The holiday season is full of upcoming activities and events, including holiday light displays, music and theater performances, and a visit from Santa. Check the event website for up-to-date information on event times and dates.
Auburn Hills
• “Best Holiday Show Ever”: December 17, 7:05 PM and December 18, 2:05 PM, Avondale Performing Arts Center, 2800 Waukegan St., Auburn Hills, avondaletheatrecompany.ludus.com; The minimum contribution is $10 for adults and $5 for students.
• Winter Solstice Lantern Walk: December 18th from 5-8pm at Hawk Woods Park & Campground to celebrate the winter solstice as the days begin to lengthen into the summer solstice in June. The event features lantern-lit paths through the forest, wreath making, hot chocolate and coffee, and a Yule ceremony by the fire (www.facebook.com/events/864277051218406).
• Santa’s Flight Academy: through December 24th at the Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills (greatlakescrossingoutlets.com/pages/sfa). Photo packages starting at $39.99.
birmingham
• The Great Decorate – Nurtures hope for the holiday season to help impoverished teens based in Metro Detroit. More than 40 businesses in downtown Birmingham decorate the halls with holiday trees and creative window displays. Vote for your favorite display by donating any amount at www.TheGreatDecorate.com before December 31st.
Clarkston/Independence Twp.
• Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Holiday Light Display: Through December 31st, Pine Knob Music Theater Parking Lot, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Twp. Passes must be purchased online at magicoflights.com/events/clarkston and are $20 or more.
Farmington/Farmington Hills
• Farmington Chorus Bright and Best Holiday Concerts: December 16, 8pm and December 17, 4pm, The Hawk – Farmington Hills Community Centre, 29995 W 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, Farmingtonchorus.com, 248 -473-1850.
• Farmington Concert Band A Holiday Toast: December 18, 3pm, North Farmington High School Auditorium, 32900 W. 13 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, fcbmusic.org, Free.
Holly
• HollyDazzle – Renaissance Christmas Celebration: Michigan Renaissance Festival, 12600 Dixie Highway, Holly, 5:30-10:30 pm through December 31st. HollyDazzle features several illuminated Christmas scenes, caroling, storytelling, live Santa photo shoots, games and crafts for kids on his 4 million+ outdoor trails with over 1 million lights. It features food purchases at Santa’s Sweet Shoppe. Adults – $21.95, Children ages 5-12 – $8.95, Elf Bundle – $21.95, (1 adult + 1 child) Children 4 and under are free entry, free parking, tickets can be purchased at www.michrenfest.com increase.
Lake Orion/Orion Twp.
• Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll: Friday to Sunday from 5pm to December 18th and December 22nd to 23rd at Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Ct., Orion Twp. Songs, live Christmas performances, holiday scenes. Santa will be able to visit and his personal mailbox will be available as well. Tickets for the Holiday Stroll, held rain, snow or sun, are $14.99 per person and must be purchased online in advance at CanterburyVillage.com. Children under the age of 2 and active duty military and veterans are admitted free. Parking is $5.
Northville
• It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Tipping Point Theater, 361 E. Cady St., Northville, www.tippingpointtheatre.com through December 18, $28 or more.
• The “Tree of Teeth” Christmas Tree DMX Holiday Music Light Show will be held nightly from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm through January 6 in front of Preservation Dental at 371 E. Main Street North Building. The nearly 20-foot tall tree is made up of over 1,000 oversized plastic white molars with over 1,000 twinkling lights.
Novi
• Santa’s Flight Academy: Twelve Oaks Mall Lifestyle Café Food Court, 27500 Novi Road, Novi, book online at shoptwelveoaks.com/pages/sfa, photo packages starting at $39.99.
pontiac
• Tree Festival: The public can vote for their favorite tree through December 30th. The Christmas tree is “adopted” by a non-profit organization and hung at participating merchants in downtown Pontiac. The nonprofit with the most votes will receive $500 for Holidayextravaganza.org.
Rochester/Rochester Hills
• Old-Fashioned Christmas: December 17, noon to 3pm, Rochester Hills Museum, Van Hosen Farm, 1005 Van Hosen Road, Rochester Hills, $8 for museum members, $10 for non-members. Registration at rochesterhills.org/museum is preferred but not required. A farm wagon transports guests to the museum building for musical entertainment, theater groups, railroad exhibits, crafts, and refreshments.
• A Christmas Carol Performance: through December 24th, Meadow Brook Theatre, 378 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester, 248-377-3300, www.mbtheatre.com. $36 and up.
• Walk with Santa: Select a time and date through December 24th. The Village of Rochester Hills Shopping Center in Rochester Hills, Festival Park, Outdoor Shopping Center, 104 N Adams Road, Rochester Hills. No reservation required. Check the hours on the www.TheVORH.com website. Guests are invited to bring their own cameras.
• Holiday Walks and Winter Wonder Lights: through December 30th at the Oakland University campus at 350 Estate Drive, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester. During the day, Holiday Walk takes visitors through the historic mansion gen. Timed tickets are $20, youth tickets are $7.50. Meanwhile, Winter Wonder Lights is a self-guided outdoor event with light displays on site from 5:30pm to 10pm most nights through December 30th. Adult tickets are $22 and youth tickets are $22. $12 each at www.meadowbrookholidays.com.
• The Big, Bright Light Show: Every night from 5:00 pm to midnight through January 21st, Business Holiday Lighting in Downtown Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com.
royal oak
• Elf the Musical Performances: through December 18th at The Baldwin Theatre, 415 South Lafayette, Royal Oak, Stagecrafters production, www.stagecrafters.org. Tickets are $28+ on Thursdays and $38+ on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• Menorah Lighting: December 21, 4:30-6:00 PM, Royal Oak Downtown, South Center Street, 3rd & 4th Streets. Hosted by the Royal Oak Chabad Jewish Center. The event features a giant Lego menorah light, dreidel ice sculpture, s’more roasting station, children’s activity center, gelt drop, heated tents and more, and is free to attend at jewishroyaloak.com. increase.
• Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo: through January 8, select weeknights and most Sundays from 5:00 to 9:00 pm most Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 to 10:30 pm, event at 5:00 pm It will take place at 10:30 am. Zoo, no habitat access, general admission tickets from $17 each, free entry for children under 2, $8 parking, wildlights.detroitzoo.org.
Southfield
• The annual Donation Sleigh will be held on December 17 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in front of the Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Road, Southfield. community organization. Gift bags of children’s toys and clothing will be distributed to Southfield and Ruthrup Village families in need on a first-come, first-served basis.
Troy
• Santa Claus and The Grouch: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 23rd, Oakland Mall (412 W. 14 Mile Road, Troy). Santa makes a solo appearance Monday through Thursday from 10am to 8pm on weekdays. There is no pre-registration for these events, on a first-come, first-served basis. Photo packages are available but not required. $12.99+, OaklandMall.com.
• Victorian Christmas: Self-guided tours of festive venues and historic buildings that host special family-friendly holiday events. Open to visitors of all ages on December 16th from 6-8pm. December 17, 10am-4pm, December 18, 10am-3pm, Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy. Tickets are $10 for Troy Historical Society members and $12 for non-members. Early online registration is encouraged at www.TroyHistoricVillage.org.
• Santa’s Visit: Somerset Collection Holiday Castle, North Grand Court, 2800 West Big Beaver Road, Troy through December 23rd. Santa’s visits are available Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6:55 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:55 PM. The Children’s Only Holiday Shop is open from 12pm to 6pm through December 23rd at Somerset Collection North, Level 3, near Nordstrom.