What are some fun & inexpensive Christmas & holiday events in Michigan for 2026?

November

• Downtown Midland Holiday Open House Find special, seasonal items at Downtown shops — and watch Brush Monkeys paint the town with holiday window scenes.
• Downtown Bay City Merry Little Weekend Get into holiday gifting season when you shop Downtown and enter to win a gift basket of goodies.
• Festival of Trees Wander through a wonderland of trees & wreaths decorated by local artists, and pick up raffle tickets for your chance to win one!
• Holidays in the Heart of the City Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus, enjoy caroling & hot cocoa, and take in horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday concerts, and a fireworks show!
• Christmas Parade Watch floats, marching bands — and Santa — cruise through Downtown Saginaw streets during this 50-year tradition.
• Merry & Bright — Heritage Vintage Market Deck the halls in seasonal décor with your finds from this holiday market of handmade & vintage items.
• Midland Santa Holiday Parade See festive floats & costumed characters, hear marching bands play holiday tunes, and feel the yuletide cheer.
• Downtown Midland Cocoa Crawl Warm up inside shops & eateries while sampling their unique spins on that cold-weather classic: hot cocoa!

December

• Hollyday Art Mart Find artisan gifts by Michigan makers, pick up fresh holly, and get in the holiday spirit.
• Christmas at The Pines Take a guided tour through the festive home of Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow, located on the grounds of Dow Gardens.
• Downtown Midland Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk Wear your cozy Christmas gear, and jingle all the way through this free, one-mile course.
• Christmas in the Village Reserve your spot to visit with Santa and wander through the Kringle Market while snacking on tasty, seasonal treats.
• Downtown Midland Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl Hop around between local bars & pubs, enjoying spirited sips of the holiday season!
• The Great Lakes Market – Holiday Market Gather for a magical evening inside a greenhouse filled with Christmas trees! Sample from food trucks, shop handmade goods, and listen to live music.
• Downtown Midland Holly Jolly Days Stroll past painted window displays, stop into shops decorated for the season, and climb onto a horse-drawn carriage ride.
• Dow Gardens Christmas Walk Stroll a gently lit pathway through a winter wonderland. Join carolers in song, and enjoy an old-fashioned evening of candlelight & music.

Where are some great holiday light shows & Christmas light tours in Michigan for 2026?

November – January

• Loons Holiday Lights Extravaganza Experience an immersive, interactive walk-thru winter festival, with over a million lights, themed entertainment, and seasonal bites & sips!
• Wilderness Trails Zoo Holiday Light Drive-Thru Pick a holiday playlist and wind through the zoo to see more than 2 million lights — and nocturnal zoo friends!
• Golden Ticket Trolley Frankenmuth Christmas Light Tours Hop aboard a holly, jolly heated trolley for a driving light tour of Frankenmuth with festive music!
• Frankenmuth’s Spectacular Musical Tree Show Meet at this magical, 40-foot tree to journey through Christmas jingles with thousands of lights dancing.
• Little Bavaria’s “Little” Driving Light Tour Fill your mugs with hot cocoa, turn up the holiday tunes, and follow a festive poem to brilliant light displays.

December

• The Freeland Lights Drive into the park, tune your radio to 93.9 FM, and listen to popular Christmas songs while lights dance along to the classics.

Year-Round

• 25 Christmas Lane Drive through a dazzling display of 100,000 lights, aglow every evening of the year.

Where are some great holiday tree lighting ceremonies in Michigan for 2026?

November

• Saginaw Waterworks Lighting Ceremony Delight in a spectacular holiday display that’s been lit for nearly a century!
• Frankenmuth Christmas Experience Kickoff Slip into skates at the ice rink, sip hot cocoa, and see the 40-foot musical Christmas tree light up for the season.
• Santa’s Arrival in Wenonah Park Watch a towering tree illuminated, share wish lists with Santa, enjoy carolers, and take a carriage ride.

December

• Midland Area Santa House & Courthouse Lighting Ceremony Savor hot cocoa & cookies, see the lights go bright, and welcome St. Nick as he opens his house for the season.

What are some great live holiday performances & Christmas concerts in Michigan for 2026?

November – December

• Midland Center for the Arts Add some sparkle to your holidays with Straight No Chaser and their Making Spirits Bright Tour, or hear the Midland Symphony Orchestra in Holiday Pops.
• The Dow Event Center Be mesmerized by Mannheim Steamroller Christmas with Chip Davis or watch as the World Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker with a live orchestra.
• The Temple Theatre Take in a holiday ensemble by the Saginaw Choral Society or be dazzled during The Nutcracker by The United European Ballet Company.

December

• Zehnder’s Holiday Lunch & Dinner Shows Taste tradition and be entertained by a one-of-a-kind holiday show featuring Three Men and a Tenor.
• State Theatre of Bay City Hear world-renowned pianist Kevin Cole perform seasonal favorites or swoon over the Sinatra Spectacular Holiday Show.

What are some fun & family-friendly Christmas & holiday traditions in Michigan for 2026?

November – December

• Santa’s Reindeer Farm Take a break from the holiday hustle on Grandpa Tiny’s Farm when you gather at the barn to meet Santa and his reindeer-in-training.
• Nate & Mary Ida Doan Santa House Capture the Christmas spirit with a visit to Santa in his cozy log cabin, and keep watch for reindeer.

November – January

• The Frankenmuth Christmas Experience With a driving light tour, musical tree show, holiday photo ops, and a free Christmas shuttle — enjoy merry & magical Michigan’s Little Bavaria.