Winter

Best Detroit and Metro Detroit Christmas Events 2022

Looking for the best Detroit Christmas events and some in metro Detroit, too?

You’re in the right spot! It’s the holiday season, and as a lifelong resident of metro Detroit married to a dedicated Detroiter, I’ve spent a lot of time celebrating and finding holiday magic in Detroit!

Whether you’re looking for some great ideas for holiday shopping, a Christmas parade, or other holiday events in Detroit MI and the surrounding area, I’ve put together a list sure to help you find a fun holiday event or activity.
From South Lyon to Grosse Pointe, from Rochester Hills to Ann Arbor, there are fun holiday events happening all season long.

It’s one of the most popular kid-friendly holiday events in Michigan: a special ride on a Christmas train to ring in the holidays. Maybe you’ve seen The Polar Express movie, the story of a young boy beckoned on Christmas Eve to ride a secret express train to the north pole? Based on a book by Grand Rapids native Chris Van Allsburg, the story of a polar express train that has captivated both children and adults is more than make-believe. It’s true: the steam engine featured in the book is real, and you can take a ride on this North Pole Express and other steam locomotives in Michigan to visit with Santa Claus this holiday season .If you haven’t seen the Polar Express yet, why not experience it first hand with these four Christmas train rides in Michigan and make it part of your holiday tradition? So, get in your best holiday garb, strap on your Santa hats, and book your ticket now for the ride of your life.

If you’re looking for a unique trip idea or spots for romantic getaways, you’ll want to put Beaver Island Michigan on your Michigan travel bucket list.

It’s that time of year again when we pull on our hats, parkas, and warm mittens and head out in the early evening to celebrate the season alongside millions of twinkling holiday lights and some Michigan wildlife at the Detroit Zoo in Michigan’s Oakland county.

Gone are the seasonal events of autumn; the farmers markets are empty and the cider mills are closed. Winter is here and along with it has come the cold weather and early nightfalls that leave us missing the summer sun.

Looking for a fun holiday event or something fun to do to celebrate Christmas in West Michigan? Read on for a list of some of the best ways to celebrate the season!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Michigan: the winter holidays. The whole state is alive with silver bells, holiday music, Christmas carols, Christmas decor, and other winter wonders.

Live reindeer farms in Michigan offer the best holiday experience for anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa’s beloved animals. For some pure Michigan farm fun during the holidays, grab a thermos of hot cocoa and a candy cane and make your way a reindeer barn. 

Spend your day with friends and family as you feed these powerful animals snacks and learn about their interesting backgrounds.

For a family-friendly Christmas celebration, head to the mid-Michigan and the Village of Ashley’s Country Christmas soon. This charming small town, just northeast of Lansing MI, turns into a Christmas village with decorations so festive that you’ll think you’ve landed at the North pole. 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most well-known treasures of Michigan in the warmer months of the year, but many people don’t realize all of the things to do in Sleeping Bear Dunes in the winter. Northern Michigan is a site to see any time of year, but the dunes are a must-do activity for the whole family in the wintertime. There’s no need to stay cooped up inside when you have 65 miles of shoreline and 100 miles of trails stretching from Empire to Glen Arbor to experience. 

Located just 30 minutes from Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes is perfect for a winter romantic getaway,  a kid friendly outdoor adventure or even family reunions  and holiday events. If you’re looking for some perfect winter trip ideas, follow the winter trail to Leelanau County and the snowcovered dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes. I’m sharing a visitors guide to Sleeping Bear Dunes winter activities, so get ready for some pure Michigan fun.  

You don’t have to look far for the best Christmas towns in Michigan, especially during the holiday season. The entire state is practically a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life, especially once the Christmas lights go up and that first snow sticks to the ground.

All around the state, communities large and small celebrate the season in their own unique and charming ways, from one-of-a-kind train rides, to year-round Christmas cheer, and everything in between. With twinkling Christmas light displays, Christmas markets and holiday cheer all around, these Christmas towns in Michigan become a Christmas wonderland.