December 02, 2016

25 holiday things you might not have done in metro Detroit but should

By Metro Times Staff

25 events and things to do in metro Detroit this season to spread some holiday cheer. All photos from Facebook and Instagram.

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Friday, 12/2 - Saturday, 12/17 Winter Wonderland @ Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Grosse Pointe’s beautiful Ford House truly comes to life during the holidays, and the Winter Wonderland tour of the estate’s grounds is truly jolly. The mile long stroll will include stunning holiday lights, music, bonfires, play areas for kids, and more. The house will also be open for tours (you’ll want to get a ticket for that in advance though), and will be decorated with Christmas decorations. Also, there will be an “After Hours” event following each Winter Wonderland walk, which will include Short’s Brewing Company craft beers in the beer gardens and performers Olivia Millerschin (America’s Got Talent), Chris Emerson, and Tony Nouhan! Event starts at 5 p.m.; 1100 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Shores; fordhouse.org; Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Friday, 12/2 - Saturday, 12/17
Winter Wonderland
@ Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Grosse Pointe’s beautiful Ford House truly comes to life during the holidays, and the Winter Wonderland tour of the estate’s grounds is truly jolly. The mile long stroll will include stunning holiday lights, music, bonfires, play areas for kids, and more. The house will also be open for tours (you’ll want to get a ticket for that in advance though), and will be decorated with Christmas decorations. Also, there will be an “After Hours” event following each Winter Wonderland walk, which will include Short’s Brewing Company craft beers in the beer gardens and performers Olivia Millerschin (America’s Got Talent), Chris Emerson, and Tony Nouhan!
Event starts at 5 p.m.; 1100 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Shores; fordhouse.org; Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Friday, 12/2 - Friday, 12/30 Holiday Nights @ Greenfield Village The Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village are well-known, and with good reason. They’re just the right way to kick off “the most wonderful time of the year.” With ice-skating, live music, fireworks, carolers, reindeer, and the Big Guy himself, it’s a winter wonderland for anyone and everyone to enjoy. Chestnuts will roast, and Model T’s will drive as you make your way through the history and novelty that is Greenfield Village in December. Starts at 6:30 p.m.; 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; thehenryford.org; Tickets are $26 for adult non-members.
Friday, 12/2 - Friday, 12/30
Holiday Nights
@ Greenfield Village
The Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village are well-known, and with good reason. They’re just the right way to kick off “the most wonderful time of the year.” With ice-skating, live music, fireworks, carolers, reindeer, and the Big Guy himself, it’s a winter wonderland for anyone and everyone to enjoy. Chestnuts will roast, and Model T’s will drive as you make your way through the history and novelty that is Greenfield Village in December.
Starts at 6:30 p.m.; 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; thehenryford.org; Tickets are $26 for adult non-members.
Friday, 12/2 - Sunday, 12/4 Birmingham Christmas Market @ Shain Park If you’re looking for some swanky holiday fun, look no further that the Birmingham Christmas Market! Visitors can enjoy posh European food and drinks, holiday greens, and ice carvings, all while scoping out the vendors’ crafts and such as gifts. There’s going to be plenty of stuff for the kids to do, including the famous Santa House, as well as live reindeer, a Kinderhaus play area, carriage rides, and live performers. It’ll surely get you into the holiday spirit, and you’ll feel pretty fancy. Starts at 3 p.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m.; Shain Park, Birmingham; enjoybirmingham.com.
Friday, 12/2 - Sunday, 12/4
Birmingham Christmas Market
@ Shain Park
If you’re looking for some swanky holiday fun, look no further that the Birmingham Christmas Market! Visitors can enjoy posh European food and drinks, holiday greens, and ice carvings, all while scoping out the vendors’ crafts and such as gifts. There’s going to be plenty of stuff for the kids to do, including the famous Santa House, as well as live reindeer, a Kinderhaus play area, carriage rides, and live performers. It’ll surely get you into the holiday spirit, and you’ll feel pretty fancy.
Starts at 3 p.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m.; Shain Park, Birmingham; enjoybirmingham.com.
Saturday, 12/3 Noel Night @ Detroit Historical Museum Holy Cow, Detroit. Noel Night is going to be one of the best Saturdays you’ve had in a long time. There will be carriage rides, shopping, crafts, shopping, dancing, musicians, dance groups, and more special performances. There will be over 200 venues participating, including the DIA, Michigan Science Center, the DSO, and the Detroit Public Library . The night ends with a huge sing-a-long on Woodward led by the Salvation Army. This is a great event for kids from one to ninety-two. Event starts at 5 p.m.; 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; noelnight.org; Admission is free.
Saturday, 12/3
Noel Night
@ Detroit Historical Museum
Holy Cow, Detroit. Noel Night is going to be one of the best Saturdays you’ve had in a long time. There will be carriage rides, shopping, crafts, shopping, dancing, musicians, dance groups, and more special performances. There will be over 200 venues participating, including the DIA, Michigan Science Center, the DSO, and the Detroit Public Library . The night ends with a huge sing-a-long on Woodward led by the Salvation Army. This is a great event for kids from one to ninety-two.
Event starts at 5 p.m.; 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; noelnight.org; Admission is free.
Sundays, 12/4, 12/11, 12/18; Tuesday, 12/20 Holiday Markets @ Eastern Market It’s that slightly wonderful, slightly awful time of the year where you have to come up with thoughtful gifts, within your budget, for every person close to you. Lucky for you, Eastern Market is here to help. At the Sunday Holiday Market visitors will be able to find plenty of festive food, locally-made gifts, and even the perfect family Christmas tree, all in one place. There is really nothing better than getting all of that menial holiday labor out of the way in one place so that you can actually have a wholesome time with the people you love. Events begin at 10 a.m.; 2934 Russell St., Detroit; easternmarket.com; Admittance is free.
Sundays, 12/4, 12/11, 12/18; Tuesday, 12/20
Holiday Markets
@ Eastern Market
It’s that slightly wonderful, slightly awful time of the year where you have to come up with thoughtful gifts, within your budget, for every person close to you. Lucky for you, Eastern Market is here to help. At the Sunday Holiday Market visitors will be able to find plenty of festive food, locally-made gifts, and even the perfect family Christmas tree, all in one place. There is really nothing better than getting all of that menial holiday labor out of the way in one place so that you can actually have a wholesome time with the people you love.
Events begin at 10 a.m.; 2934 Russell St., Detroit; easternmarket.com; Admittance is free.
Sunday, 12/4 Elf @ The Michigan Theater If you like to smile, if smiling is your favorite, then you’ll be beaming once you hear about this free showing of Elf! Instantly a Christmas favorite after its 2004 release, Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart, and Zooey Deschanel will make you giggle pretty profusely. It’s not often that you get the chance to see it on the silver screen anymore, so this is the perfect opportunity to take it in at its finest all over again, since it is part of the theater's Holiday Classic Series. Don’t let any arctic puffins interrupt you while you’re trying to get a group to go! Show starts at 1:30 p.m.; 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; michtheater.org; Admittance is free.
Sunday, 12/4
Elf
@ The Michigan Theater
If you like to smile, if smiling is your favorite, then you’ll be beaming once you hear about this free showing of Elf! Instantly a Christmas favorite after its 2004 release, Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart, and Zooey Deschanel will make you giggle pretty profusely. It’s not often that you get the chance to see it on the silver screen anymore, so this is the perfect opportunity to take it in at its finest all over again, since it is part of the theater's Holiday Classic Series. Don’t let any arctic puffins interrupt you while you’re trying to get a group to go!
Show starts at 1:30 p.m.; 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; michtheater.org; Admittance is free.
Sunday, 12/4 Holiday Splendor: Trains & Trees @ Cranbrook House & Gardens The Cranbrook House is going to be stuffed with classically decorated trees as well as more modern ones, and there will be train sets galore! Train sets are pretty darn cool to watch, whether you’re a kid or not, and these ones are especially impressive. Additionally, this is a Mittens for Detroit collection site, so while you’re there enjoying the enchanting holiday atmosphere you can also do some good by bringing along new mittens or gloves for kids and adults! The event starts 12 p.m.; 380 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Hills; housegardens.cranbrook.edu; Admission is $20.
Sunday, 12/4
Holiday Splendor: Trains & Trees
@ Cranbrook House & Gardens
The Cranbrook House is going to be stuffed with classically decorated trees as well as more modern ones, and there will be train sets galore! Train sets are pretty darn cool to watch, whether you’re a kid or not, and these ones are especially impressive. Additionally, this is a Mittens for Detroit collection site, so while you’re there enjoying the enchanting holiday atmosphere you can also do some good by bringing along new mittens or gloves for kids and adults!
The event starts 12 p.m.; 380 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Hills; housegardens.cranbrook.edu; Admission is $20.
Friday, 12/7 Joyeux Noel @ Promenade Bakery Foodies, this one is for you. Promenade Artisan Foods is one of Downriver’s best bakeries, and their specialization in European pastries is too die for. This is exactly why you’re going to want to stop by for their Joyeux Noel celebration. Sweet French delicacies will be there for purchase, and you really haven’t celebrated Christmas if you haven’t done it with macarons and eclairs. The event is going to be trés magnifiqué! Event starts at 7 p.m.; 2627 W. Jefferson Ave., Trenton; facebook.com/promenadeartisanfoods.
Friday, 12/7
Joyeux Noel
@ Promenade Bakery
Foodies, this one is for you. Promenade Artisan Foods is one of Downriver’s best bakeries, and their specialization in European pastries is too die for. This is exactly why you’re going to want to stop by for their Joyeux Noel celebration. Sweet French delicacies will be there for purchase, and you really haven’t celebrated Christmas if you haven’t done it with macarons and eclairs. The event is going to be trés magnifiqué!
Event starts at 7 p.m.; 2627 W. Jefferson Ave., Trenton; facebook.com/promenadeartisanfoods.
Wednesday, 12/7 Polar Beers @ The Detroit Zoo Holiday lights are already great, but they’re even better with Michigan craft beer. Leave the kids at home for this trip to the zoo, where you’re invited to take in over five million LED lights as you imbibe the state’s finest winter brews. You’ll get 12 beer tasting tickets with your admission, but you are able to buy more. You’ll get to walk the half-mile trail and enjoy some pretty nifty animal ice sculptures while the real animals stay toasty! Event starts at 6 p.m.; 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak; detroitzoo.org; Tickets are $40-$60.
Wednesday, 12/7
Polar Beers
@ The Detroit Zoo
Holiday lights are already great, but they’re even better with Michigan craft beer. Leave the kids at home for this trip to the zoo, where you’re invited to take in over five million LED lights as you imbibe the state’s finest winter brews. You’ll get 12 beer tasting tickets with your admission, but you are able to buy more. You’ll get to walk the half-mile trail and enjoy some pretty nifty animal ice sculptures while the real animals stay toasty!
Event starts at 6 p.m.; 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak; detroitzoo.org; Tickets are $40-$60.
Wednesday, 12/7 Good Karma Christmas Holiday Market & Party @ The Loving Touch This holiday market has all of the typical things that every other one has: delicious craft beer, holiday cocktails, Christmas music, holiday treats, and unique goods from local businesses. However, there’s a nice touch to this one that goes right with the Christmas spirit of giving. At this market, you’re asked to bring an unwrapped gift that will go to the Judson Center, which helps children with autism, behavioral health problems, and child disability and welfare services. The whole idea is to do something nice for other and have a great time for yourself too. So, go feel like a good person! Event starts at 6 p.m.; 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; facebook.com/goodkarmaclub; Donations welcome.
Wednesday, 12/7
Good Karma Christmas Holiday Market & Party
@ The Loving Touch
This holiday market has all of the typical things that every other one has: delicious craft beer, holiday cocktails, Christmas music, holiday treats, and unique goods from local businesses. However, there’s a nice touch to this one that goes right with the Christmas spirit of giving. At this market, you’re asked to bring an unwrapped gift that will go to the Judson Center, which helps children with autism, behavioral health problems, and child disability and welfare services. The whole idea is to do something nice for other and have a great time for yourself too. So, go feel like a good person!
Event starts at 6 p.m.; 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; facebook.com/goodkarmaclub; Donations welcome.

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