Where to Find a Great Christmas Market or Festival in Michigan
Even though it’s still a bit off, I’m already looking forward to Christmas in Michigan, and getting my festive on with decked-out drive through Christmas lights, mugs of mulled cider, and mounds of good cheer.
We’ve sourced the top Christmas Markets and Christmas events in Michigan you simply won’t want to miss.
As a British gal far from home, where Christmas is the big holiday (no Thanksgiving for us, obvs!) finding fabulous festive celebrations here makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I can’t wait to share these Christmassy delights with you.
If bustling stalls, warm drinks, and unique gifts are a bit of you, here’s the heads-up on Michigan’s best open-air Christmas markets this holiday season.
Christmas in Michigan is coming!
Plan your season right and you can shopping at Christmas markets all month long!
1 – Christkindl Markt at Grand Rapids Downtown Market
November 15 – December 23, 2024
Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids MI 49503
Get ready to experience the traditional magic of a open air European Christmas market right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
The outdoor Christkindl Markt, trimmed with holiday lights and decor, will showcase double the artisan gift and food vendors in its second year, live holiday entertainment, festive Alpenglobes to rent with friends, and nonstop family fun.
Featured events include curling lessons, beer hall, kids’ crafts and events, Santa visits and vendors.
2 – Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend
December 5 – December 8, 2024
Manistee, MI 49660
For one weekend only, downtown Manistee transforms into an old-time Christmas wonderland. From December 5 – 8, celebrate Christmas Victorian-style as the town hosts a tree festival, craft bazaar, art exhibitions, and ‘Santa’s Headquarters’ where the great man himself is waiting to receive Christmas lists from good little boys and girls!
Don’t miss the weekend’s most spectacular holiday parade at 5:30 PM on Saturday, December 7: horse-drawn carriages pull the 30-foot tree down historic River Street, accompanied by bagpipers, reindeer, and carolers, followed by the lighting of the tree and festive fireworks.
The weekend is full of magical events (most are free, but some are ticketed) and running enthusiasts can even sign up to run or walk the ‘Jingle Bell Jog’ (time and date TBD).
Where to stay ➞
3 – Merry Market GR
November 15, 2024 10 AM-8 PM
November 16, 2024 10 AM-3 PM
St. Nicholas Cultural Center, 2250 East Paris Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Get your Christmas shopping done early at Merry Market GR!
With over 30 local brick and mortar West Michigan shops under one roof, this is an awesome opportunity to support local businesses while having a merry time.
Visit with Santa, eat at various Food Trucks, sing along with local choirs and bands to set a festive vibe, check out a unique Little Elves Gift shop for the kiddos to shop (cash only), and know that 5% of all sales go to “Once Upon a Room” to decorate hospital rooms for kids!
Parking is free, but admission for those over 12 is $15. (Net proceeds of ticket sales also goes to Once Upon a Room.)
Where to See the Best Drive Thru Christmas Lights in Michigan
4 – Holland’s Kerstmarkt
Select dates, November 23 – December 21, 2024
8th Street Market Place, 150 W 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
Looking for unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else?
This year, Holland hosts its 27th Kerstmarkt! Running from Saturday, November 23 – Saturday, December 21, browse each artisan vendor’s wares from their delightful wooden huts at this traditional Dutch Christmas market at the 8th Street Marketplace. (See the schedule for specific daily times here.)
Enjoy live music, delicious food, and even dogsled demos! Fill those stockings with some truly special finds at this European-style Christmas market.
And, while you’re in town, get tickets to the city’s holiday light show, Magic at the Mill.
5 – REO Town’s Christkindl Market
December 14, 2024 11 AM
REO Town Marketplace, 1027 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910
REO Town Marketplace is open year-round, but on December 14, 2024, it will be a hub of all sorts of neat finds for Christmas presents!
Started in 2022, the German-style Christkindl Market in Lansing’s Historic REO Town is full of unique wares from local artisans.
6 – Silver Bells Village
November 22, 2024 5 PM – 9PM
Downtown Lansing, 100 E Block of Allegan St between South Washington Square and Grand Avenue
Silver Bells in the City is lighting up the streets of Downtown Lansing on Friday, November 22, 2024, from 5 PM – 9 PM.
Make your list and check it twice because the Silver Bells Village starts at 5 PM and will be full of fun gifts for Christmas!
Next, watch your kiddos eyes shine as the Christmas tree is lit up and the community sings along to all the favorite holiday hits.
Downtown Lansing will glow almost as brightly as the north star with an Electric Light Parade, Firefly Drone Show, and Fireworks over the Capitol to end the evening.
Michigan’s Best Christmas Trains
7 – Eastern Market Holiday Markets
Tuesday, November 26 – Thanksgiving Food Shopping 9 AM-3 PM, Shed 3
Sundays, December 1 – December 22, 2024 10 AM- 4 PM, Shed 3, 4, & 5
Eastern Market, 2934 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48207
Another iconic Detroit Christmas experience: a visit to Eastern Market’s Holiday Market.
The Sunday dates at this Christmas market feature plenty of gift options including clothing, art, jewelry, and beauty products, helping you fill stockings with unique Michigan-made items.
Make it a one-stop shop and pick out your Christmas tree, too! Christmas tree vendors will return to the parking lot outside of Shed 5 seven days a week just after Thanksgiving.
8 – Kerrytown Kindlefest
December 6, 2024 5 PM-10 PM
Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 305 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
The Kerrytown KindleFest Market will include a variety of artisans, food trucks, traditional food, hot mulled wine, beer, and Glühwein.
Kids can join in festive kid festivities from 5 PM- 7 PM and dance along to live music starting at 7 PM.
9 – Birmingham Winter Markt
Friday, December 6, 4 PM-9 PM (Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 PM)
Saturday, December 7, 10 AM-9 PM (Princesses 12:30 PM-3:30 PM)
Sunday, December 8, 10 AM-4 PM
Shain Park, 270 W. Merrill St, Birmingham, MI 48009
In addition to displays from local artists and vendors, Winter Markt features a Santa House, complimentary carriage rides, thousands of holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment European cuisine, and a Kinderhaus children’s activity area.
Catch a chill while out and about shopping? Head to the warming stations!
Bonus Christmas Festivities
My calendar is now bursting with all these wonderful events to really get me in the Christmas mood!
But if you want (need) to squeeze in just a few more…
Frankenmuth is Michigan’s Christmas Capitol
Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Frankenmuth is the absolute epitome of everything I am looking for in a Christmas paradise!
Take a spin on the ice rink in the heart of the town, and catch the 7-minute spectacular light and music Christmas tree show at the Visitor Center, where you can also pick up a Christmas Experience guide and light tour map.
No visit would be complete without a trip to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland (pictured), known as the world’s largest Christmas Store. You know you need one more bauble for your tree!
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
December 5-8, 11-15, 18-23, 26-28, 2024
The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124
Might you find yourself in Metro Detroit? Then look no further than Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village for a fully immersive yuletide experience.
At this 80-acre open-air museum outside of Detroit, enjoy an after-hours celebration of American holiday traditions. It runs from 6:30 -10 PM (members early pre-show entry at 6 PM) on selected December weekends.
Explore the historic homes decorated in their holiday best, sample roasted chestnuts and other delicious Christmas treats along Main Street. Be serenaded by carolers, ride a historic Model T, take a horse-drawn carriage or skate the ice rink.
The evening rounds off with a spectacular fireworks finale and sing-along.
Tickets start at $36 (age 12+) or $30.50 for members. Members pre-sale begins at 9 AM (waiting room opens at 8:30 AM) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. General tickets available at 9 AM (waiting room opens at 8:30 AM) on October 30, 2024 so put a reminder in your calendars to book!
This is my idea of festive heaven!
Holiday Traditions Around the World & Light Show
November 26, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Frederik Meijer Gardens – 1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Don’t forget that Frederik Meijer Gardens hosts their wonderful annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions event, where they celebrate cultures from all around the world.
The beautifully decorated trees from each country are stunning to view.
You won’t want to miss the coolest Light Show ever either. Every Wednesday – Sunday, from November 27, 2024 – January 4, 2025, Meijer Gardens morphs into ENLIGHTEN.
The Big, Bright Light Show in Rochester
November 25, 2024 – January 19, 2025
Downtown Rochester, MI 48307
Rochester seriously knows how to do the holiday season.
Downtown Rochester lights up in splendor on Monday, November 25 for the Big Bright Light Show and the illuminations run through January 19.
But that’s not all! Rochester also boasts a Festival of Trees (Nov 22 – 24) at The Rochester Community House (FREE).
Plus their ‘Neighborhood Light Fight‘, where different streets compete against each other to have the best displays, runs from Dec 1-15, and you can vote for your favorite.
They’ve got Christmas covered!
Fenton Jinglefest!
December 7, 2024
Downtown Fenton, 301 Leroy St, Fenton, MI 48430
Downtown Fenton hosts a variety of festivals year round, but one of our favorites to kick off the holiday season? Jinglefest!
Ice sculptures, a Jinglejog 5K Run & Walk, tree lighting, shopping, and a holiday lighted parade make this the perfect event to explore this bustling downtown.
Santa House in Midland
December 3 – 24, 2024
The town of Midland, MI, is another Christmas gem you’ll want to visit.
Their gorgeous Santa house (with occasional reindeer visits) opens for the holiday season (date and time TBD). Not only can kids visit the big man himself, but they can also run a Christmas train throughout the Santa house season.
Check here for Santa house and train dates, including dates set aside for those with sensory or accessibility needs. No advance tickets available, walk-ups only, so get there early.
PS- If it’s reindeer that you’re interested in, we do also have an article on Michigan reindeer farms that is a bit magical in itself.
Have a merry festive season, y’all!
Charlevoix Circle Holiday mARkeT
Friday, November 15, 2024 – Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Charlevoix Circle of Arts, 109 Clinton St., Charlevoix, MI 49720
Do you love supporting local artists and finding one-of-a kind gifts for those you love? Check out the Charlevoix Circle Holiday mARkeT.
Don’t miss the opening reception on November 15th from 5pm-7pm!
FAQs
What is a Christmas market?
When I think of a Christmas market, I’m imagining mooching around craft stalls bursting with unique gift ideas, drinking mulled wine and hot chocolate, all whilst wrapped up in my coziest hat, scarf, and winter coat watching lights twinkle and listening to Christmas music.
Are there Christmas markets in Michigan?
Yes, there are Christmas markets in Michigan. BUT while you can find Christmas parades and Santa listings by the dozen, Christmas markets seem to be Michigan’s best-kept secret. This is why we’ve done the hard work for you, so you can add some fantastic celebrations to your calendar NOW.
When do they start?
Christmas events in Michigan start sooner than you think! Don’t wait until your family comes into town just ahead of the big day. Start getting your festive on early – with events beginning in November, you won’t want to miss out.
