Parades, carolers, tree lightings, artisan markets, visits with Santa, and other happenings capture the spirit of the holiday season. The list below shows you the way to carry your sleigh to some fun and family-friendly activities.
December 1, 8, & 15
The Santa Express
10am & 12:30pm
The Old Road
301 E. Adrian St., Blissfield
1-888-467-2451
Join them for a special 90-minute train ride with Santa and his friend, Jingles the Elf! Enjoy cookies and milk, and lots of activities for kids. Each visitor will have their own personal visit with Santa during the train ride. Boarding starts 15 minutes before the train leaves. $21/adults, $19/seniors, $16/children 2-12.
Friday, December 5
Kerrytown Kindlefest
6-10pm
Kerrytown Market and Shops
315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor
734-662-5008, www.kerrytown.com
A Children’s Lantern Parade will take off from the Farmers Market. An outdoor holiday market will feature handcrafted gifts and artisan-made food, accompanied by live music, fire pits, a heated tent, and other goodies. Midnight Madness shopping inside Kerrytown Shops.
Friday, December 5
Ypsi Christmas Tree Lighting
6-7:30pm
Ypsilanti District Library Plaza
229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
734-482-4110, www.daypsi.com & www.ypsilibrary.org
Caroling with hot cocoa will get you in the holiday mood at the Downtown Association’s annual tree lighting ceremony. Santa is going! A First Fridays art crawl of art and music events is the same night, from 6-10pm.
Friday-Sunday, December 5-7
Chelsea Hometown Holidays
Various times and locations
Downtown Chelsea
734-475-1145, chelseafestivals.com
Marvel at the light parade, visit Santa’s workshop, attend a tree lighting ceremony in Pierce Park. There are holiday craft sales, music and theater performances, luminaries, and many more activities during the 3-day citywide festival. Plus, gingerbread houses will be on display at participating merchants December 4 through December 20.
Saturday, December 6
Sing-Along with Santa
4pm
Bethlehem United Church of Christ
423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor
734-994-4801, www.a2so.com
Join the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra to sing carols and Christmas favorites with Santa and piano accompaniment. Get your picture with Santa and enjoy cookies and cider at the show. This is a ticketed event. $12/adults, $8/kids, $35/families (up to 6).
Saturday, December 6
Milan Christmas Parade
6pm
Main St., Milan
734-439-7932, www.milanchamber.org
Santa will be riding in on the Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train, along with floats, bands, and other festive parade walkers. There will be a City Christmas tree lighting and much more, at Milan’s annual downtown celebration. This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World.”
Saturday, December 6
Christmas at the Mansion
10am-5pm
Gordon Hall
8431 Island Lake Rd., Dexter
734-426-4961, dextermuseum.org
The historical home of village founder Judge Samuel Dexter gets decked out for the holidays with festive Christmas decorations. Make and take home a country craft, visit with Santa, and enjoy refreshments at this Dexter Area Historical Society event. Suggested donation $5. Also, pop on over to a Holiday Bazaar of handcrafted gifts at the Dexter Area Historical Museum (9am-3pm, 3443 Inverness St., Dexter).
Saturday, December 6
Saline Holiday/Christmas Parade
5:30pm
Michigan Ave. and various locations in downtown Saline
734-429-4494, www.salinechamber.org
Saline’s parade kicks off Holiday Week with a bang. There will likely be all sorts of floats, bands, baton twirlers, animals, and much more. Santa arrives on his sleigh and then heads over to Santa’s Village (Dec. 6-9 at Stone Arch Arts and Events; 117 S. Ann Arbor Street). This year’s theme is “Your Favorite Christmas Memories.”
Saturdays, December 6, 13 & 20
Santa Visits Kerrytown
10am-2pm
Kerrytown Market and Shops
315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor
734-662-5008, kerrytown.com
Have you been naughty or nice? Santa visits Kerrytown every Saturday leading up to Christmas. Live musical performances by local school groups, musicians, and choral groups ring in the season.
Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7
Christmas on the Farm
Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday Noon-4pm
Waterloo Farm Museum
13493 Waterloo Munith Rd., Grass Lake
517-596-2254
Travel back in time to the pioneer days and Victorian era at one of Waterloo’s first homesteads. The ten-room farmhouse, outbuildings, and nearby Dewey one-room schoolhouse get decked out with period Christmas decorations, historical re-enactors, fresh baked goods cooking on the original wood burning stove, and guided tours. Free admission for members and children under 5. $5/adults (non-members), $2/children ages 5-12.
Sundays, December 7, 14, 21
Holiday Classics Film Series
1:30pm
Michigan Theater
603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor
State Theater
233 S. State St., Ann Arbor
734-668-8463, www.michtheater.org
Some modern holiday classics will be screened at the Michigan Theater and State Theater, for free! “Miracle on 34th Street” (December 7 at the State Theater), “Elf” (December 14 at the Michigan Theater), and “It’s a Wonderful Life” (December 21 at the Michigan Theater) will be shown during this year’s State Street Area Association film series.
Thursday, December 11
PJ’s & Stories with Santa
6-7 & 7:30-8:30pm
Saline Rec Center
1866 Woodland Dr., Saline
734-429-3502
All little boys and girls are invited for a very special evening of holiday fun. Wear your favorite pair of pajamas and get cozy as one of the Saline District Library’s storytellers reads holiday stories. You will sing songs, do crafts and have milk, cookies and hot chocolate. $12/child day of event.
Friday, December 12
Festive Friday
Main Street, Downtown Ann Arbor
Live entertainment will sing and dance its way down Main Street as onlooker’s eyes light up! Acts include a cappella groups, breakdancers and carolers.
Friday, December 12
A2SO Holiday Pops Concert
8pm
Hill Auditorium
825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor
734-994-4801, www.a2so.com
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s new holiday tradition features high school choral singers from Pioneer and Huron, the Boychoir of Ann Arbor, and men’s choral group, Measure for Measure. Tickets range from $10 to $45.
Saturday, December 13
Holiday Hustle
Monument Park
Baker Rd. and Main St., Dexter
734-929-9027, runholiday5k.com
Running Fit’s annual festive and family-friendly 1 mile fun run (4:15pm) and 5K (4:30pm) will start from Monument Park. Santa Claus will be at the Monument Park pavilion before the races start. Holiday sweaters and costumes are encouraged. The first 500 people to register get flashing swag (hats and necklaces that light up). $5/person. Sign up as a family (up to 5) and save $2.50 a person on registration fees.
Saturday, December 13
Treasure Trail to Santa
10am-1:30pm
Busch’s Shopping Center
E. Michigan Ave., Saline
734-429-4494, www.salinechamber.org
Follow a treasure map to Santa around the shops at the Saline Busch’s Shopping Center. Visit Santa, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, pet animals, and enjoy performers and other entertainment. Pick up a treasure map at Physical Therapy in Motion (505 E. Michigan Ave.).
Saturday, December 13
Breakfast with Santa
8-10am
Briarwood Mall
100 Briarwood Cir, Ann Arbor
734-761-9550
www.simon.com/mall/briarwood-mall
Have breakfast with Santa and support a great cause! All proceeds will go toward the #ChadTough Fund for pediatric brain tumor research in honor of Chad Carr, the 4-year-old grandson of former U-M football coach Lloyd Carr who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. $20/person.
Saturday, December 13
Milk & Cookies with Santa
9:30-11am
2855 Boardwalk Dr., Ann Arbor
734-973-1014
All little ones will celebrate at a baby/toddler-friendly Santa party at Lamaze Family Center. There will be plenty of time for free play and games, and children will have the opportunity to make a craft, share a treat and meet Santa. For an additional fee of $30, local photographer Julie Morrison will also be on hand to take photos with Santa. Families opting for photos will receive two free prints, and they can purchase additional photos/photo products from Julie’s website. $12/person.
Sunday, December 14
Frosty on Ice Skates
1-2:30pm
Veterans Ice Arena
2150 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor
734-794-6235, www.a2gov.org
Frosty The Snowman will be lacing up his ice skates and hitting the Vet’s Park ice rink. Skate with Frosty and get your picture taken with him during a meet and greet. Free candy canes for skaters of all ages. General admission. Skate rentals available on site.
Sunday, December 14
Santa Central
10am-4:30pm
Hudson Mills Metropark
8801 N. Territorial Rd., Dexter
734-426-8211, www.metroparks.com/Hudson-Mills-Metropark
Come play reindeer games, take a hayride, and visit with Santa. Choose between one of three two-hour sessions (10am, 12:30pm, or 2:30pm). Make a day of it by exploring Dexter’s beautiful parkland. Buy tickets in advance at the park office or call to preregister. $6/child, $3/adult. Bring your own camera or purchase a photo with Santa for $2.
Thursday, December 18
One Candle for Tzedakah
6-8pm
Jewish Community Center
of Greater Ann Arbor
2935 Birch Hollow Dr., Ann Arbor
734-971-0990, www.jccannarbor.org
Share in a community dinner during Hanukkah, which will feature a professional magician. Fun activities, crafts, and games will follow dinner. The Center is also participating in a Toys for Tots drive. $15/families, $5/individuals.
Thursday, December 18
Songs of the Season
7:30pm
Towsley Auditorium at Washtenaw
Community College
4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ypsilanti
734-481-9285, ypsicommchoir.org
Joyous holiday songs performed by Ypsilanti Community Choir with special guest The Motor City Brass Band, and more tunes by the BDQ jazz quintet. WEMU radio personality Linda Yohn hosts this annual tradition.
Saturday, December 20
Nature Tales – A Chilly Tale
10-11am
Leslie Science and Nature Center
1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor
734-997-1553, www.lesliesnc.org
Bring your little ones (ages 1-5) to this story time and nature activities event. “A Warm Winter Tale” by Carrie A. Pearson tells of how animals adapt to the cold. Hands-on, nature-themed activities, including live animal visits, follow after story time. $4 per child (non-member) $3/child for LSNC members. Preregistration is encouraged.
Saturday, December 20
Make a Sock Snow Person
2pm-3pm
Malletts Creek Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor
734-327-4200, www.aadl.org
Get crafty and learn how to turn one of your socks into a snow person doll. This kids’ workshop at the library is intended for grades K-5.
December 22, 23, 29 & 30
Winter Break Movie Matinees
2pm
Ypsilanti Library Whittaker Branch
5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti
734-482-4110, www.ypsilibrary.org
Take your little ones to watch a matinee and have popcorn. Movies include Frozen, The Lego Movie, Muppets Most Wanted and Disneynature Bears.
