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
Attend a Brand New Festival
Mark your calendar for December 2 – 6! The organizers of Tulip Time are bringing an all new festival to Holland.
At Dutch Winterfest, you’ll experience all things Dutch – including Sinterklaas, Delft Downtown, Kerstmarkt, and plenty of treats.
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.
