Wish lists & shopping trips, fresh snow & hot cocoa — the season of merriment & joy is upon us! Now’s the time to take part in all the magical events & twinkling holiday traditions that make this season so special.
Whether you gather for tree lighting ceremonies or holiday markets — shop the world's largest Christmas store or mingle at merry concerts — discover where to be for all the holiday glee when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
Step into pure joy inside the world’s largest Christmas store! Shop 50,000+ trims, gifts, and ornaments — and time your trip to special Santa visits.
Read More +Snuggle up for a horse-drawn holiday ride and take in Little Bavaria's twinkling lights & snowy scenery.
Read More +With a driving light tour, musical tree show, holiday photo ops, and even a free Christmas shuttle — enjoy a merry, magical season.
Read More +Take a break from the holiday hustle on Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm. Gather at the barn to meet Santa and his reindeer-in-training, and craft a keepsake ornament.
Read More +With holiday music playing and jolly elves busy at work, see magical displays, cozy up to a fireplace, visit with Old St. Nick, and be on the lookout for reindeer!
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Throughout the Midland Area Santa House season, enjoy a free & festive ride through town aboard a whimsical train decked out in holiday spirit.
Capture the Christmas spirit with a visit to Santa in his workshop! Explore a cozy log cabin, have your photo taken with Santa, and keep watch for reindeer.
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Festival of Trees (Nov) Wander through a wonderland of trees & wreaths decorated by local artists, and pick up raffle tickets for your chance to win one!
Downtown Midland Holiday Open House (Nov) Make your gift-giving sparkle with special, seasonal items at Downtown shops — and watch Brush Monkeys paint the town with holiday window scenes!
Midland Santa Holiday Parade (Nov) See festive floats & costumed characters, hear marching bands play holiday tunes, and feel yuletide cheer ring out through Downtown Midland.
Downtown Midland Cocoa Crawl (Nov) After the Midland Santa Holiday Parade, join the jolliest after-party in town! Warm up inside shops & eateries while sampling their unique spins on that cold-weather classic: hot cocoa!
Holidays in the Heart of the City (Nov) Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus, enjoy caroling & hot cocoa while visiting holiday open houses, and take in horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday concerts, and the finale fireworks show — plus the next morning’s Christmas parade!
Tis the Season Weekends (Nov – Dec) Experience holiday cheer at Frankenmuth River Place Shops! Join strolling carolers, meet Santa Claus & his North Pole team, and see his elaborately decorated workshop.
Sundays in the City (Nov – Dec) Discover magic & merriment on Sundays leading up to Christmas in Downtown Bay City! See shops decked out for the holidays, and enjoy free carriage rides & strolling carolers.
Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt (Nov – Dec) Feel the joy & warmth of a traditional, open-air German Christmas market. Shop handmade from artisan vendors before warming up with spiced wine or piping hot cocoa at The Christmas Town Pub.
Christmas at the Pines (Dec) Take a guided tour through the home of Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow and experience what Christmas was like when Midland’s famous family celebrated it together.
Hollyday Art Mart (Dec) With room-upon-room of artisan gifts for the season, find unique items, meet Michigan makers, pick up fresh holly, and get in the holiday spirit!
Downtown Midland Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk (Dec) Gather your Santa hats, festive socks, and cozy Christmas gear, and jingle all the way through Downtown Midland at this free, one-mile fun run/walk.
Dow Gardens Christmas Walk (Dec) Stroll a gently lit pathway through a winter wonderland. Join carolers in song, sip hot cocoa or coffee, meet Santa’s reindeer, and enjoy an old-fashioned evening of candlelight & music.
St. Charles Old-Fashioned Christmas (Dec) Experience pure holiday nostalgia! Enjoy tasty food vendors, a tree lighting ceremony, visits with Santa, free kids’ activities, and a festive parade.
Downtown Midland Holly Jolly Days (Dec) Stroll past painted window displays, stop into shops decorated for the season, and hop onto a horse-drawn carriage ride!
Downtown Midland Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl (Dec) Sport your most cringe-worthy Christmas sweater as you hop between local bars & pubs, enjoying sips of the spirited holiday season!
The Great Lakes Market (Dec) Gather for a magical evening inside a greenhouse filled with over 50 Christmas trees! Pick up treats from food trucks, shop handmade goods for holiday gifting, and listen to live music as you stroll.
Holiday Parlour Tour (Dec) Feel festive while soaking up the warmth inside some of Bay City’s most beautiful historic homes, with their halls decked out for the holidays.
Downtown Midland Holiday Rush (Dec) Check off last-minute wish-list items to wrap up your holiday shopping, and enjoy special themed stations & exclusive offers at participating locations.
25 Christmas Lane (Year-Round) Drive along a dazzling half-mile display of 100,000+ lights, aglow every single evening of the year.
Frankenmuth Christmas Light Tours (Nov – Dec) Hop aboard the heated, holly jolly Golden Ticket Trolley for a driving light tour of Frankenmuth — with festive music jingling all the way!
Little Bavaria’s “Little” Driving Light Tour (Nov – Jan) Fill your mugs with hot cocoa, set the radio to holiday tunes, and follow along with a festive poem that’ll guide you to brilliant light displays!
Frankenmuth’s Spectacular Musical Tree Show (Nov – Jan) Meet at this magical, 40-foot tree for a holiday interlude, and journey through popular Christmas music with thousands of lights dancing.
Wilderness Trails Zoo Holiday Light Drive-Thru (Nov – Feb) Pick a holiday playlist and wind through the zoo for a dazzling display of more than 2 million lights — and the chance to see nocturnal zoo friends!
The Freeland Lights (Dec) Drive into the park, tune your radio to 93.9 FM, and listen to your favorite Christmas songs while thousands of lights dance to the classics.
Birch Run Premium Outlets Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov) Cookies, cocoa, candy canes — kick off the festive season in style as you enjoy Santa’s arrival, a tree lighting, and live holiday music.
Saginaw Waterworks Lighting Ceremony (Nov) Experience this epic lighting ceremony and delight in a display that’s been lit for nearly a century!
Santa’s Arrival & Wenonah Park Tree Lighting (Nov) See a towering tree illuminated, enjoy carolers, share wish lists with Santa, sip hot cocoa in the pavilion — and take a horse-drawn carriage ride!
Midland Area Santa House & Courthouse Lighting Ceremony (Nov) Bundle up to see the lights go bright! Savor hot cocoa & cookies, and welcome St. Nick as he opens his house for the season.
The Temple Theatre (Nov – Dec) Take in spectacular holiday ensembles by the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and Saginaw Choral Society or be dazzled by The Nutcracker by International Ballet Stars.
State Theatre of Bay City (Nov – Dec) Enjoy a merry evening of yuletide tunes with the Classic Women of Country or with world-renowned pianist Kevin Cole.
Zehnder’s Holiday Lunch & Dinner Shows (Dec) Taste tradition and be entertained by a one-of-a-kind holiday show at Zehnder’s Restaurant during Christmas with Groove Marmalade.
Midland Center for the Arts (Dec) Add some sparkle to your holidays with the Midland Symphony Orchestra in Holiday Pops, featuring Broadway star Arielle Jacobs.
The Dow Event Center (Dec) Be mesmerized as 40 international ballet dancers bring a beloved holiday tradition to life when the World Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker.
Bay City Players (Dec) Enjoy as The Friction Theatre presents Plaid Tidings, bringing joy & laughter with favorite Christmas classics & other musical hits.
Pit & Balcony Theatre (Dec) Watch as a timeless Christmas classic gets a thrilling transformation in A Wicked Christmas Carol.
From outdoor fun to indoor escapades, discover seasonal shows & kid-friendly performances, hands-on museums & vintage arcades, and explore a region that's ready to go when covered in snow. Read on to create forever memories as a family this winter when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
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By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com
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