The Twelve Days of Detroit Christmas

Don’t forget to pack your ugly sweater because there are tons of Christmas parties happening in the Motor City. We keep the holiday vibes flowing well into the night with tons of holiday-themed events at local venues.

Check out some of the top nightlife and entertainment locations around town, where you’ll find holiday parties, special events, live music, and more. There’s even the Campus Martius Ugly Holiday Sweater Party on the ice rink with a live DJ.

Do you wish you could go back in time and experience your favorite Christmas movies playing in the theater again? Well, every year, Redford Theatre turns back the clocks and fills its movie schedule with all the holiday classics. Grab your popcorn and chocolate-covered raisins and attend a matinee.

Some of the classics screening during the holidays include The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. There’s even a holiday mystery movie on a select night, so take your guess which one they’ll have this year!

The only seasons that sports lovers know are on-season and off-season. Thankfully, holiday time is an excellent time for Detroit sports. Check out the Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, and Detroit Red Wings, all playing regular season home games throughout December. Cold weather never stops our dedicated fans--everybody still wears their favorite jersey after peeling off their winter coats.

It’s so cold in the D. If you can get past the frigid temperatures and slushy roads, you can enjoy one of the best parts about cold weather: warming yourself up with holiday drinks! And we’ve got some great spots for the perfect hot beverage to warm your hands, mouth, and belly.

The smooth, creamy eggnog from Calder Bros Dairy will leave you with the perfect holiday mustache. Satisfy your hot chocolate cravings at Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters Detroit and get extra whipped cream to top it off at Avalon Café.

Between walking in retail stores or tuning into the 100.3 WNIC Detroit Christmas station on the radio, you’ll have plenty of chances to have your favorite Christmas songs stuck in your head all season long.

Round of applause for the world-renowned Detroit Symphony Orchestra celebrating the holidays with music at the Detroit Orchestra Hall. Hear acapella versions of popular Christmas songs performed by the Voctave vocal ensemble. Listen to music from The Nutcracker and Disney holiday songs. You’ll feel all the nostalgia with concert renditions of Home Alone and Elf.

You can catch the Detroit Symphony Orchestra playing a free show during Noel Night

Once you start seeing lights starting to light up the Detroit night, you’ll know for sure that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Detroit loves its holiday lights, with many places to check out to brighten your holiday nights.

You’ll see tons of lights while hanging out around Campus Martius. Too cold? Hop in your car and drive through the Wayne County Lightfest in Hines Park for more than 100,000 lights and Christmas-themed displays. Light Up Beacon Park is a holiday pop-up with indoor and outdoor attractions, including 125,000 lights and interactive fun.

Explore some of our neighborhoods, and you’ll see tons of houses decked out in lights, inflatable snowmen, and reindeer posing in the yard. And we’re sure your hotel will have plenty of lights decorating the lobby to keep your holiday spirits high your entire stay.

Save your holiday shopping until you get to Detroit! Whether you’re the type to shop well in advance for the holidays or looking for last-minute gifts, you’ll find tons of places to pick up something for everyone on your ‘nice’ list.

The local holiday markets are the perfect destination to get a taste of Detroit during your holiday shopping. Head to Eastern Market to shop vendors hawking Christmas trees, decorations, and handicrafts for stocking stuffers. Grab a hot coffee from FOLK and browse a dozen vendor stalls for clothing, apparel, wellness and beauty, and good vibes.

Bundle up because the heart of Detroit turns into a winter wonderland with tons of fun for families visiting Detroit in the winter. The Rink, an outdoor skating rink, comes to Campus Martius Park every winter to skate beneath the lights.

Skate laps with the crowd or grasp onto the ledge while making your way around the rink. The entire park is decorated for the holidays with the Christmas tree, holiday lights, and classic Christmas tunes playing that you’ll find yourself whistling long after turning in your skates.

Fill up your Detroit holiday travel itinerary with tickets to one of our live performances happening down at the Fox. This iconic theatre hosts everything from award-winning stage plays to Broadway musicals to classic Christmas productions during the winter.

Sing along to How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical and watch the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet. You’ll be entertained with every act for the Magical Cirque Christmas Holiday Variety Show, and the Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays will enchant you with tricks you’ll still be thinking about even when Christmas is over.

Check out the holiday schedule here to see what’s playing during your visit.

Write your own Christmas story with Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. This 80-acre heritage site hosts its special after-hours activities during the season, and everyone’s invited.

Stroll down Main Street, where carolers provide the soundtrack to the season. Step to the melodies while admiring buildings like the Martha-Mary Chapel and Wright Cycle Shop decorated with lights. You’ll see Model T’s riding alongside horse-drawn carriages. And attend a special holiday dinner at the legendary Eagle Tavern.

During the summer, you’ll see mobile bars cycling the streets of Detroit. In the wintertime, the horse-drawn carriages are the head-turners on the road. Nothing screams holidays more than seeing these majestic beasts tugging carts amidst Christmas lights and skyline views.

If you thought the Model T could eliminate horse-drawn carriages, think again! Snuggle in the carriage while riding around Campus Martius and Greenfield Village.

The Jolly fellow is in town early, and rumor has it, he likes to spend time at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. And with the cozy decorations creating the perfect ‘home-for-the-holidays’ atmosphere, it’s easy to see why! Now’s the perfect chance to tell him to bring the number one thing on your Christmas list.

Meeting Santa is only part of the fun you can look forward to at the Ford House. You’ll get a tour of the historic home completely outfitted for the holidays and enjoy arts and crafts in the Visitor Center.

Can’t make this Santa meet & greet? Check out some of the other places Santa is popping up around Metro Detroit.