The festive season is here, Dearborn! Explore our guide for all the must-see holiday events and activities. Whether you're rediscovering your city or seeing it anew, our guide reveals the best of Dearborn's holidays.
This year, the Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony will beautifully illuminate the downtown area, bringing the community together with festive cheer. Additionally, Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village invites attendees to experience the enchanting charm of the village adorned with twinkling lights, live entertainment, and horse-drawn carriage rides. And the Wayne County Lightfest is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing a stunning display of holiday lights that attracts families from across the region. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Dearborn
- Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony (Detroit)
- Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
- Wayne County Lightfest (Westland)
- Campus Martius Park Tree Lighting (Detroit)
- Northville Lighted Parade and Downtown Northville Tree Lighting (Northville)
- Birmingham Santa Walk (Birmingham)
- Waterford Holiday Hoopla & Tree Lighting Ceremony (Waterford)
- Auburn Hills Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (Auburn Hills)
- Canterbury Holiday Stroll (Lake Orion)
- Winter Wonder Lights - Meadow Brook Hall (Rochester Hills)
See these and even more events listed below!
Dearborn Holiday Light Displays
Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Spectacular live entertainment and dazzling lighting displays.
Description:
The Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony at Campus Martius Park features live entertainment, Olympic figure skaters, award-winning local performers, skating clubs, and amazing lighting attractions. The event includes holiday shopping, hot chocolate giveaways, food trucks, and visits with Santa.
Where: Detroit | More Info: Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony
Wayne County Lightfest
What to Expect:
Extensive animated light displays along a five-mile stretch of Hines Park.
Description:
Wayne County Lightfest is a five-mile stretch of Hines Park featuring nearly 50 animated displays and over 100,000 lights. The event is open from 6 PM to 10 PM on Wednesdays through Sundays, with special Toy Nights where visitors can donate a new, unwrapped toy instead of paying the car entrance fee.
Where: Westland | More Info: Wayne County Lightfest
Northville Lighted Parade and Downtown Northville Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Annual parade with festive floats and Santa.
Description:
The Northville Lighted Parade and Downtown Northville Tree Lighting is an annual tradition featuring bands, dancers, floats, and Santa. The parade begins at 6:30 PM and is followed by a tree lighting ceremony in Town Square.
Where: Northville | More Info: Northville Lighted Parade and Downtown Northville Tree Lighting
Campus Martius Park Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Live entertainment and festive lighting in a historic park setting.
Description:
The 20th Annual Detroit Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Park features spectacular live entertainment, Olympic figure skaters, award-winning local performers, and skating clubs. The event includes amazing lighting attractions, holiday shopping, hot chocolate giveaways, food trucks, and visits from Santa.
Where: Detroit | More Info: Campus Martius Park Tree Lighting
Auburn Hills Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with diverse activities for all ages.
Description:
The Auburn Hills Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is a community event featuring a tree lighting ceremony, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday crafts, s’mores, train rides, and live music and storytelling performances. It is a time for the community to come together and celebrate the start of the holiday season.
Where: Auburn Hills | More Info: Auburn Hills Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Winter Wonder Lights - Meadow Brook Hall
What to Expect:
Immersive outdoor light show with music and seasonal treats.
Description:
Winter Wonder Lights at Meadow Brook Hall features unique light displays across the grounds, music, and seasonal treats, transforming the estate into an immersive light environment.
Where: Rochester Hills | More Info: Winter Wonder Lights - Meadow Brook Hall
Canterbury Holiday Stroll
What to Expect:
Live characters and festive light displays.
Description:
Canterbury Holiday Stroll is an outdoor event at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, featuring numerous holiday displays, live characters, and festive lights. Enjoy a 7-minute light show, professional carolers, and live Christmas performances. Visit Santa Claus and explore the village's shops and food options.
Where: Lake Orion | More Info: Canterbury Holiday Stroll
Marshall's Merry Mile Light Display
What to Expect:
Holiday light display with various special events.
Description:
Marshall's Merry Mile is a festive holiday light display at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, featuring a 1-mile holiday lights display, special events like the Eggnog Jog and Santa Saturdays, and live nativity scenes.
Where: Marshall | More Info: Marshall's Merry Mile Light Display
Lights Before Christmas - Toledo Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
The Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas features over one million lights, 200+ illuminated animal images, and festive activities like the Ice Slide and Holly Jolly Express. Enjoy the revitalized Winter Village with holiday treats and shopping.
Where: Toledo | More Info: Lights Before Christmas - Toledo Zoo
Christmas Aglow @ Clinton Township Civic Center
What to Expect:
Ice sculpture displays and trolley rides.
Description:
Join Clinton Township for a festive holiday event featuring ice sculpture displays, trolley rides, and visits with Santa. Enjoy the holiday lights trail and light refreshments as you usher in the holiday season. Bring a non-perishable food donation to support the Township's needy families.
Where: Clinton Township | More Info: Christmas Aglow @ Clinton Township Civic Center
Dearborn Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Greens & Winter Market
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with local crafters and live music.
Description:
The Holiday Greens & Winter Market in Downtown Northville offers a variety of crafters, decorations, and live music to help you prepare your home or business for the holiday season. Find unique gifts and holiday greens to enhance your festive decor.
Where: Northville | More Info: Holiday Greens & Winter Market
Dearborn Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
What to Expect:
Historic rides and live entertainment in a festive village setting.
Description:
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village is a premier holiday celebration featuring live entertainment, costumed presenters, historic rides, holiday shops, ice skating, and fireworks. Explore over 80 acres of Greenfield Village with activities like carousel rides, Model T rides, and horse-drawn wagon rides with live music. Enjoy decorated homes and shops, holiday vignettes in period attire, carolers, live musical performances, holiday cooking demonstrations, and skilled artisan demonstrations.
Where: Dearborn | More Info: Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
Holly Dickens Festival
What to Expect:
Victorian-era themed celebration with live music and local vendors.
Description:
The Holly Dickens Festival is a historic celebration in downtown Holly, Michigan, where the story of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens comes to life. Enjoy street performers, live music, tasty food, and local vendors in a charming Victorian-era setting.
Where: Holly | More Info: Holly Dickens Festival
Breakfast with Santa and The Grinch - Canterbury Village
What to Expect:
Holiday breakfast with the Grinch or Santa in a beautifully decorated castle setting.
Description:
Enjoy a delicious holiday breakfast at Canterbury Village, where you can choose to dine with either the Grinch or Santa in the elegant King Richard ballroom of Canterbury Castle. The buffet-style menu includes pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, fresh fruit, parfait toppings, and assorted pastries. Coffee, juice, and water are included. Seating times are 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and advance reservations are required due to limited capacity.
Where: Lake Orion | More Info: Breakfast with Santa and The Grinch - Canterbury Village
Dearborn Other Holiday Activities
Birmingham Santa Walk
What to Expect:
Santa's walk through downtown Birmingham with horse-drawn carriage rides.
Description:
Join the annual Birmingham Santa Walk as Santa makes his way through downtown Birmingham, visiting various shops before concluding at his quaint home in Shain Park. Enjoy complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides and festive activities.
Where: Birmingham | More Info: Birmingham Santa Walk
Waterford Holiday Hoopla & Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Outdoor holiday celebration with Santa and reindeer visits.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season with various FREE activities including a visit with Santa, reindeer, crafts, and cookie decorating at Waterford Township Hall.
Where: Waterford | More Info: Waterford Holiday Hoopla & Tree Lighting Ceremony
Country Christmas - Three Cedars Farm
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday activities in a rustic farm setting.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Three Cedars Farm with Christmas trees, wreaths, hot cocoa, cider, donuts, and photos with Santa Claus. Enjoy shopping in the Christmas store and exploring the kids' outdoor play land and petting farm.
Where: Northville | More Info: Country Christmas - Three Cedars Farm
Holiday Express @ Joy Park
What to Expect:
Vintage train ride with The Polar Express story and holiday treats.
Description:
The Holiday Express Train Ride at Joy Park features a reading of The Polar Express, hot chocolate, cookies, and carols. Families can enjoy this festive event while dressed warmly, as the train cars are not heated. All participants 12 months and older must register, and children under 12 months may join but must ride on an adult's lap.
Where: Clinton Township | More Info: Holiday Express @ Joy Park
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Allen Park (5 miles)
- Lincoln Park (5 miles)
- Dearborn Heights (5 miles)
- Detroit (7 miles)
- Inkster (7 miles)
- Taylor (7 miles)
- Redford (7 miles)
- Southgate (8 miles)
- Wyandotte (8 miles)
- Garden City (8 miles)
- LaSalle (8 miles)
- Hamtramck (8 miles)
- Windsor (8 miles)
- Oak Park (9 miles)
- Livonia (10 miles)
- Ferndale (10 miles)
- Southfield (11 miles)
- Westland (11 miles)
- Royal Oak (12 miles)
- Madison Heights (12 miles)
- Romulus (13 miles)
- Tecumseh (14 miles)
- Warren (14 miles)
- Eastpointe (15 miles)
- Farmington Hills (15 miles)
- Birmingham (16 miles)
- Canton (16 miles)
- Roseville (17 miles)
- Novi (19 miles)
- Saint Clair Shores (19 miles)
- Sterling Heights (19 miles)
- Troy (20 miles)
- West Bloomfield Township (20 miles)
- Clinton Township (22 miles)
- Pontiac (23 miles)
- Rochester Hills (23 miles)
- Shelby (25 miles)
- Auburn Hills (25 miles)
- Ann Arbor (29 miles)
- Monroe (30 miles)
- Leamington (35 miles)