Top 10 Kid-Friendly Holiday Events in Metro Detroit

Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year with these family-friendly holiday events in metro Detroit.

Celebrate the holidays in metro Detroit with the whole family. You and your kids can enjoy the magical winter season with holiday lights, Santa visits, Christmas and holiday shows and more.

We’re looking forward to all of these fun events, but especially Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Wild Lights and Winter Wonder Lights.

We highly recommend you get tickets to these popular experiences before they sell out! Here are some of our must-see events and you can find even more holiday events to check out on our calendar.

This article was recently updated on Nov. 1, 2024 by Metro Parent’s audience development coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding holiday events to MetroParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best holiday events in metro Detroit. Questions? Please reach out to kari@metroparent.

Wayne County Lightfest

Nov. 21-Dec. 24, 2024 (Wednesdays-Sundays

  • Address: Merriman Hollow Park Area, 7651 Merriman Road, Westland
  • Cost: $5/car (cash only)

The Wayne County Lightfest is a magical four-mile stretch of Hines Park, displaying nearly 50 animated themed displays and more than 100,000 lights.

Holiday Extravaganza

Holiday Extravaganza at Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill
Photo credit: Blake Farms

Nov. 23-24, 30; Dec. 1, 2024

  • Address: Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
  • Cost: Free

This annual features live music, an artisan market, free children’s crafts and face painting and an annual tree lighting on Nov. 23. For additional fees, enjoy festival food and drink specials, u-cut and pre-cut Christmas trees and evergreen decor, Santa Experience and Igloo Dining. RSVP required.

Wild Lights

Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo
Photo credit: Detroit Zoo

Nov. 23, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025

  • Address: Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. Ten Mile Road, Royal Oak
  • Cost: $17-$26/advanced online pricing, free/2 and under, $8/parking

The Detroit Zoo is aglow with millions of LED lights, including animal-themed light sculptures. Purchase your tickets in advance to guarantee your experience.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical

Nov. 27, 29-30; Dec. 1, 2024

  • Address: Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
  • Cost: $30-plus

The Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. It will feature the hit songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” among others.

Holiday Stroll

Holiday Stroll at Canterbury Village
Photo credit: Canterbury Village

Nov. 29-30; Dec. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 2024

  • Address: Canterbury Village, 2325 Joslyn Court, Lake Orion
  • Cost: $14.99-plus/person, free/parking

Stroll through the quaint village to see almost a million festive lights, enjoy a seven-minute amazing light show choreographed to classic holiday songs, hear the sounds of professional carolers and see live Christmas performances. Live holiday characters will be roaming around the village, too.

Winter Wonder Lights

Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2024

  • Address: Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester
  • Cost: $23/ages 13-plus, $13/ages 3-12, free/ages 0-2

See an interactive light experience outside Meadow Brook Hall. Visitors can see the lights and enjoy seasonal beverages, bonfires, glow-in-the-dark cotton candy and popcorn and more.

Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays at the Ford House
Photo credit: John Martin

Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2024

  • Address: Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores
  • Cost: $20-$28/ages 13-plus, $10-$14/ages 1-12, free/under 12 months

Enjoy a one-mile walk around the property, visit the Main Residence, stop by the concessions tent for your complimentary hot chocolate, see Santa and more.

Holiday Nights

Dec. 5-8, 11-15, 18-23, 26-28, 2024

  • Address: Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
  • Cost: $32.50-$38/ages 12-plus, $29.25-$34.25/ages 62-plus, $24.25-$28.50/ages 5-11, free/ages 4 and under

This event features decorated shops and homes, live music, holiday cooking demos, free carousel rides, free ice skating and skate rentals, free horse-drawn carriage rides, free Model T rides, a fireworks finale and more.

Macomb Ballet Company Presents The Nutcracker

Macomb Ballet Company Presents The Nutcracker
Photo credit: Brian Weitzel Photography

Dec. 6-8, 2024

  • Address: Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township
  • Cost: $25

Macomb Ballet Company’s production will feature beloved characters as they travel with Clara on a magical adventure through the Enchanted Forest to the Kingdom of Sweets.

Santa’s Candy Cane Trail

Dec. 14, 2024

  • Address: Hudson Mills Metropark, 8801 N. Territorial Road, Dexter
  • Cost: $6/person, free/under 2

Meet the winter characters as you take a stroll down candy cane trail, see Santa and take a ride on the Holiday Carol Wagon Ride. Bring your cameras. Pre-registration is required the day before the event.


Follow Metro Parent on Instagram.

Kari Zaffarano
Kari Zaffarano
Kari Zaffarano is a mom of one and Metro Parent's Audience Development Coordinator. She tracks down the best events every week and shares the inside scoop with families in print and online. She enjoys reading, traveling and exploring metro Detroit with her son.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

LATEST STORIES

Living Paycheck to Paycheck: A Hardship or Good Budgeting?

More than four in 10 (42%) Americans with household incomes of $100,000 or more say they live paycheck to paycheck.

6 Must-Visit Dessert Shops in Frankenmuth

Brought to you by Southeast Michigan Ford Dealers

How Reading Fosters Critical Thinking for Metro Detroit Kids

Brought to you by Wayne County Community College District.



- Advertisement -