15 metro Detroit events that will fill you with holiday cheer

photo courtesy of Emily Stout.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Fri., Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 2, 3 & 8 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 3, 2 & 7 p.m.; Fox Theatre; $29
Forget caroling and gingerbread houses. Step up your holiday game with the crew behind the Cirque madness. Enter Cirque Dreams Holidaze. Part Cirque adventure, part family event, Holidaze is an extravaganza like no other. A multi-million-dollar production with never seen before performances, 300 costumes, dizzyingly elaborate sets and displays and, of course, acrobatics that stretch the imagination. Celebrating their 10th anniversary national tour, Cirque Dreams will serve a holiday memory you won’t want to forget (which is more than can be said for Aunt Linda’s fruitcake).

Holiday Nights
Mondays-Sundays, 6:30 p.m. Continues through Dec. 30; $16.50-$26
Chestnuts on open fires, carols being caroled, and the sound of sleigh bells jangling in the crisp winter air. Greenfield Village takes you back to the pure joy of the holiday season with age-old traditions, spanning across 80 acres. Holiday vignettes featuring costumed presenters, ice-skating, artisan demonstrations, historic rides on horse-drawn wagons, Model T rides, and, of course, Santa and his reindeer. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly event or a toasty date night, Holiday Lights will become a new classic in your annual holiday festivities.

Sacred Plants: Stories of Myth, Ritual, and Lore
Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 7, 2018; admission is free
Have you ever wondered why mistletoe became a holiday smooch magnet? Or maybe the art of the Japanese Bonsai has you scratching your head. Look no further than the Matthaei Botanical Gardens' annual Sacred Plants series. Located in Ann Arbor, the holiday-centric exhibit explores stories of myth, ritual, and lore throughout cultures around the world. On-site and in conjunction with Sacred Plants is Body & Soul — How Nature Speaks Through Art, an exhibit featuring over 30 artists and various mediums to explore spirituality, sensuality through plants, and art.

Wild Lights
Mondays-Sundays, 5:30 p.m. Continues through Dec. 31; $10-$16
What do you get when you mix five million LED lights and the Detroit Zoo? You get an entire month of wild nights. The annual holiday celebration hosted by the zoo grounds will feature illuminated trees, buildings, and animal sculptures, with the front half of the zoo transformed into a winter wonderland. Bundle up, snug close, and trip out on the dizzying display that would give the Griswolds major X-Mas envy. The event runs all month so there’s plenty to go around, ya’ filthy animals.

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Merry & Bright Nights
Fri., Dec. 1, 4-8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 2, 12-6 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 3, 12-6 p.m.
The studio will be open for guests of all ages to browse new hand-blown glass sculptures, purchase one-of-a-kind glass gifts and ornaments, eat and drink with friends, watch glassblowing demonstrations, and participate in hands-on workshops. Admission is Free! For $55 an expert glassblower will help you make a beautiful icicle ornament. Workshops will be held every hour, but don't wait to sign up! They tend to fill up very quickly. During the event, all items in the gallery will be 15% off!

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Christmas and Holiday Traditions from Around the World
Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Continues through Jan. 7, 2018,Adults are $14.50, seniors and students are $11, children are free-$7
Forget the chaos of shopping for a moment and celebrate Christmas and holiday traditions from around the world on the grounds of the immaculate Meijer Gardens. The event will be a true winter wonderland, from Ramadan to Christmas, with nearly 400,000 lights, more than 40 internationally festooned trees, and more. The exhibition is sure to warm even the Scrooge-iest of hearts.

Holiday Walk
Through Dec. 23, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.;Adults/seniors are $20 or free for MBH Members, children (2 & under) are free, Oakland University faculty, Staff & Alumni are $15
Stroll through the elegant decor and sparkling lights of the Great Estate and experience the holiday magic of Meadow Brook. After the holiday tour, follow candy cane lane to the Land of Santa and Sweets. Email [email protected] for more info.

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Photo courtesy of HistoricIndianVillage.org.

photo by Joan Marcus.

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photo by Matt Christine.