YOUR "LITTLE" GUIDE TO FAMILY ADVENTURES IN METRO DETROIT
HOLIDAY SEASON
BRIGHT LIGHTS + COMMUNITY EVENTS
SANTA FINDERS + SHOPPING GUIDES
DAY TRIPS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS
COUNTDOWN TO 2022
HERE'S TO A HAPPY, STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY SEASON The hustle and bustle of daily life gets a little busier come the end of the year. As soon as Halloween is over, it's time for the holiday season - tree lighting ceremonies, turkey trots, parades, outdoor light events, traditional stage shows, and all things SANTA. So in effort to spend less time looking for things to do and more time having FUN with your family, we've created a "little" guide to all things winter + holiday! For daily ideas + inspiration, visit www.littleguidedetroit.com, follow us on social media, sign up for our e-newsletters, and enjoy this NEW digital magazine as a planning guide for the holiday season. We'll share our adventures and would love to see yours as well. Tag us at @littleguidedetroit in your social posts for reposts + follows.
Here's to a joyful finish to 2021!
TREE LIGHTING EVENTS 01 02 03 04 05 06
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07 03 11
Detroit Tree Lighting - 11/19 Dearborn Tree Lighting - 11/22 Royal Oak Tree Lighting - 12/2 Cool Yule Parade (South Lyon) - 12/4 Southgate Winter Wonderland - 12/3 Fuerst Festive Nights (Novi) - 12/3
12 07 08 09 10 11 12
Livonia Merry & Bright 12/5 Farmington Tree Lighting 12/7 Holiday Lighted Parade - 11/19 Christmas Aglow - 12/4 Big Bright Light Show 11/22 A Sterling Christmas 12/4
Words by Adam Warner Photos by John Reed
AMERICA'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be marching down Woodward Avenue once again this year and you can watch it live on Thursday, November 25th. Wake up early Thanksgiving morning and head to Detroit to watch floats, marching bands, and live entertainment make their way from Midtown to downtown. Reserve the best seats and order your Grand Stand tickets for $55 to $70 or find a spot on the sidewalk along the route. Rain, snow or shine - this is an annual tradition that your family won't soon forget.
Behind the Scenes
Did you know that you can take a behindthe-scenes tour of the actual floats from the parade and learn how they are made? Tours of the Parade Company Studio are available year round: $8 (ages 3-17) and $12 (adults).
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CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
SANTA'S MAILBOXES
SANTA TRACKERS
Put together your letter for Santa (make sure to include a return address) and plan a special trip to deliver it to a Santa Mailbox near you.
If your little ones are anxious for Santa’s arrival or you’re anxious for a reason to scoot them to bed, here are the best sites to track Santa's sleigh arrival in Michigan.
Ann Arbor - 318 S. Main Street Brighton Christmas House - 3382 Hilton Pointe Canterbury Village - 2369 Joslyn Ct Rochester - Corner of 4th Street + Main
Official NORAD Santa Tracker Where is Santa Lite Google’s Santa Tracker
3 WAYS TO GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
01 Bake cookies and bring them to a local senior living complex or to first responders to brighten their day.
02 Support small business and find cocoa bombs to drink while FaceTiming a relative that you haven't seen lately.
03 Have your kids make a card for their teacher letting them know how much you appreciate all that they do.
8 THINGS TO DO IN DETROIT DURING THE HOLIDAYS There's nothing quite like downtown during the holidays. From the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, to the Thanksgiving Day Parade here are the top activities you don't want to miss this holiday season!
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TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY 12/19 AMERICA'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE 11/25
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SWINGING BELLS @ BEACON PARK
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HOLIDAY MARKETS @ EASTERN MARKET
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DSO'S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 12/17 - 12/19
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MONROE STREET DRIVE-IN
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ICE SKATING @ CAMPUS MARTIUS
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WINTER WONDERS @ 1001 WOODWARD
HOLIDAYS @ FORD HOUSE Find timeless holiday fun at the Ford House this winter, including their NEW Starry Lights interactive light display event series. Bundle up in your Sunday best for a memorable stroll through the Ford Estate. Families can explore the grounds, marvel at the holiday displays inside the mansion, and enjoy a meal with Santa at their new Visitor Center. This holiday season, The Ford House is premiering their NEW Starry Lights event series, as an outdoor immersive and interactive display that will give families a new way to experience a wintery, starry sky. Tickets are $12 for kids and $20 for adults.
Starry Lights // November 18 - January 9 Cookies with Santa // December 4 – 18 Breakfast with Santa // December 12 – 19 NOTE: Santa visits are popular and sell out every year.
6 FAMILY TRADITIONS TO START THIS YEAR The holidays are a special time of year for everyone, but it’s especially magical for kids. Lean into the magic of the holiday season with these tried and true family traditions that are sure to make everything merry + bright.
Pick a themed ornament for your little's stocking to remind you of their favorite thing this year
U-pick the perfect tree
pull out your holiday books + add a new one to your family collection
find a light show : neighborhood, drive-thru or walking
make a gingerbread house
family movie night favs: the grinch, noelle + jingle jangle
U-PICK TREE FARMS U-pick farms open in November and are the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit.
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BLAKE FARMS (ARMADA)
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CANDY CANE TREE FARM (OXFORD)
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WALDOCK TREE FARM (HOWELL)
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WESTMAN'S TREE FARM (DEXTER)
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HURON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM (NEW BOSTON)
LITTLEGUIDE FAVORITE We to as we
went to Blake Farms last year cut down our first 'real' tree a family. It is now a tradition will do for years to come. We had so much fun taking the tractor to the fields and picking the perfect tree - and we can't wait to do it again this year!
- LittleGuide Founder, Kerry Doman
Metro Detroit Santa Finder Shopping Stop
Santa's Arrival Date Briarwood Mall (Ann Arbor): 11/26 Great Lakes Crossings (Auburn Hills): 11/18 Mall at Partridge Creek (Clinton Township): 11/17 Fairlane Town Center (Dearborn): 11/26 Laurel Park Mall (Livonia): 11/19 Santa @ Village of Rochester Hills: 11/19 Lakeside Mall (Sterling Heights): 11/12 Somerset Mall (Troy): 11/27 Oakland Mall (Troy): 11/26 Twelve Oaks Mall (Novi): 11/12 Sensory Friendly Santa 12/5 - 12/12
Picture Perfect
Magical Moments Spicer Orchard (Fenton) : 11/26 - 12/24 Tree Cedars Farm (Northville): 11/26 Downtown Birmingham: 11/27 - 12/24 The Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn): 12/3 - 12/28 The Ford House (Grosse Pointe Shoes): 12/4 - 12/18 Meadow Brook Hall (Rochester): Saturdays in December Cranbrook House and Gardens (Bloomfield Hills): 12/4 & 12/5 Maybury Fam (Northville): 12/4, 12/5, 12/11 & 12/12
Save the Date
Get Tickets NOW! Village Center (Milford): 12/2 Fuerst Park (Novi): 12/3 12/5 Mill Race Village (Northville): 12/3 - 12/4 Lake St. Clair Metropark (Harrison): 12/4 Greenmead Historic Park (Livonia): 12/4 Historic Village (Troy): 12/4 Kensington Metropark (Milford): 12/4 & 12/11 Longacre House (Farmington Hills): 12/5 Stony Creek Metropark (Shelby Township): 12/11 Pavilion (Southfield): 12/11 Oakwood Metropark (New Boston): 12/12 Nature Center (Shelby Township): 12/19
5 REASONS TO VISIT BLAKE FARMS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON There's only one place you need to go to get ready for the holidays Blake Farms in Armada. Put it on your holiday hit list and get into the Christmas spirit as you and your family make some memories picking out the perfect tree or ice skating under the lights . Blake’s is open from 8am to 6pm every day from November 21 to December 23, giving you plenty of time to find a tree, go on a wagon ride, hit the ice, and enjoy some warm donuts and hot cider or a family dinner in an igloo. The outdoor synthetic ice rink is open daily through January 3. Skating costs $10 per person, with $5 for skate rental or guests can bring their own.
Click to Plan Your Trip to Blake's
5 REASONS TO VISIT BIRMINGHAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS WINTER MARKT 12/3-12/5 Experience the magic of the holidays at the annual Birmingham Winter Markt, featuring displays from local artists and vendors, European cuisine, thousands of holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment, complimentary carriage rides + more.
SANTA HOUSE 11/27-12/24 Bring your wish list to Santa's House at Shain Park. The 'Big Guy' is ready to visit with good little girls and boys - he's even bringing his reindeer.
ICE SKATING Strap on some skates and hit the ice at Barnum Park. It's free and open to the public.
HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES 11/27 - 12/24 Hop aboard a complimentary horse-drawn carriage for an illuminated tour of the holiday lights and beautifully decorated downtown.
GET HOLIDAY READY Find the perfect outfit for holiday pictures at Petite Cabane, Egg New York or Lil' Rascals. And plan a girls afternoon with a full beauty treatment - hair, nails and make-up.
Travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, airplane, or other means, with or without luggage, and can b one way or round trip.
Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movement
5 Ways To Give Back During The Holidays It's not always about what you get but what you give. Kids of all ages can help make the holidays special for people in their community. Share these ideas of service with them and pick a project to do as a family. Pick up extra ingredients at the store and donate to a food pantry or canned food drive. Collect and return cans to donate change to the Salvation Army bell ringers. Help a neighbor by racking leaves (or shoveling snow). Bake cookies and deliver them to a local senior living complex, fire department or hospital. Find gently used toys and clothes at home and donate them to a local shelter.
WHERE TO FIND
The Grinch
It's not always about Santa Claus, sometimes The Grinch steals the show and here's where you can find him: The Mean One & Cindi Loo Hoo (Lambertville): November 26 & 28, December 18 & 23 Meet 'The Grouch' @ Oakland Mall: December 10 - 19 Ornament Workshop with The Grinch @ Blake Farms: December 18 & 19
BEST PLACES TO SHOP LOCAL Toyology
The Toy Box
Bloomfield Hills/Royal Oak/West Bloomfield
With 3 locations and the only holiday gift catalogue your kids need, shop local and stop by Toyology.
Sterling Heights
Meet Stanley, everyone’s favorite dinosaur at The Toy Box - he and his friends on staff can help you find the perfect gift.
Modern Natural Baby
Little High Flyers Detroit
Ferndale
Ferndale's Modern Natural Baby store isn't just for babies. Get gifts for all ages - and all your Montessori musts.
Village Toy Shoppe Milford
Take a trip to downtown Milford and find toys, books, crafts, clothes and more for kids of all ages.
Whistle Stop Hobby & Toy St. Clair Shores
Located in the Detroit Holiday Market, Little High Flyers is a kids boutique with unique items from the US and all over the world.
Find the hard to find hobby toys and all of your modern day favorites in St. Clair Shores.
STOP BY COREANDER'S BOOKSHOPPE We love getting new books for the holidays and the recently remodeled and whimsical Coreander's Bookshoppe is a book lover's dream. Need a few ideas? Here are a few favorite titles to find:
15118 KERCHEVAL AVE, GROSSE POINTE, MI 48230
There’s An Elf In Your Book by Tom Fletcher The Nutcracker In Harlem by T.E. McMorrow The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle
Give The Gift of Experience Holiday shopping is stressful, and the truth is, having more toys at home is stressful too. This Christmas, consider a new kind of gift – an experience that your littles won’t soon forget.
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SIGN UP FOR A CLASS
Give them the gift of life-long lessons with weekly swim classes at Aqua-Tots Swim School, coding class at The Robot Garage , circus classes at Detroit Flyhouse or climbing lessons at Planet Rock.
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MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP
A museum membership is an incredible gift that keeps on giving all throughout the year (and one of our personal favorite recommendations)! Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum ($80) Cranbrook Institute of Science ($75) Detroit Historical Museum ($95) The Detroit Zoo ($119) The Henry Ford ($185)
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TICKETS TO A SHOW
Broadway's The Lion King and Frozen are coming to Michigan next year - along with LoL Suprise! Live, Trolls, and Disney On Ice. Let your littles experience their favorite characters live on stage!
HOLIDAY SHOWS IN METRO DETROIT There's nothing quite like seeing your favorite characters live on stage!
Cirque Dreams Holidaze - 12/3 to 12/5
A Magical Cirque Christmas - 12/12
Cirque Dreams Holidaze will light up the stage in the awe-inspiring, eye-popping family holiday spectacular. Fox Theatre, Detroit
In A Magical Cirque Christmas, Darling will take audiences through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by their favorite holiday music performed live. Fox Theatre, Detroit
The Hip Hop Nutcracker - 12/5 A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker combines hip hop dance and Tchaikovksy’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. Detroit Opera House, Detroit
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 12/11 Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts characters in their journey to uncover the true meaning of Christmas. Fox Theatre, Detroit
The Nutcracker - 12/17 & 12/18 Travel with Clara on a magical adventure through an enchanted forest to a Kingdom of Sweets filled with colorful characters and pure festive delight. The Macomb Center, Clinton Township
TOP 8 MICHIGAN ROAD TRIPS Make the most out of your holiday break or simply escape the hustle and bustle of home, with a mini Michigan getaway.
Go for a magical ride on Memory Lane Train at the Christmas Lite Show in Grand Rapids. If your littles are looking for Santa and his reindeer, take a trip to Rooftop Landing Farm in Clare. Count HUNDREDS of decorated trees at Comstock Park in Adrian. The city beat the Hallmark record with 676 trees all lit up. Bronner's offers Christmas all year long, but there's something extra special about being in Frankenmuth during December. Stroll through the Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. Enjoy a Winter Wonderland at Fellinlove Farm in Holland. Afterwards, you can shop the Europeanstyle Kerstmarkt downtown. Visit Santa's House in downtown Midland and then take The Northern Star Train ride for a downtown tour. Polar Express fans will want to experience the North Pole Express in Owosso. The half day experience includes a long train ride and a two hour layover at the Village of Ashley Country Christmas.
WHERE TO FIND THE 'POLAR EXPRESS' IN METRO DETROIT Holiday Express (Clinton Township) Clinton Township Recreation and the Michigan Transit Museum recreate the magical Holiday Express train ride for children of all ages. The Polar Express story will be read as the train begins its journey, while families feast on hot chocolate & cookies, sing carols and more!
Southern Michigan Railroad (Tecumseh) Take a 30 minute train ride to see Santa, spend about an hour visiting and then take a 30-minute ride back. Trains are nearly 100 years old and not heated so bundle up for a weekend adventure beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Spicer Orchards (Fenton) The train to see Santa runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Christmas at Spicer Orchard. Santa will be available for photos at the workshop and Mrs. Claus is on hand to help with the camera if needed. After your special visit, warm up with cider and donuts around the bonfire as you recount the fun had with Santa! You can also stock up on more sweet treats and holiday goodies from the Spicer Market.
Holiday Houses Worth Visiting Turn your radio dial, turn off your headlights and enjoy a FREE holiday light show from the comfort of your own car. These neighborhoods are really LIGHTING things up! Bostick Family Light Show (Garden City): 29195 Sheridan St, Garden City, MI 48135 Palasek Light Show (Commerce): 1893 Viking Cir, Commerce Charter Twp, MI 48390 Ewles Family Lights (Fenton): 10348 Carmer Rd, Fenton, MI 48430 Walter Family Lights (Linden): 518 Tania Trail, Linden, MI 48451 Perrin Family Lights (Livonia): 11820 Jarvis St, Livonia, MI 48150 Busch Family Lights (Livonia): 14306 Pere St, Livonia, MI 48154 LYP Family Christmas Light Show (New Boston): Waltz Rd between Judd and S Huron South Lyon Light Show (South Lyon): 690 Mcmunn St, South Lyon, MI 48178 Wagner Lights (Warren): 29743 Wagner Dr, Warren, MI 48093
FAMILY TRADITION
Wayne County Lightfest Put on your Christmas playlist and drive down Hines Drive for 4.5 miles of light displays - it’s only $5 per car! The Lightfest runs 11/25 - 12/31 and opens on Wednesdays through Sundays from 6pm-10pm. The entrance is located at 7651 N. Merriman Road in Westland.
LITTLEGUIDE FAVORITE
MY FAMILY WISHLIST Tree lighting ceremonies, local parades, holiday shows, Santa sightings, and weekend getaways. Get organized and start making your holiday plans.
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