Town of Christmas, Michigan: Michigan’s Year-round Christmas Town
Looking for a place in the United States where you can celebrate the holiday season all year long?
Head to Christmas, Michigan, located on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula, where a 35-foot Santa Claus will greet you and make it official: this IS Christmas town.
With a population of just 400 people, it isn’t very big, but Christmas, MI has enough natural beauty to put you in the holiday spirit all year long. Add this town to your Upper Peninsula travels for holiday cheer any time of the year.
Visit Christmas in Michigan
Just west of Munising and the amazing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Christmas, Michigan is a top Michigan tourist destination.
You can visit this winter wonderland in December and get an authentic Christmas experience, or plan your visit for another time.
Truly a beautiful place to visit any time of the year, Christmas is a popular destination for snowmobiling in the snowy months. It’s also a perfect base for exploring the Pictured Rocks, Au Train, and Grand Island during the summer. In the autumn, the whole area comes alive with fall colors.
Read on to discover more about this unique Christmas town in Michigan, and start making plans to celebrate Christmas any time of the year!
History of Christmas, Michigan
In 1938, a local man started a factory in Christmas, Michigan, for holiday gifts. Although the factory is now gone, the post office with the name “Christmas, Michigan” remains.
Many people send their holiday greeting cards to the post office so that they can get a “Christmas” postage mark on their outgoing mail. You can find directions on how to get the holiday postmark at the bottom of this page.
Christmas, Michigan Attractions and What to See
The Lighthouse at the End of the Road
E10102 M-28, Munising, MI 49862
In addition to the many Santa signs and figures along the roadside, the area is also marked by the Grand Island West Channel Rear Range Light. Also called the Bay Furnace Rear Range Light or the End of the Road Lighthouse, it was built in 1914 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
This picturesque lighthouse is a sight to behold in the evening when the searchlight is shining over the waters of Lake Superior. The historic light once helped steer the ships full of Iron out of the bay to transport it to the lower Great Lakes, and still helps steer ships into the Harbor of Munising in Alger County.
Uncle Ducky Outdoors/Paddlers Village
N7793 Scrooges Alley, Christmas, MI 49862
If you’re a camper and fan of nature, you’re going to love Uncle Ducky’s. Even if you’re not a born camper, you can’t help but enjoy this unique “glamping” spot featuring yurts, cabins, and tents aimed at outdoor enthusiasts of any type.
Uncle Ducky’s is a great destination for a family trip, especially for those families who enjoy the outdoors. Set right on the shores of Lake Superior, Uncle Ducky’s caters to kayakers, canoeists, paddleboarders, hikers, and anyone who loves the outdoors, offering boat rentals and guided tours.
More to Explore in Christmas, Michigan
Bay Furnace Park
E7900 W, M-28, Munising, MI 49862
Bay Furnace Park and Campground are worth visiting because of the amazing Lake Superior views and the history of the town of Onota. The town was built around a stone blast furnace that once produced 3,500 tons of “pig” of crude iron annually. The furnace still remains today despite a massive fire that destroyed the town in 1877.
While the day park is lovely to visit, it’s the remote and private campsites that attract nature lovers to the area throughout the year. Set inside the Hiawatha National Forest, the remote campsites provide a serene spot to unwind surrounded by the natural beauty of the U.P.
Kewadin Casino
N7761 Candy Cane Lane, Christmas, MI 49862
If you’re looking for a Vegas-style casino in Michigan, try out the Kewadin Casino in Christmas. This holiday-themed casino is located on Candy Cane Lane and also features Frosty’s Bar and Grill for those of us who love every Christmas reference we can get.
Foggy’s Steakhouse and Lounge
E7876 W, M-28, Christmas, MI 49862
Family-owned since 1982, this restaurant is a Christmas landmark and must-visit destination if you’re in the area, offering some seriously good food. The burgers are great, but it’s their Lake Superior Whitefish Dinners that bring us back year after year.
Snowmobiling in Christmas and Alger County
Alger County and the Christmas area generally receive about 200 inches of snow per year, making it an excellent spot for snowmobiling. You’ll find miles of snowmobile trails and some stunning views of Lake Superior, too.
Click here for a trail map and updated trail conditions in Alger County.
Where to Stay in Christmas, Michigan
If you’re looking to make your Christmas visit into an overnight adventure, there are a few options from which to choose:
- Yule Log Resort
- White Pine Lodge
- Christmas Paradise Cottage
- J and S Hideaway
- Margo’s Cove
How to Get Your Mail Postmarked “Christmas”
Fill out your holiday cards or letters to Santa, place them in sealed envelopes, and address the envelopes with names and destinations.
Place a postage stamp on each card to be postmarked.
Put ALL of the self-addressed, pre-stamped cards inside of a box or mailing envelope, and send to: US Post Office, 220 Elm Avenue, Munising, MI 49862.
Once they have been received the post office will postmark your holiday cards and send them off to their recipients.
Information on Celebrating Christmas in Michigan
You can use our Michigan Christmas pages to find information on how to spend Christmas in Michigan. You’ll find everything from the best Christmas lights displays and how to take a train ride to visit Santa at the North Pole, to how to visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s biggest Christmas store and the wonderful holiday events at Greenfield Village and much more.
About the Author –
Charlotte Dennison is a Content Creator at My Michigan Beach. She grew up in Vermont and has summertime family ties to the great state of Michigan in both Ann Arbor and Lake Hamlin. In addition to content creation, she spends her time studying writing, editing and publishing at Emmanuel College in Boston. Writing has been her dream since the start of high school, and she hopes to turn content creating into a life-long career. Charlotte is jazzed to be interning at MyMichiganBeach.com. Outside of writing Charlotte enjoys curling up with a Stephen King novel and her cat on rainy city days.
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