Ho-ho-hold up — it’s December? We would have sworn it was late October because, well, it should come as no surprise that this year is a bit of a blur, and when things blur they change. The same goes for all of metro Detroit’s holiday happenings. Though things may look and feel a bit different this year (and, yeah, we are so tired of hearing that) Christmas continues thanks to the power of tradition, old and new. From visits with Santa (albeit contactless) to cutting down the family Christmas tree (albeit while social distancing) and hitting the mall for a holiday movie (outside, in the parking lot, and from the comfort of your car), you and your family can still celebrate the holiday — because if one thing is true of metro Detroiters, we will keep on trucking, somehow.
Spicer Orchards Santa Claus and Musical Spicer Express Train
10411 Clyde Rd., Fenton; 810-632-7602; allinbirmingham.com; Train rides are $12 per person before 6 p.m., $15 person after 6 p.m.
Want to see where the Christmas magic happens? No, we’re not talking about Mr. and Mrs. Claus’ personal entries on the naughty list. At Spicer Orchards, folks can get a glimpse of Santa at work at his sleigh workshop. How do you get there, you may ask? Well, there’s a Musical Spicer Express Train that takes you there and back. Along the way there are holiday lights and bonfires. Oh, did we mention cider and doughnuts? Families can book train rides via phone for Thursday-Sunday through Dec. 23.
Photo via Spicer Orchards/FacebookAddison Oaks Tree Farm
355 Lake George Rd., Oakland; 248-814-0583; addisonoakstrees.com
This family-owned Christmas tree farm established in 1988 is a full-service spot to get your holiday greenery. This year, they’ve reduced their hours to just servicing folks and their trees on weekends through Dec. 20. Once you snag the tree of your dreams, Addison Oaks will provide twine to secure that sappy baby to your car, and all trees are run through this cool machine that shakes your tree to remove debris (try not to think too hard about possible birds nests being thrown asunder). Anyway, they have a limited supply of bargain trees, and they have tree bailing and drilling services available for a fee.
Photo via Addison Oaks Tree Farm/FacebookBlake Farms
17985 Armada Center Rd, Armada; 586-784-5343; blakesfarms.com/blakes-family-christmas
Blake Farms is more than your run of the mill Christmas tree farm. Most months, we know it as the best place to get some food, pick some apples, snag some cider, and catch all the fall feels. Well, now you can shop Blake’s holiday market, take some family photos, and drink hot chocolate, cider, while enjoying the heat of a bonfire. Oh, we totally forgot to mention the whole Christmas tree thing. Blake’s has more than 100 acres of Christmas tree farm to pick the perfect, or most Charlie Brown-inspired, Christmas tree you can find.
Photo via Blake Farms/FacebookHillside Christmas Tree Farm
14745 Sharon Hollow Rd., Manchester; 517-456-7233;Pictures with the Grinch and letters to Santa at Friendship Park
3380 W. Clarkston Rd., Lake Orion; 248-391-0304 ext. 3500; orionparks.com; Admission is $6-$8.
From 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, kids have the opportunity to meet another Christmas icon: the Grinch. The pavilion at Friendship Park will host the Grinch and Santa letter-writing, and a take-home craft station. Each child gets a 15-minute time slot and families are invited to bring their own camera/phone to capture the mean green Christmas-hating machine and, well, you know, your kids doing cute kid stuff.
Photo via Orion Parks and Recreation/FacebookWestman’s Tree Farm
8000 Chamberlain Rd., Dexter; 734-646-7064; westmanschristmastreefarm.com
Looking to spruce up the place? Perhaps with a blue or Norway spruce? This U-cut Christmas tree farm has thousands of trees to choose from ranging from 5-8 feet with some select 9-10 footers for those feeling every bit like Clark Griswold this season. Heads up, this place is cash or check only, so come with so come prepared.
Photo via Westman’s Tree Farm/FacebookPictures with Santa at the Mall at Partridge Creek
17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp.; 586-226-0330; shoppartridgecreek.com; Photo packages start at $19.99.
Who needs a partridge in a pear tree when you have Santa at Partridge Creek? Santa is making yet another stop, this time at Clinton Township’s outdoor mall for some contactless Christmas fun. Guests have to make online reservations to visit Santa through Dec. 24 online with some walk-up availability during the first and last hours of the day. Per many of Santa’s visits, everyone over the age of 2 must wear a face mask and, while supplies last, children who visit Old Saint Nick get a ho, ho, ho facemask.
Photo via GoogleMapsMatthes Tree Farm
13416 Lulu Rd., Ida; 734-269-2668; matthestreefarm.com
Trees on trees on trees. For those who want to cut their own, Matthes Tree Farm allows you to do that. If you’re sensitive to sap hands — that’s the, uh, medical term for when you get sap on your hands — they have pre-cut and live balled trees, too. Don’t miss out on a trip to a petting zoo, wagon rides, and select appearances by Santa.
Photo via Matthes Evergreen Farm/FacebookHollydazzle: A Renaissance Christmas
12600 Dixie Hwy., Holly; michrenfest.com/hollydazzle; Tickets are $20 per adult, $8 per kid over 5 years old.
Huzzah! Michigan’s Renaissance Festival may have been postponed this year, but the RenFest team have made good use of the sprawling medieval village, first with their Halloween event and, now, with Hollydazzle, which runs weekends through Dec. 27. The three-quarter-mile outdoor trail features more than a dozen illuminated holiday scenes, including Santa Claus, snowmen, and Candy Land. There’s shopping opportunities, too, where folks can snag some sweet treats and other goodies.
Photo courtesy of the Michigan Renaissance FestivalHuron Christmas Tree Farm
32120 King Rd., New Boston; 734-753-9288; huronchristmastreefarm.com
What’s better than one Christmas tree? How about 10,000 Douglas fir, Fraser fir, white pine, blue spruce, and white spruce, which is the selection offered by Huron Christmas Tree Farm? Don’t come with your American Express expecting to buy a forest’s worth of trees, though, as they only accept cash or check.
Photo via Huron Christmas Tree Farm/FacebookPictures with Santa at Twelve Oaks Mall
27500 Novi Rd., Novi; shoptwelveoaks.com/pages/sfa; Photo packages start at $19.99.
What if we told you that you could knock out some holiday shopping and introduce your kids to the guy who is technically supposed to be doing the shopping for you? We know it’s confusing, mostly for the kids, but they’ll likely forget the inconsistencies in the whole Santa/gift thing when they meet the man of the hour during Twelve Oaks Mall’s Santa’s Flight Academy through Dec. 24. Guests must pre-register and prepay and, upon arrival, guests who are 2 years old and older must be masked, including Santa. Families are also asked to socially distance because we know your kids are wishing for a non-pandemic Christmas for next year.
Photo via Twelve Oaks Mall/FacebookVillage of Rochester Hills Santa Clause
Northeast corner of Adams and Walton, Rochester Hills; theory.com
Bring your camera, because you’re gonna want to snap some pics of your little elf getting some face time with Santa. But don’t get your hopes up, as very few time slots are available — but you might get lucky. ‘Tis the season, after all.
Photo via Village of Rochester Hills/FacebookPictures with Santa at Laurel Park Place
37700 Six Mile Rd., Livonia; laurelparkplace.com; Photo packages start at $39.99.
Whoa, this Santa guy sure does get around. He’s heading to Laurel Park Place shopping center for photos until Christmas Eve. Monday through Saturday, folks can catch a glimpse of Santa from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays at the Laurel Park Place food court. Guests are asked to pre-register and to respect the whole wearing a mask thing, at least if you’re 2 years old or older. Don’t want to head to the mall during a pandemic? Laurel Park Place is offering a limited schedule of virtual Santa visits for pets and kids, too.
Photo via GoogleMapsUrquhart Tree Farm
10050 Jerusalem Rd., Chelsea; 734-433-8733; urquharttreefarms.com
Cut it out! No, really, pick a tree and cut it out and put it in your house because that is a weird tradition we continue to do and no one helps us fulfill that tradition quite like Urquhart Tree Farm. Need to search for some last minute gifts or wreaths? You can do that here, too.
Photo via Urquhart Tree Farm/FacebookMovie Magic at Lakeside Mall
14000 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights; moviemagiclakeside.com; Tickets are $25 per car.
The latest drive-in pandemic offering comes by way of Mike Oddo of Movie Magic. Located in the parking lot of Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, Movie Magic Lakeside offers two screens, both of which screen a rotation of holiday classics — like Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — every Friday and Saturday and Sunday night starting at 5:20 p.m. Movie Magic Lakeside began screening Christmas movies on Nov. 20 and has updated the current online schedule to include multiple showtimes for Dec. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13. The cost per car is $25 and includes access to a single film.
Photo courtesy of Mike OddoWinterfest Market in Dearborn
Wagner Park, Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street, Dearborn; events.getlocalhop.com/downtown-dearborn
On Saturday, Dec. 12, Downtown Dearborn’s Wagner Park will transform itself for its annual Winterfest Market. In addition to an outdoor market with more than 30 local vendors, Winterfest Market will host ice carving demonstrations, live reindeer, free pictures with Santa, and, for those who register in a timely fashion, breakfast with Santa, which offers kids some grub and a socially distanced photo and some much-needed caffeine fix via complimentary coffee for the parents.
Photo courtesy of the Dearborn DDAPhotos with Santa at Bass Pro Shop at Great Lakes Crossing
4500 Baldwin Rd., Auburn Hills; basspro.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland; Visits are free.
This year, Santa is kicking major bass. Well, not quite but he will be paying a visit to Bass Pro Shop at Great Lakes Crossing through Dec. 24. Guests can anticipate temperature screening, enforced social distancing, Santa’s “sanitization squad,” and mask-wearing. Santa will be sporting a magic face shield so all can see the joy on his face when he realizes he no longer has to sit crying kids on his lap. Online reservations are both free and required to snag some one-on-one with the man in red.
Photo via GoogleMapsPhotos with Santa at Great Lakes Crossing
4000 Baldwin Rd., Auburn Hills; greatlakescrossingoutlets.com; Photo packages start at $19.99.
Santa is extra busy this year, and will be paying a visit to Great Lakes Crossing through Dec. 24. All photo sessions must be made by a reservation, which includes pre-payment. Guests, yes, even the little ones 2 years and older, must wear masks and social distancing between scheduled parties will be enforced. Don’t worry, Santa will be donning a holiday maks, too, putting the icing on your family’s pandemic photo opp.
Photo via Ilze_Lucero / Shutterstock.comPhotos with Santa at Birmingham Santa House/Shain Park
S. Bates Street and W. Merrill Street, Birmingham; allinbirmingham.com; Visits are free, donations to local charity encouraged.
No need to head to a mall to hang with the season’s gift-giving madman, because he’s extending an invitation to his humble home away from home at Birmingham’s Shain Park. Families are asked to make reservations online and must wear masks while waiting. Good news for kids that want their toothless grin captured for all to see, as this event allows kids to remove their masks for a quick snap.
Photo via Santa House Shain Park/FacebookEastern Market
2934 Russell St., Detroit; easternmarket.org
No need to leave the city to get your hands on some fresh green. OK, you might need to head out of Detroit to snag some recreational marijuna, but as for Christmas trees, Eastern Market has trees to choose from seven days a week.
Photo via Eastern Market/Facebook
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