Get a bird’s eye view of the festive season in Garden City. Our guide highlights all the essential holiday events. Whether Garden City is your backyard or a new adventure, our guide brings you the best of the holidays.
Popular during this time is the enchanting Christkindl Markt at Grand Rapids Downtown Market, where you can explore booths filled with unique crafts and festive foods. Also worth noting is the Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend, showcasing delightful horse-drawn carriages and holiday cheer. And the Holiday Traditions Around the World & New Light Show is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring vibrant displays and cultural celebrations. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Garden City
- Christkindl Markt at Grand Rapids Downtown Market (Grand Rapids)
- Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend (Manistee)
- The Big, Bright Light Show (Rochester)
- Holiday Traditions Around the World & New Light Show (Grand Rapids)
- Eastern Market Holiday Markets (Detroit)
- Fenton Jinglefest (Fenton)
- Mt. Clemens Christmas Market (Mt. Clemens)
- Port Huron Chilly Fest (Port Huron)
- Westland Winter Wonderland (Westland)
- Petoskey Open House, Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting (Petoskey)
See these and even more events listed below!
Garden City Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Traditions Around the World & New Light Show
What to Expect:
Cultural exhibits and light displays celebrating global holiday traditions.
Description:
Explore 46 unique displays honoring cultures and holiday traditions from around the world. Admire stunning winter plantings, adorned Christmas trees, and intriguing cultural exhibits. The event features the beloved Railway Garden and 350,000 sparkling lights.
Where: Grand Rapids | More Info: Holiday Traditions Around the World & New Light Show
The Big, Bright Light Show
What to Expect:
Synchronized holiday light display on historic downtown buildings.
Description:
Downtown Rochester transforms into a dazzling spectacle with over 1 million points of glimmering holiday lights, illuminating the night sky every evening from 5 pm to midnight.
Where: Rochester | More Info: The Big, Bright Light Show
Garden City Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christkindl Markt at Grand Rapids Downtown Market
What to Expect:
Traditional European-style Christmas market with artisan vendors and live entertainment.
Description:
The Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt at the Downtown Market features 60 outdoor vendors offering artisan food and handmade gifts. Enjoy live holiday entertainment, traditional beverages, and festive family activities in a European-style Christmas village.
Where: Grand Rapids | More Info: Christkindl Markt at Grand Rapids Downtown Market
Eastern Market Holiday Markets
What to Expect:
Free holiday shopping event with a focus on local food and gifts.
Description:
Eastern Market Holiday Markets offer a variety of holiday shopping options, including food vendors for Thanksgiving meals and Michigan-made gifts like clothing, art, and jewelry. Christmas tree vendors are also available in the parking lot outside Shed 5.
Where: Detroit | More Info: Eastern Market Holiday Markets
Mt. Clemens Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique gifts and decor made by local Michigan artists.
Description:
The Mt. Clemens Christmas Market at the Anton Art Center features handmade gifts and seasonal decor crafted by Michigan artists. The event is open to the public from November 19 to December 22, 2024, with special events including a Meet the Artists reception, Santa Parade, and Hot Cocoa Bar.
Where: Mt. Clemens | More Info: Mt. Clemens Christmas Market
Westland Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Student volunteers assist with various tasks, enhancing the event experience.
Description:
The Westland Winter Wonderland Arts and Craft Show features over 100 vendors selling quality hand-crafted items, unique wares, and holiday gifts. The event is held at Lutheran Westland High School and runs from 9am to 3pm on both days.
Where: Westland | More Info: Westland Winter Wonderland
Garden City Other Holiday Activities
Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend
What to Expect:
Draft horses pulling a 30-foot Christmas tree.
Description:
The Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend in Manistee, Michigan, is a four-day celebration featuring a 30-foot Christmas tree pulled by draft horses, horse-drawn entries, bagpipers, and carolers in Victorian attire. The event includes the Festival of Trees, a craft bazaar, and a 5K race, offering a nostalgic and old-fashioned holiday experience.
Where: Manistee | More Info: Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend
Fenton Jinglefest
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with ice sculptures and live reindeer.
Description:
Downtown Fenton transforms into a holiday hub with ice sculptures, live reindeer, entertainment, fireworks, and a lighted parade.
Where: Fenton | More Info: Fenton Jinglefest
Port Huron Chilly Fest
What to Expect:
Family-friendly winter activities with a chili cook-off and themed bed races.
Description:
Port Huron Chilly Fest is an annual winter celebration featuring outdoor activities like s'mores stations, carriage rides, and a chili crawl, hosted by the Downtown Development Authority, McMorran Place, and Port Huron Parks and Recreation.
Where: Port Huron | More Info: Port Huron Chilly Fest
Petoskey Open House, Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Santa Claus lights the Christmas tree in Pennsylvania Park.
Description:
Join Downtown Petoskey for a festive evening of hospitality and shopping. The Holiday Open House takes place on the first Friday in December, featuring Santa Claus lighting the Christmas tree in Pennsylvania Park, live holiday music, and the Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band. Streets will be closed to traffic, and merchants will offer warm holiday greetings and hospitality. Enjoy the holiday lights and decorations, and take advantage of the Downtown Social District where you can carry your adult beverage while walking from store to store.
Where: Petoskey | More Info: Petoskey Open House, Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Inkster (2 miles)
- Dearborn Heights (3 miles)
- Livonia (3 miles)
- Westland (4 miles)
- Redford (4 miles)
- Taylor (7 miles)
- Allen Park (8 miles)
- Canton (8 miles)
- Romulus (8 miles)
- Dearborn (8 miles)
- Lincoln Park (9 miles)
- Southgate (10 miles)
- Farmington Hills (11 miles)
- Southfield (12 miles)
- Oak Park (12 miles)
- Wyandotte (12 miles)
- Novi (13 miles)
- Ferndale (14 miles)
- Detroit (15 miles)
- Royal Oak (15 miles)
- LaSalle (15 miles)
- Hamtramck (15 miles)
- Madison Heights (16 miles)
- Windsor (16 miles)
- Birmingham (16 miles)
- West Bloomfield Township (17 miles)
- Warren (20 miles)
- Ann Arbor (21 miles)
- Troy (21 miles)
- Eastpointe (22 miles)
- Pontiac (22 miles)
- Tecumseh (22 miles)
- Roseville (23 miles)
- Sterling Heights (23 miles)
- Rochester Hills (25 miles)
- Saint Clair Shores (25 miles)
- Auburn Hills (25 miles)
- Clinton Township (28 miles)
- Shelby (28 miles)
- Monroe (28 miles)
- Leamington (42 miles)