The holiday season is here and there are plenty of fun seasonal events coming this weekend, Dec. 1-3, 2023. Find details on the latestfestivals, concerts (including Mariah Carey’s Christmas show), special events (like Cirque Dreams Holidaze),holiday parades, and much more coming to metro Detroit.
Holiday High Tea
The Daxton Hotel is hosting elegant high teas every Saturday and Sunday for the holidays. Each tea time features finger foods including cream cheese scones with smoked salmon, red pepper and chevre, and small quiches, as well as sweet treats. Now-Dec. 24. $65 a person, reservations required. Daxton Hotel, ; .
Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas One and All
The iconic “Queen of Christmas” hits the stage once again for her Christmas extravaganza. Watch as she performs her collection of seasonal songs includingAll I Want For Christmas Is You. Tickets start at $75. Dec. 1. Little Caesars Arena,;.
Tree Lighting Festival
Watch the giant tree light up after Santa and his reindeer arrive. Other activities include face painting, kids’ crafts, ice sculpting, horse and carriage rides, food, beer, and live music.Dec. 1. No cost for admission. Wixom Community Center,;.
Christmas in Ida
Experience the magic of the holiday season at this winter wonderland. It all kicks off with the parade of lights, which features two hours of illuminated and animated displays. After, explore a craft and vendor show, watch the high-flying BMX show, listen to the Jingle Bell Rockout concert, check out ice sculptures, and much more.Dec. 1-2. Ida East St. area, Ida;.
Epiphany Studio Open House
Shop the studios handmade glass gifts and collectibles at a 15% discount, watch glassblowing demonstrations, and DIY workshops. Dec. 1-3. No cost for admission. Epiphany Studios, ; .
The Nutcracker
Macomb Ballet Company puts on a traditional performance ofThe Nutcracker,complete with the sugar plums dancing in your head.$25. Dec. 1-3. Macomb Center for the Performing Arts,;.
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Lose yourself in this 90-minute Broadway-style cirque production featuring contemporary circus performances like aerial acts, juggling, acrobatics, and more set to some of your favorite seasonal tunes.Tickets start at $22.Dec. 1-3. Fox Theatre,;.
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
This event has been a holiday tradition in metro Detroit for nearly 25 years. Explore the 80-plus acres of the village for holiday goods, seasonal food and warm drinks, Model T rides, and horse-drawn wagon rides. There’s also carolers, bonfires, and fireworks.Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 14-17, 19-23, and 26-28. $29.25-$32.50 for adults, $24.25 for kids 5-11, free for kids 4 and under. Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation,;.
Jingle Babs
The Ringwald Theatre and Affirmations in Ferndale put on this new holiday show, which tells the story of the first time Barbra Streisand hosts her first live Christmas show — but the weather is keeping the stars from the studio.$15-$25. Dec. 1-8. The Ringwald inside of Affirmations Community Center,;.
A Nice Family Christmas
This comedy by Phil Olsen “puts the fun is dysFUNctional,” and tells the story of a young newspaper reporter who is on the brink of being fired, but it given one more chance to tell a captivating story by writing what a typical family does for Christmas — and that family is his family. Dec. 1-16. Tickets start at $20. The Farmington Players, ; .
Chelsea Hometown Holidays
This monthlong holiday tradition offers a shopping bazaar, live entertainment, crafts, a tree lighting ceremony, and the Hometown Holiday Light Parade. Line up along Main Street between Old US 12 and E. Middle St. to see brilliantly lit and decorated floats from area organizations.Dec. 1-31, with a parade on Dec. 2. The parade is free, but fees may apply for other activities. Downtown Chelsea;.
Holiday Art Show at Heritage Spinning and Weaving
For more than 20 years, this Lake Orion shop and studio has acted as metro Detroit’s stranded knitting head- quarters by offering quality knitting and weaving sup- plies and a full calendar of workshops and classes. Find the perfect holiday gift at the shop’s annual holiday art show, which features hand- crafted scarves, ornaments, winter decor, and more. Dec. 2. No cost. Heritage Spinning and Weaving, ; .
Noel Night
More than 80 cultural and educational institutions, small businesses, galleries, restaurants, and more participate in this 49th annual event. Explore some of these organizations, shop pop-up markets, enjoy seasonal food and drink, check out artwork and performances, and more.Dec. 2. No cost for admission. Midtown Detroit area;.
Holiday Extravaganza
The communities of Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Waterford, and White Lake come together to put on this annual festival, which includes the annual parade, meet-and-greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a jolly 5K run.Dec. 2. Fees apply. Downtown Pontiac area;.
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
Time-travel back to the glory days of Sun Records at this nostalgic rock ’n’ roll Christmas show. Talented singers and instrumentalists portray Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley as they run through a stacked program of holiday hits. Featuring a full band, Christmas trees, and mistletoe galore, the production celebrates Christmas traditions old and new. Dec. 2-3. $35+. Fisher Theatre, ; .
Holly Dickens Festival
This 50th annual will take you back in time to the days of Charles Dickens andA Christmas Carol.Stroll the Village of Holly to see carolers, dancing ladies, juggling, and more. There will be a lighted parade on Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. Plus, shopping and horse-drawn carriage rides. You may even run into Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge while you’re there.Dec. 2-3, and Dec. 9-10. Free. The Village of Holly;.
Celtic Woman Christmas Symphony Tour
As Celtic Woman, virtuoso musicians and Ireland natives Tara McNeill, Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, and Emma Warren perform traditional Celtic music for audiences around the world. Join them for a special holiday program featuring selections from their album The Magic of Christmas. A live full orchestra will accompany the ensemble as they present new arrangements of classics like “Silent Night” and “Sleigh Ride,” as well as ancient Gaelic carols like “Dia do Bheatha.” Dec. 3. $59+. Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, ; .
Emergence
This art exhibit showcases the work of 14 young artists working in Detroit along with legacy members of the TEAD One Residency Program, a residency art program named after the late street artist Jordan Vaughn who died in an accident while installing art. Artists featured in the exhibition include Richie Blanko, Kelly Burke, Sabra Mormon. Andrew Valdez (aka The Hood Picasso), Freddy Diaz (aka swfreddy), and many others.Now-Dec. 6. No cost for admission. Janice Charach Gallery,;.
Topdog/Underdog
The Detroit Repertory Theatre is kicking off their 67th season with this Pulitzer Prize-winning show about a dark relationship of brothers Lincoln and Booth as they struggle with work, women, abandonment, and more as they work toward improving their lives.Now-Dec. 17. $25-$30. Detroit Repertory Theatre,;.
People You Know
This new art exhibition features paintings by El Paso artist Marianna Olague, who is known for her “use of pure color imbues her compositions with dazzling vitality,” along with oversaturated color that “hint at the subject’s emotional state as well as a reference to traditional Mexican art.Now- Dec. 23. No cost for admission. David Klein Gallery,;.
Canterbury Holiday Dinosaur Wonderland
This display features life-sized dinosaurs including velociraptors, triceratops, stegosauruses, pterodactyls, and a t-rex set up in a forest that is beautifully decorated for the holidays. Now-Dec, 24. Ticket fees apply. Canterbury Village, ; .
Wayne County Lightfest
This annual drive-thru display features nearly 50 animated holiday displays that use more than 100,000 lights. Tune in to AM 1640 when you’re three to five miles away to get regular updates on wait times, traffic flow, and more.Now–Dec. 24. $5 per car, $20 for commercial vans, $25 for mini-buses, $50 for passenger busses, cash only.;.
A Christmas Carol
No holiday tale is more enduring than Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella about a greedy, uncaring miser and the ghosts that help him change his ways. Enjoy this live stage adaptation by Charles Nolte, featuring gorgeously festive sets and plenty of faux snow. The production has been a Meadow Brook Theatre Christmas tradition for more than 40 years. All ages are welcome.Now-Dec. 24. $36+. Meadow Brook Theatre,;.
Magic of Lights
Drive through beautiful lighted holiday displays themed to Winter Wonderland, 12 Days of Christmas, Toyland, and more. The 200-foot Enchanting Tunnel of Lights, 32-foot animated Christmas Barbie, life-sized dinosaurs, and the Bigfoot monster truck shouldn’t be missed.Now-Dec. 30. $22.50 for a standard vehicle. Pine Knob Music Theatre,;.
Glenlore Trails: Aurora
The popular mile-long illuminated winter trail is back for the 2023 holiday season. Take a walk on the manicured, but unpaved trail to take in thousands of lights set to festive seasonal music. Open Thursdays-Sundays.Now-Dec. 30. $20-$25 for adults, $15 for ages 4-12, free for kids under 3. Glenlore Trails,;.
The Holidays at Meadow Brook
Meadow Brook celebrates the holidays with its Holiday Walk and Winter Wonder Lights events. The Holiday walk will take you on a tour of the historic mansion, which is decked out in its holiday best, while Winter Wonder Lights takes you around the grounds to see the breathtaking seasonal displays.Now-Dec. 30. $20.50 for adult holiday walk, $8 for kids 3-12 Holiday Walk, $22.50 for Winter Wonder Lights, $12.50 for kids 3-12 Winter Wonder Lights, free kids under 2. Meadow Brook Hall,;.
Home for the Holidays at Ford House
Take an evening self-guided through the beautifully lit historic estate. As you make your way around the home and grounds, you’ll hear stories about its history. Each ticket includes hot chocolate.Now-Dec. 30. $20-$30 for adults, $10-$15 for kids. Edsel & Eleanor Ford House,;.
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo
Visit the zoo to take in spectacularlight displaysthemed to animals that live at the zoo. The event takes place in the front half of the zoo and animal habitats are not accessible during the event.Now–Jan. 7. $17+. Detroit Zoo,;.
Monroe Street Midway
Bumper carts, minigolf, and a ride down an 80-foot-long slide are among the activities available as this event returns to downtown Detroit, turning Monroe Street across from Campus Martius Park into a winter wonderland. Detroiters can also enjoy an immersive art experience as locally painted murals are transformed into multidimensional wonders using 3D technology. Now-Jan. 7. No cost. ; .
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