tree lighting about 6:45 p.m.. Where: Downtown, ending at Rosa Parks Circle. Cost: Free.
An evening parade with floats, giant balloons and marching bands. Santa arrives at Rosa Parks Circle around 6:30 p.m. for the City of Grand Rapids tree lighting. Source: Grand Rapids Santa Parade.
More Grand Rapids news and things to do
Holland
Downtown Holland Holiday Open House and Kerstmarkt
When: Shop ’Til You Drop Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m.; Holiday Open House Nov. 21, 5-8 p.m.; Kerstmarkt Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 20. Where: Downtown Holland, Eighth Street. Cost: Free.
More than 50 shops open late with Santa, carolers and roasted chestnuts on Nov. 21, and the Dutch-style Kerstmarkt runs Nov. 20-21, Nov. 27-28, Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18. Source: Holland Area Visitors Bureau; Downtown Holland. Our story: details and what to know.
Dutch Winterfest and the Parade of Lights
When: Dec. 1-5; Parade of Lights Tuesday, Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m.. Where: Downtown Holland and the Holland Ice Park. Cost: Most events free; some ticketed.
Tulip Time’s winter festival adds Dutch Skate on the ice, the Sinterklaas Shuffle and a tasting tour. Source: Tulip Time Festival. Our story: details and what to know.
Magic at the Mill light show
When: Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19, 5 to 9 p.m.. Where: Windmill Island Gardens, 1 Lincoln Ave.. Cost: Ticketed, online only (about $10 adults, $5 ages 3-15, plus fees).
1,000 LED tulips dance to holiday music around the lit De Zwaan windmill. Hourlong entry slots; nights have sold out in past years. Source: Windmill Island Gardens. Our story: details and what to know.
More Holland news and things to do
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Holiday Parade
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m.. Where: Downtown: Lovell, Park, Michigan Avenue and Pitcher. Cost: Free.
Giant balloons, high school marching bands and floats, with Santa at the end. Roads close at 10:30 a.m.; Public Media Network streams it live. Source: Downtown Kalamazoo; City of Kalamazoo.
More Kalamazoo news and things to do
Saginaw and Frankenmuth
Merry & Bright Heritage Christmas Market
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Where: Kern Pavilion, 599 Weiss St., Frankenmuth. Cost: See organizer.
More than 200 vendors, crafters and food trucks, with free photos with Santa. Source: Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Frankenmuth Christmas Experience kickoff
When: Friday, Nov. 27 (day after Thanksgiving). Where: Downtown Frankenmuth. Cost: Free.
The season kickoff brings the tree lighting, public skating, Santa and the musical tree show, which plays several times a day through the season. Source: Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau.
More Saginaw and Frankenmuth news and things to do
Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant Christmas Celebration
When: Saturday, Dec. 5; Lighted Christmas Parade 6 p.m.. Where: Downtown Mount Pleasant. Cost: Free to watch.
A 5K and Breakfast with Santa in the morning, downtown activities from 1 to 4 p.m., then the tree lighting and the lighted parade. The city says route details are still to come. Source: Mt. Pleasant Area CVB. Our story: details and what to know.
More Mount Pleasant news and things to do
Traverse City
Light Up Downtown: tree lighting and Light Parade
When: Tree lighting Friday, Nov. 20, 4 to 6:30 p.m.; Light Parade Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 to 8 p.m.. Where: Downtown Traverse City. Cost: Free.
Santa’s House opens Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas Eve. Late shopping nights follow: Ladies’ Night Dec. 3, Men’s Night Dec. 10 and Wrap It Up Dec. 18, 5 to 9 p.m. Source: Downtown Traverse City Association. Our story: details and what to know.
More Traverse City news and things to do
Petoskey
Downtown Petoskey Holiday Parade and Holiday Open House
When: Parade Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 to 11 a.m.; Holiday Open House Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 9 p.m.. Where: Pennsylvania Park and downtown Petoskey. Cost: Free.
Ladies Opening Night starts the season Nov. 20, 4 to 8 p.m. Streets close for the Dec. 4 open house, with the Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band and live music. Source: Downtown Petoskey. Our story: details and what to know.
More Petoskey news and things to do
Grand Haven (Tri-Cities)
Holiday Light Night
When: Friday, Nov. 20, 5 to 8 p.m.. Where: Washington Avenue, downtown Grand Haven. Cost: Free.
Grand Haven Main Street lights the district and businesses hold open houses. Small Business Saturday follows Nov. 28, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Source: Visit Grand Haven. Our story: details and what to know.
More Grand Haven news and things to do
Before you go
Dates and times here were checked on the organizers’ pages listed with each event on Nov. 10, 2026, or in the earlier stories we link. Weather can cancel outdoor events and sell-outs happen, so check the organizer’s page the day you go. Know of a public holiday event we missed? Email info@themittendaily.com with a link to the organizer’s page.
Also see: Black Friday and Thanksgiving store hours.