The holidays are for making lasting memories, and a fun family show is a great way to do that.
Metro Detroit’s stages are bursting with holiday cheer in 2025, from glittering ballets and stunning circus performances to beloved Christmas classics and family-friendly musicals. These shows are the ideal way to celebrate with your family, whether it’s your child’s first “Nutcracker,” a sing-along with Santa or a night of nostalgia with classic holiday tunes.
Make one (or more!) of these shows a holiday ritual for your family by packing up and getting some hot cocoa.
Best holiday shows in metro Detroit
‘A Christmas Story, The Musical’ at Fox Theatre
- Show dates: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 1 p.m. Nov. 16
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $49-plus
313 Presents a Christmas classic with the entire family with laughter and music. The beloved holiday story of Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun is brought to life on stage. Critics call it “a charming triumph of imagination … infused with utter joy.” BroadwayWorld and local reviewers praise the energy, colorful staging and especially the child actors as “absolutely excellent.”
‘RAIN: A Beatles Christmas Tribute’ at Fox Theater
- Show dates: 8 p.m. Dec. 3
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $43-plus
Come listen to the Beatles most popular hits with a festive twist that combines classic rock with beloved holiday songs. “RAIN” delivers a note-for-note recreation of Beatles classics infused with holiday spirit, wrapping your favorite Fab Four tunes in seasonal warmth and stylized stage production.
‘A Magical Cirque Christmas’ at Fox Theater
- Show dates: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $54-plus
This show combines circus arts, illusion, aerial acrobatics, and holiday storytelling into one night of festive spectacle, with dazzling visual flair and a touch of seasonal whimsy.
‘Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet’ at Fox Theatre
- Show dates: Noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 7
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $39-plus
Take the kids to a classic! Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday ballet, presented in a lavish international production with stunning sets and costumes. The story follows Clara’s journey from a Christmas Eve party to a magical winter wonderland and beyond. At Detroit’s Fox Theatre, audience reviews praise the “spectacular sets and beautifully costumed dancers” with one visitor saying “the dancers are professional, the costumes are vibrant and the decorations are more than adequate.”
‘Cirque Dreams Holidaze’ at Fox Theatre
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- Show dates: Dec. 9-14
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Ticket prices vary on showtime
See an exuberant holiday production with stunning stage magic, aerial performances and imaginative costumes. This holiday spectacular blends Broadway-style theater with circus artistry in a series of dazzling vignettes that feel like stepping into a dreamscape of gingerbread men, snowmen, toy soldiers and reindeer.
Meredith Willson’s ‘Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical’ at Fox Theatre
- Show dates: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16-18
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $70-plus
This endearing tale of Kris Kringle spreads happiness and faith in Santa to each member of the audience. A stage musical adaptation of the timeless Christmas tale about belief, hope and holiday magic when a department store Santa claims to be the real Kris Kringle and sets the stage for a courtroom showdown over his identity.
‘Champions of Magic: A Holiday Spectacular’ at Fox Theatre
- Show dates: 3 p.m. Dec. 21
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Ticket Prices Vary
Come and see expert illusionists perform mind-bending tricks with a festive touch. Expect top-tier illusionists to perform sleight of hand, mind-bending tricks and theatrical wonder with a holiday twist — it’s magic meets Christmas spectacle.
‘Mannheim Steamroller Christmas’ by Chip Davis at Fox Theatre
- Show dates: 8 p.m. Dec. 23
- Address: 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Ticket prices vary
Take the family to see Chip Davis’s iconic holiday performance, which combines contemporary music with a touch of classical flair. This signature holiday concert fuses classical influence with modern instrumentation, creating sweeping, layered arrangements of Christmas standards and originals — often complemented by cinematic visuals and special effects. Asheville Stages called their performance “splendid … the colorful and intricate lighting effects … made the show magical.”
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