Things To Do in Detroit in November

Ready or not, November marks the start of the holiday season in Detroit! If you're ready to dive headfirst into a winter wonderland, mark your calendar with these festive events.

20th Annual Detroit Tree Lighting at Campus Martius - November 17

Deck out your holiday season in style and enjoy spectacular live entertainment, Olympic figure skaters, and award-winning local performers and skating clubs. The night will also feature amazing lighting attractions, holiday shopping, hot chocolate giveaways, food trucks, visits from Santa, and much more!

Monroe Street Midway - Opening November 9

Through January 7, experience a world of winter fun at the Monroe Street Midway with an arctic sled slide, bumper cars, an indoor arcade, puck-putt, and more! This winter season, the Midway will feature new interactive art activations in addition to the amazing original artwork that decks out the space.

Detroit Winter Markets - Opening November 9

While the kids play at the Midway, you can enjoy holiday shopping at the Downtown Detroit Markers at Cadillac Square. With more than a dozen local vendors present, the markets bring a wide variety of family-friendly activities, promotions, and engagements for visitors all season long.

The Rink at Campus Martius Park - Opening November 18

The Rink at Campus Martius Park presented by Visit Detroit is open seven days a week, including holidays, from November 18th through March. Rent skates at the rink or bring your own and enjoy the crisp winter air while taking in the stunning downtown Detroit views.

1001 Winter Wonders - Opening November 16

You know him and you love him! The jolly man in the red suit is back and waiting for your visit this holiday season at 1001 Woodward. Santa will be available for free first come, first served photos through December 24.

Skating downtown, award-winning holiday lighting, shopping with local pop-up retailers, and enjoying the best of Detroit's restaurants should all be on your list for a visit this holiday season.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities usually take place from October 28 to November 2 each year in Mexico and are celebrated in Latin American countries, the US, and Canada as well. The annual celebration is a time for families to gather, honor and remember deceased loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living relatives in homes, businesses, and cemeteries. You can celebrate in Detroit with the following events:

Día de los Muertos on the Detroit Riverfront – October 28

Inaugural Día de Muertos Tianguis/Festival at La Jalisciense Supermercado Y Taqueria - November 2

Run of the Dead in Southwest Detroit – November 4

Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts – through November 5

Detroit's metro area is decked out with holiday light displays and spectacles. Make your list, check it twice, and find out which of these activations makes it to the top of your Detroit itinerary!

Wayne County Lightfest at Hines Park - Opening November 16

The Big, Bright Light Show in Downtown Rochester - Opening November 20

Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo - Opening November 24

Winter Wonder Lights at Meadow Brook Hall - Opening November 24 (You can also enjoy Holiday Tea and a Holiday Walk at Meadow Brook this season)

Aurora at Glenlore Trails - Opening November TBD 2023

Elevate your holiday cheer with these stage performances, fusing time-honored traditions and exciting new experiences.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas at the Fox Theatre - November 8-12

Holiday Cabaret at the Detroit Public Theatre - November 19 - December 17

Disney's Frozen at the Detroit Opera House - November 29 - December 17

The Nutcracker at the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts - November 29

While the holidays are a highlight, there's more to be excited about in Detroit this November! Thanksgiving day carries its own excitement, drawing in both residents and visitors with fun.

Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot - November 23

America's Thanksgiving Day Parade Presented by Gardner White from The Parade Company - November 23

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers at Ford Field - November 23

In addition to these Thanksgiving traditions, you can check out these Detroit events:

All Things Detroit: Holiday Experience at Eastern Market - November 5

Motor City Comic Con - Fall Edition at Suburban Collection Showplace - November 10-12

Michigan State vs. Penn State at Ford Field - November 24

Indie Arts & Crafts Fest at Motor City Brewing Works - November 25

Stay warm in the chilly late fall air with a trip to one of Detroit's incredible museums. There are tons of exhibits and things to explore in November.

Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts – through November 5

Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Mandela: The Official Exhibition at the Henry Ford Museum for American Innovation