Community Corner

Patch's Holiday Event Guide for Metro Detroit 2012, Macomb Co. and Beyond

Looking for some holiday cheer within an hour's drive? We've got lights, Santas, parades and more happing in the greater Detroit area.

We combed our Patches for some great holiday events to put together this list of holiday happenings all over Southeast Michigan. Get out and have some festive fun!

Macomb County

Clinton Township

Nordstrom in The Mall at Partridge Creek – Breakfast with Santa: Saturday, Dec. 15 from 8 to 10 a.m. Enjoy a family breakfast, holiday activities, face painting and a balloon bender, plus a visit with Santa. Space is limited. Tickets are $17 per person or free for two years and under.

Shelby Township

Tree Lighting Festival: Dec. 6 at the Shelby Township Municipal Hall, located at 52700 Van Dyke Ave. The Eisenhower High School choir and band will lead the community in Christmas carols.  Kids can also visit Santa's Snack Shop for hot cider and a cookie and then visit with Santa after the tree lighting.

Find out what's happening in Clinton Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jingle Bell Run: The 3rd annual Jingle Bell Run is Dec. 16. The run will start at 9 a.m. and finish behind the Community Center/Senior Center/Court House at 51690 Van Dyke in Shelby Township. The course will go through Cherry Creek Golf Course and Mae Stecker Park.  The cost is $20/person prior to 12/16/2012, and $25 the day of the event. Each runner/walker will receive a t-shirt. 

Take Your Dog's Photo With Santa: Santa will visit the Dog Spa on Mound in Shelby Township Dec. 9 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a photo op with your pet.

Find out what's happening in Clinton Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Utica

Pioneer Christmas: Shadbush Nature Center in Utica is hosting an old fashion Christmas celebration Dec. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. Come out and discover how the pioneers and early settlers of our area celebrated the Christmas season. There will be crafts and activities for all ages, milled cider and cookies. The cost is $4 for children four and older.

Chesterfield Township

Chesterfield Township Tree Lighting at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at Municipal Offices. Christmas caroling, Santa's arrival by fire truck, holiday crafts as well as cookies and hot cocoa at the Weller School. Vocal performances by local schools and scout groups. Dress warmly. 

Holiday House Decorating Contest in Chesterfield Township. Nominate any home within the township by calling 586-949-0400, extension 4 and leave an address. Awards will be presented Dec. 17 at the Board of Trustees meeting. Nominations are due by 3 p.m. Dec. 7. Contest hours are 6-10 p.m. Dec. 10.

New Baltimore

Pancake breakfast with Santa at New Baltimore Fire Department from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 2. Proceeds to benefit the Anchor Bay Community Giving Tree Holiday Charity Program. Bring your camera for pictures with Santa.

New Baltimore Christmas Tree Lighting at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 on Washington Street in downtown New Baltimore. Join the sing-alongand bring a canned good or boxed food item to donate to the St. Mary's food pantry. See Santa in the recreation center, where there will be hot chocolate and donuts. Cameras are welcome. Dress warmly.

New Baltimore Parks and Recreation Commission Holiday Decorating Contest is from Dec. 1- 21. The Commissioners will be driving throughout the city picking their choices and will narrow down the three home winners and one business winner.  The winners will be announced at the first Parks and Recreation Commission meeting at 6 p.m.  Jan. 3.

Jingle Bell Run Dec. 9 at New Baltimore Recreation Center. Pre-registration pick-up and race day registration from 1-3:30 p.m. at the rec center. One-mile fun walk starts at 4 p.m. and 5K run starts at 4:15 p.m. Proceeds to benefit the Anchor Bay School DECA Chapter, A National Marketing Student Organization, Student Scholarships and M.D.A. Checks are to be made payable to Anchor Bay Roadrunners. Mail entries to: Jingle Bell Run, 6319 County Line, Fair Haven, 48023. For more information, call 586-725-0291.

St. Clair Shores

St. Clair Shores Tree Lighting: 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at City Hall. 

St. Clair Shores Optimist Club Santa Station: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Selinsky Green Farmhouse behind the St. Clair Shores Library. The family event includes opportunities to visit enjoy a candy cane, warm up with some hot chocolate, and tour the Farmhouse and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children will also be able to feed and pet the animals including a fallow deer, miniature horse, alpaca and goats.

St. Clair Shores Optimist Club Poinsettia Ball: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Blossom Heath Inn. The ball is a tradition started by the St. Clair Shores Jaycees in the 1970s and brings together the business community, civic organizations and the community to celebrate the holidays. It's a formal holiday dinner dance, and tickets are available for $40 per person, or $50 at the door. The evening includes a champagne toast, prime rib and salmon buffet, open bar, and music by Elite Entertainment.

Ray Township

Heritage Holidays – Wolcott Mill Metropark Historic Center: Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 30-Dec. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit the mill to meet Santa Claus and make keepsake crafts reminiscent of Christmas past, experience a 1950s Christmas in the barn and enjoy a cup of hot mulled cider from Mrs. Claus. Preregistration is required. The event is $1 per person. Call 586-749-5997.

Oakland County

Clawson

Tree Lighting: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Blair Memorial Library. Santa arrives by firetruck at this annual event co-sponsored by the Clawson/Troy Optimist Club. Refreshments following at Clawson Middle School.

Ferndale

Holiday Ice and Winterfest Market: Dec. 7, 8 and 9 in downtown Ferndale. Enjoy an outdoor market with unique gifts, ice sculptures, photos with Santa, children's activities and more.

Lake Orion

Lake Orion Lighted Holiday Village Shopping Event: All day Dec. 8. Look for
horse-drawn carriage rides, reindeer petting stations, ice carvings, carolers and more during this all-day festive shopping extravaganza. 

Holiday Family Road Rally: Friday, Dec. 14 from 6-10 p.m. Teams of 4-6 people go on a scavenger hunt to find predetermined items to photograph. Teams can consist of adults and children, but need at least one adult 21 or older. Each picture taken with the team earns points, which can win you prizes. Teams must have their own vehicle and digital camera. The night ends at a local restaurant for appetizers and awards. Cost is $100 per team and you must register by Dec. 7. The event begins in Fuerst Park in Novi.

Northville


Winter Market:  Sunday, Dec. 2 in Downtown Northville. The event includes horse and carriage rides, a live reindeer exhibit, carousel, ice carving demonstrations, treats, artisan and greens sale, and the Santa House.

Rochester/Rochester Hills

Hometown Christmas Parade: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. The parade starts north of town at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads in dowtown Rochester and continues south on Main Street to downtown Rochester.

West Bloomfield/Keego Harbor

Chanukah Wonderland at Orchard Mall Shopping Center, Dec. 9-12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Includes live historical exhibit on how olive oil was pressed from raw olives during Temple period. Giant menorah lighting takes place Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.

Bloomfield

2012 "Gingerbread House Brunch": the Friends of Preservation Bloomfield will present their fifth annual Gingerbread House Brunch on Friday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at Oakland Hills Country Club. This event will be preceded by the third annual “Family Hour” preview evening on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 5-8 p.m. Both events will showcase whimsical gingerbread houses created by local professional and non-professional pastry chefs, which will be reviewed by judges and awarded ribbons for the ‘best of the best.’ Both events are open to the public. See coverage of last year's event.

White Lake-Highland

Highland Tree Lighting at 7 p.m., Dec. 3, at Veterans Park and Highland Station House in Highland. There will be caroling, cookies and cider. Come watch Santa light the Highland Christmas Tree using Christmas magic. Santa will then move to the Highland Station House where kids can visit with him and share what they want for Christmas.

White Lake Tree Lighting, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Dec. 5 at the Village Lakes Shopping Center off M-59 in White Lake. Come for a night of activities including local choir groups, dance troupes, ice sculpture creations, children's crafts, gingerbread house displays, reindeer and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Birmingham

Magic of Birmingham: Shopping events takes place Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 at most downtown shops.

Winter Markt: (Yes, that’s how you spell it) takes place Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Shain Park. 

Troy

Santa at The Somerset Collection: He arrives Friday, Nov. 16 and will be there daily through Christmas Eve (closed on Thanksgiving). Click here for the full schedule.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: 7 p.m. on Dec. 5. at Troy City Hall. There will be caroling, hot cocoa and holiday sweets.

Third annual Indoor Walk-through Display of over 300 Nativity Sets from Around the World: Held at Bridge Community Church from 1-9 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 8. For all ages; light refreshments provided.

Wayne County

Wayne County Light Fest7-10 p.m. Nov. 15-Dec. 31 except on Christmas.

Dearborn

Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village: The 2012 dates for Holiday Nights are Dec. 1, 7-8, 14-16, 18-23 and 26-27 from 6:30-10 p.m. each night. Includes Santa and live reindeer, candle-lit paths, ice skating, model T rides, live 19th Century entertainment, and fireworks every night of the event. Supper with Santa available for members. Tickets for Holiday Nights range from $12.75-$72, depending on membership status, age and inclusions. PHOTOS HERE: http://patch.com/A-wJlS

Grosse Pointe

Grosse Pointe Shores Improvement Foundation 'Opening Our Doors Holiday Home Tour': Sunday, December 2, 2012 from 1 - 4 p.m.  Tour five beautifully decorated homes in Grosse Pointe Shores.  Proceeds benefit the Grosse Pointe Shores Improvement Foundation.

Sarah Rose Mother-Daughter Holiday Tea: Saturday, December 15 from noon-3 p.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI.  The event will include: financial literacy, etiquette lessons, arts and crafts stations, horse and carriage ride, lunch and much more. The fashion show will feature the latest holiday lines from La Jolie Rose, a chic boutique and Hannah Bear Boutique in conjunction with a Holiday Bazaar.

Canton

Letters to Santa: Canton Leisure Services has made special arrangements with its friends at the North Pole and the U.S. Post Office to deliver children's wish lists to Santa. To mail your letter to Santa, please drop it in the North Pole express Mailbox in the Summit on the Park lobby Nov. 1 - Dec. 2. Santa asks that you print your name and address clearly so he can reply to your letter. Each household will receive a return letter and Santa will take care of the postage.

Holiday Home Decorating Contest: Post a photo of your home light display on the Canton Leisure Services Facebook page or contact Canton Leisure Services to arrange for staffers to stop by and take a photo. Judging will take place from Dec. 1-15 with winners announced Dec. 16.

34th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration: Canton Township will light its tree Dec. 5 at Summit on the Park with a festive celebration from 6-8:30 p.m. Festivities will take place both indoors and outdoors with the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for indoor events. There will be visits with Santa Claus, holiday-themed entertainment, refreshments, crafts and activities.

Santa Brunch: Enjoy brunch with Santa Claus the morning of Dec. 9 at the Summit on the Park ballrooms. Doors open at 11 a.m., with Santa "landing" at 11:30 a.m. Registration is open now until Dec. 2. Children 3 and under are free; ages 4-12: $12 and ages 13 and up are $16. Photos and videos are encouraged.

Washtenaw County

Saline

Fiddlers ReStrung Toys for Tots Hometown Concert: Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at Saline High School, 1300 Campus Parkway, Saline. Special Guests include 6th Grade & 7th/8th grade Fiddle Clubs, Varsity Blues, and SHS Drumline.  Tickets are $10 for Adults, $5 for Seniors & Students and are available at www.fiddlersReStrung.com Call 734-663-8923 (8am to 8pm) or at the door. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate!

1930s Christmas on the Farm: Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Rentschler Farm Museum, 1265 E. Michigan Ave., Saline.  See how farm families coped at Christmastime, when faced with a tight money situation during the Great Depression years. Our 12-room farmhouse will be decorated with natural things that might have been found on the farm. A live tree will grace the parlor with genuine 1930s ornaments and lights. Simple decorations, good aromas throughout the house, and pleasing sights and sounds will greet visitors as they enter the front door.

Dexter

Hudson Mills Metropark Santa Central: Children can vist Santa Central and play reindeer games, enjoy a hayride and snack and share their wish list with Santa. You may bring your own camera, purchase a photo for $2 or bring a new toy for Toys for Tots and receive a photo free. Admission is by advance ticket purchase only. Tickets are available for purchase at the park office. Sunday, December 9 at 10 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm
Hudson Mills Activity Center. Event fee $6 per child.

Did we miss your favorite holiday event? Tell us in comments!


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