Jingle All The Way And Keep The Jangle In Your Pocket
Grand Rapids is never at a loss for epic Christmas events.
And the best part is many of these are free Christmas events and activities throughout West Michigan.
You can always catch a great holiday parade, find Christmas lights, attend a tree lighting, or even visit Santa for free in many places around town. Add on one-of-a-kind events, Christmas markets and more and you’ve got a big list of options.
Check back this fall for updates!
Low Cost or Free Christmas Events & Activities
Use this list to find affordable holiday and free Christmas events that are happening around Grand Rapids and West Michigan.
Head to a Holiday Celebration
Holiday and Christmas celebrations are popping up all over West Michigan this year.
Cabela’s has free photos with Santa from Nov 3 – Dec 24, 2024. And listen to Santa and Mrs. Claus tell Christmas Tales every Tuesday at 5 PM, Nov 5 – Dec 17. 2025 dates TBA
The Georgetown Township Library’s tree lighting will have a choir, stories, crafts, food trucks, and more on Tuesday, Dec 3 from 6 PM – 8 PM. 2025 date TBA
Join the city of Caledonia for a night of games, crafts, singing Christmas songs, hot cocoa and petting zoo fun. 2025 date TBA
Horrocks Holiday Jamboree is Friday, December 13 from 4 – 8 PM in Kentwood. Features include a winter petting zoo with reindeer, complimentary hot chocolate and ice cream, live holiday music, a kids’ area for letters to Santa, and a photo opportunity in a holiday sleigh. Food and special holiday drinks are available for purchase. Santa won’t be present, but his elves will collect letters. 2025 date TBA
Visit the Winter Wonderland in Ada Village
Ada’s annual window competition invites you to vote on your favorite. Then, take a walk through Legacy Park and visit the 30+ decorated trees. Winter Wonderland runs through the end of 2025.
Gerald R Ford Express Train Village
Celebrate the holiday season with a train display that includes many nods to Gerald R. Ford’s life in Grand Rapids, including South High School, Bill’s Place Diner, the Quonset Hut used in his congressional campaign, and a replica of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
Visiting the train is free, but tickets are needed to visit the galleries. December 6, 2024 – January 5, 2024. 2025 dates TBA
Catch a Free Movie
Kent Theatre, 8 N Main St NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319
The Kent Theatre is playing How the Grinch Stole Christmas on December 6 – 8, The Polar Express on December 20 – 22 & It’s A Wonderful Life on December 27 – 29. 2025 titles and dates TBA
Luminary Hike in Lowell
Wittenbach Wege Center – Lowell Area Schools, 11715 Vergennes SE, Lowell, MI 49331
Dec 13, 14 & 15 from 5 PM – 8PM, go on a Luminary Hike at nature center in Lowell. Arrive and walk the 1-mile trail. There’s an option to extend the walk with a 1/2+ mile loop through the Wege Natural Area Preserve. No dogs for this event please.
*December 14 is family night with bonus activities. At the cabin, string popcorn or make a pinecone birdfeeder ornament for our tree. Back at the Center, make a nature inspired craft in the building.
2025 dates TBA
Big List of Free Christmas Events in Greater Grand Rapids
*Looking for more? All of the events listed below are found in our MASTER CALENDAR.
