Detroit tree lighting 2026: a 70-foot Michigan spruce comes to Campus Martius, and Olympians Chock and Bates skate at the Nov. 20 lighting

DETROIT — Detroit’s Christmas tree was scheduled to arrive at Campus Martius Park on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 16 days before the free 23rd annual Detroit Tree Lighting on Friday, Nov. 20.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership set the arrival for 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and for the first time it invited the public to watch the tree lifted into place during a program on Woodward Avenue near Monroe Street, with the Detroit School of Arts Marching Band and free Carhartt beanies while supplies lasted, according to the partnership.

The tree and the lighting

This year’s tree is a 70-foot, Michigan-grown Norway spruce that will carry 25,000 LED lights, the partnership says. It will light up after a countdown with Santa during the celebration, which runs from 4 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 20. The DTE Foundation presents the event, and admission is free. More than 1 million lights are planned across downtown.

WDIV Local 4 will air a two-hour live special starting at 7 p.m. for anyone watching from home.

Who is performing

Soulidified, the pop and R&B vocal group formed on Netflix’s “Building the Band,” where it finished third, headlines the MGM Grand Detroit Stage. Nashville country-pop trio Just Jayne opens the show, and the Urban Art Orchestra, led by saxophonist De’Sean Jones, is the featured band.

The lineup also includes the Motown Museum’s Hitsville NEXT Revue, a number from “The Great Gatsby,” which plays the Fisher Theatre Nov. 17-29, a preview of Detroit Public Theatre’s “Holiday Cabaret,” singers from Detroit Opera, a Grinch singalong from 313 Presents, Chiara Clayton and the Rackham Choir.

On the ice, the partnership says, the skating show is headlined by Madison Chock and Evan Bates, whom it calls the most decorated American ice dance team in history. Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club pairs skaters Elijah Wilkins and Charlie Roost also perform, and Olympic ice dance champion Meryl Davis introduces Figure Skating in Detroit. Skaters from nine other area clubs and troupes round out the show.

Food, parking and what to leave home

Food trucks will line Monroe Street from 1 to 9 p.m., including Andiamo, Busta Dogs, Los Dos Amigo Tacos, Food Fun Express, Gambino Catering, Impasto, Little Bite Big Taste, Smoke Ring and Wing Snob. Bars will serve spiked hot cocoa, craft beer and canned cocktails, and the Cadillac Lodge next to the Downtown Detroit Markets is open through Jan. 3, 2027.

Organizers ask visitors to bring new, warm gloves for Mittens for Detroit; volunteers will collect them at the entrances. For getting there, they point to DDOT and SMART buses, the People Mover and the QLINE, plus ParkWhiz for parking.

The prohibited list is long. Leave backpacks and hard-sided bags, pets, chairs, outside food and drinks, drones, selfie sticks, tripods and cameras with detachable lenses at home, along with weapons, fireworks and marijuana.

The Rink’s opening weekend

The Rink at Campus Martius Park follows with an Ugly Holiday Sweater Skate Party from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, with prizes for the best sweater, and a Santa Skate Party from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Admission to each is $14 for ages 13 to 58 and $10 for children 12 and under, seniors 59 and older and active military and first responders with ID. Skate rental is $5.

A family of four with two young children would pay $48 for admission at either party, or $68 if everyone rents skates, by our math.

Sources:
Downtown Detroit Partnership, “23rd Annual Detroit Tree Lighting” (Nov. 20, 4-9 p.m.; tree, performers, skaters, food trucks, Mittens for Detroit, transit, prohibited items, WDIV special), https://downtowndetroit.org/event/23rd-annual-detroit-tree-lighting/
Downtown Detroit Partnership, “Detroit’s Christmas Tree Arrival delivered by Amazon” (Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Woodward near Monroe), https://downtowndetroit.org/event/detroits-christmas-tree-arrival-presented-by-amazon/
Downtown Detroit Partnership, “Ugly Holiday Sweater Skate Party” (Nov. 21; admission and rental prices), https://downtowndetroit.org/event/ugly-holiday-sweater-skate-party-presented-by-michigan-lottery-3/
Downtown Detroit Partnership, “Santa Skate Party” (Nov. 22; admission and rental prices), https://downtowndetroit.org/event/santa-skate-party-presented-by-bank-of-america/
Photo: Michael Barera, “Detroit December 2018 04 (Campus Martius Park).jpg,” Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), cropped and resized, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Detroit_December_2018_04_(Campus_Martius_Park).jpg

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Tags: Detroit Tree Lighting · Campus Martius Park · Downtown Detroit Partnership · Christmas · The Rink at Campus Martius · Things to do in Detroit

Guide: Michigan holiday events 2026: tree lightings, parades and light shows by city