Midland Santa House: Step into pure magic inside the North Pole that is the Midland Santa House! With holiday music playing and jolly elves busy at work, walk through a magical mixture of lofts and displays, cozy up to a fieldstone fireplace, and sit in Santa’s Chair! Visit with the Big Man, be on the lookout for reindeer — who may use the slanted roof, made perfect for launching and landing — and be sure to return time and again to experience the merriment of the season!

Northern Star Train: All aboard the Northern Star Train, tickets are free and the memories are priceless! Operational throughout the Santa House season, take a magical 20-minute ride through Midland aboard a whimsical train decked out in holiday spirit. Board the trackless train at the station, the Midland County Courthouse, and enjoy a wintry ride to Dow Diamond and back this season!

Nate & Mary Ida Doan Santa House: Keep the Christmas spirit alive with a visit to Santa in his workshop at the Nate & Mary Ida Doan Santa House. Bring the young and young-at-heart to this cozy log cabin with fascinating displays, and visit the kitchen to see the elves busily making cookies and other goodies! Have your photo taken with Santa, keep watch for visiting reindeer, and surely experience the magic of Christmas here each year.

Dow Gardens Christmas Walk: Stroll a candlelit pathway through a winter wonderland during Dow Gardens Christmas Walks. Join carolers, sip delicious hot cocoa, and experience a dramatic display of poinsettias in the festive conservatory — with merry sounds of a live string quartet.

Holidays in the Heart of the City: Feel the Christmas spirit in Saginaw at Holidays in the Heart of the City. Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus in Borchard Park, where free pony rides are found. Enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, and cookies while visiting open houses and holiday activities at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo, Japanese Cultural Center, and more — and take in free horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday concerts, and the finale fireworks show!

Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt: Experience weekends of celebration and the wonders of Christmas at Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt! Explore troves of seasonal treasures and treats at mid-Michigan’s largest open-air holiday market, modeled after the traditional Christmas markets of Germany. With live holiday music filling the air, sip mulled wine or piping hot cocoa as you shop artisan gifts to seasonal greenery.

Festival of Trees: Visit a magical winter wonderland of more than 100 decorated trees, and pick up raffle tickets for your chance to win one of them. Stroll through seasonal creations of local artists and designers, take home decorating inspiration for your own Christmas trees and wreaths, and join more than 5,000 guests who attend this annual three-day event!

Christmas at The Pines: Pay homage to history and the holidays during Christmas at The Pines. Encounter a magical tour through the home of Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow, guided by docents, and experience what Christmas was like when Midland’s infamous family celebrated it together.

Midland Santa Parade & Cocoa Crawl: Get your twinkle on and spend an afternoon “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” at this year’s Midland Santa Parade & Cocoa Crawl. Join the jolliest party in town, then stop at various Downtown shops to sample their spin on that cold-weather classic: hot cocoa! Vote for your favorite and enjoy a merry good day!

Chesaning Candle Walk: Stroll the luminary-lined streets of historic Chesaning during the beautiful Chesaning Candle Walk. Peruse Christmas-themed chalk art and inflatable decorations lining the walking path in Cole Park. Stick around for the Annual Golf Cart Parade, followed by the tree lighting ceremony with Santa. Visit live reindeer and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides at this glorious gathering!

HollyDay Art Mart: Make it an annual tradition to shop the HollyDay Art Mart at Andersen Enrichment Center! With room-upon-room of artisan gifts for the season, find distinctive items, meet Michigan makers, and pick up fresh holly! Savor a soup and sandwich lunch, and take home sweets & treats for holiday entertaining.

Santa’s Holiday Hike: Step into the season for Santa’s Holiday Hike at Imerman Memorial Park! With festive inflatables guiding your way, hike the illuminated trail that leads to a cozy campfire and Santa Claus! Enjoy Christmas music, hot cocoa, cookies — and bring Coats for Kids donations to start your hike with gifts of the season.

Little Bavaria’s “Little” Driving Light Tour: Fill your thermoses with hot cocoa, set the radio to holiday tunes, and head out for the self-guided Little Bavaria’s “Little” Driving Light Tour! Starting at the luminescent Willkommen archway at the entrance to the city, tour festive streets as you drive over bridges and underneath brilliant light displays — and end your “little” drive at the 17-foot-tall towering Santa!

The Freeland Lights: Once you’ve seen The Freeland Lights free show at Tittabawassee Township Park, you’ll discover a new annual holiday tradition! From the warmth of your vehicle, watch as the Christmas display comes to life through sights — and sounds! Drive into the park, tune your radio to 93.9 FM, and listen to your favorite Christmas songs while thousands of lights dazzle and dance to the classics.

Frankenmuth’s Spectacular Musical Tree Show: Meet at this magical 40-foot tree for a holiday interlude that is Frankenmuth’s Spectacular Musical Tree Show. Experience a 7-minute journey through popular Christmas songs with thousands of lights dancing about to each beautifully remixed song. Dance and sing along to the sounds of Christmas in the air!

Midland Center for the Arts: Enjoy a holiday extravaganza at MCFTA with musical favorites Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and A Christmas Story: The Musical. Make your holiday magical with The Illusionists Magic of the Holidays, and learn seasonal cooking tips with Alton Brown: LIVE! Beyond the Eats — The Holiday Variant.

Temple Theatre: Step into timeless holidays at the Temple Theatre. Experience Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra: The Magic of Christmas and Holidays with the Saginaw Choral Society. Or, enjoy a holiday classic on the Saginaw Silver Screen.

State Theatre of Bay City: Sing along at the State Theatre of Bay City at A Rocky Mountain Christmas, a John Denver Tribute. Share in joy as Bay Chorale performs A Christmas Concert “Sing Joy”, see Cole in Your Stocking or A Hark Up Christmas on stage, and watch Sundays in the City Movies including A Christmas Story and White Christmas.

The Dow Event Center: Witness Broadway in Saginaw at The Dow Event Center during Cirque Dreams Holidaze. See storybook characters come to life & experience the holidays like never before!

Delta College Planetarium: Sing along to classics like Frank Sinatra, Burl Ives, and Brenda Lee during the Let It Snow Planetarium Show at Delta College Planetarium and Learning Center. Enjoy the 35-minute program with animation, special effects, and music by Trans Siberian Orchestra!

Pit & Balcony Theatre: Leave the kids at home for the adults-only production of Who’s Holiday at Pit & Balcony Theatre. Laugh your way through The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon, a parody of holiday romantic comedies.

Bay City Players: Enjoy the whimsy and charm of A Child’s Christmas in Wales presented by the Bay City Players. Follow the tale of young Dylan as he tries to recall Christmases past.