Detroit’s Big, Bright Light Show
Get ready to be dazzled at the Detroit Zoo’s wildly popular Wild Lights display! This brilliant exhibition features millions of LED lights strategically placed along a trail that winds through the zoo’s grounds. As you stroll the mesmerizing mile-long path, you’ll be surrounded by larger-than-life illuminated sculptures of your favorite animals. Keep an eye out for the 20-foot tall turkey, the gigantic scorpion, and the stunning butterfly garden created entirely from lights. Wild Lights also features holiday-themed displays and attractions, like skating on the Wild Lights Rink, roasting marshmallows around campfires, and warming up inside heated tents and concessions. Don’t miss the exhilarating rides, like the Unlimited Ride Wristband that gives you access to the Glacier Glide Ice Rink, carousel, and Funfield games all night. On weekends, you can cap off your visit by viewing one of Detroit Zoo’s resident animal experts present an illuminated wildlife show.
Address: 8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Phone: (248) 541-5717
The Rink at Campus Martius Park
Lace up your skates and head to the iconic Rink at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit! This beloved Motor City tradition transforms the city’s central park into a real-life winter wonderland complete with a gorgeous ice skating rink. Nestled between the beautifully lit Detroit skyline and Detroit’s gigantic Christmas tree and winter markets, the Rink provides an unbeatable festive atmosphere. Test out your triple axels and camel spins on the affordable open skate sessions, or sign up for skating lessons with the pros if you’re a newbie on the ice. The Rink also hosts special events all season long like themed skating nights, live performances, DJs, and more. When you need to thaw out, warm up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate or indulge in delicious baked goods from the rink-side eating areas. There’s no better place to embrace winter in Detroit than by skating under a canopy of twinkling lights in the heart of the city!
Address: 800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 962-0101
Strolling the Brilliant Detroit Christmas Walk
For a healthy dose of holiday magic, don your coziest winter attire and take an enchanting stroll along Detroit’s Christmas Walk. Located at the historic Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, this brilliant outdoor trail spans over 50 acres adorned with millions of twinkling LED lights. Marvel at the elegant Holiday Forest, illuminated holiday cottages, and festive light displays depicting classic Christmas scenes. Kids’ eyes will light up at the Candy Cane Clubhouse, while shutterbugs will love the dazzling photo ops around every corner. Warm up by roasting s’mores and sipping hot chocolate from the concession areas as you soak in the festive ambiance. The Christmas Walk is the perfect place to start a romantic new tradition – propose under the glow of thousands of lights at the end of the Tunnel of Love! Round out your visit by shopping the European-style outdoor markets for locally-made holiday gifts and treats like fresh-roasted nuts and steaming mugs of spiced cider.
Address: 480 S Adams Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Phone: (248) 364-6200
Downtown in Holiday Circus
Get transported to a dazzling circus wonderland in the heart of Detroit at Downtown in Holiday Circus! This eye-popping indoor celebration features jaw-dropping live circus acts, mind-blowing magic shows, and festive music and dance performances on multiple stages. Step right up to immersive experiences like interactive funhouses, carnival games, delicious holiday-themed treats and more spread throughout the venue. The little ones can let loose at the Kids Zone while mom and dad sip boozy holiday cocktails at the Après Ski Lodge bar. Don’t miss the stunning circus performers who will amaze with daring aerial acts, acrobatics, and comedy routines – it’s a spectacle like no other in the D! The whole family can get in on the action too. Join in festive dance parties, snap selfies with stilt walkers and contortionists, or try your luck at classic circus games for a chance to win prizes. It’s holiday enchantment mixed with big-top wonder – this season’s can’t-miss event!
Address: 600 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48243
Winter Blast Weekend
Kick off the new year by embracing winter at its finest during Winter Blast Weekend in downtown Detroit! This four-day frosty festival transforms the city streets into a real-life snow globe brimming with cool outdoor activities. Strap on your skates on the gigantic ice skating rink and show off your skills. Take a whirl around the Ferris wheel and soar high above the festivities. Score a strike at the Street Curling lanes or try your hand at human bowling on icy tracks. Feeling more laid-back? Roast s’mores around the fire pits and sip hot chocolate from cozy outdoor lodges. Winter Blast features all sorts of snowy competitions and games with big prizes, along with live music, exhibitors, and delicious winter eats to fuel the fun! Kids can burn off energy in inflatable play zones and meet wintry mascots while parents kick back at the beer tent. It’s four days of frosty thrills the whole family can enjoy!
LUMEN Detroit’s Dazzling Light Experience
Immerse yourself in a captivating multimedia experience that blends art and technology at LUMEN Detroit. This one-of-a-kind light and digital art installation transforms a city block into a mind-blowing audio/visual journey through a series of mind-bending worlds. Step inside the mesmerizing 20,000 square foot experience and be surrounded by cutting-edge lighting, 3D video projectors, and sculptural elements that respond to motion and sound. Each of the five distinct realms provides a multi-sensory environment for you to interact and become part of the art. Groove to thumping beats while lasers and lights create hypnotic displays of patterns and colors all around you. It’s like stepping into another dimension right in the D! LUMEN harnesses state-of-the-art technology for trippy visuals and sonic landscapes you won’t find anywhere else. Come immerse your senses and ignite your curiosity at this futuristic celebration of light and sound.
The Rink of Windsor
Why not make it a cross-border holiday adventure? Hop across the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario and spend a festive day at The Rink of Windsor! This sprawling winter wonderland spans over 100,000 square feet of magical icy fun right in downtown Windsor. Lace up and take a twirl around the massive outdoor skating rink surrounded by awe-inspiring light displays. Little ones can have a blast zipping down the tubing hills or navigating through the outdoor maze. Add some friendly competition by challenging friends and family to games in the picturesque outdoor curling lanes. Off the ice, warm up fireside while roasting s’mores or sipping steamy hot chocolate. Shopping for adorable holiday keepsakes? Check out the charming Christmas market brimming with locally-made gifts and goodies. With its sparkling lights, cozy bonfires, and dazzling attractions, The Rink of Windsor is a can’t-miss yuletide experience.
Ford House Holiday Tours & Light Show
Step into a real-life Christmas wonderland on the stunning grounds of the historic Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. This iconic Detroit-area estate pulls out all the stops to create a genuine holiday spectacle every year with dazzling decor and light shows. Delight in the breathtaking scene of thousands of glittering lights blanketing every tree, bush and corner of the vast landscape during the Ford House Holiday Lights show. The grand finale is truly something to behold – an incredible 15-minute light show projected onto the Ford House itself synchronized to joyful holiday music. It’s a jaw-dropping sight you’ll have to experience to believe! Once you’ve basked in the outdoor splendor, don’t miss the holiday tours of the Ford House’s elegantly decorated interior either. Discover how the Ford family celebrated Christmas each year as you admire the impeccably decorated rooms decked out in lavish 20th-century holiday style. It’s a magical glimpse into Yuletide traditions of the past brought to vivid life!
Address: 1100 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236
Phone: (313) 884-4222
Rent With Detroit Party Buses To Hit Every Attraction
With so many incredible yuletide attractions around Detroit, you’ll want to visit as many as possible without the hassle of driving separately. This holiday season, leave the transportation to the professionals at Detroit Party Buses! We’ll provide your group with a private charter bus that can shuttle you directly between all of Detroit’s sparkling winter wonderlands. Our modern, comfortable buses are equipped with premium amenities to make the most of your holiday celebration. Stay toasty in plush seats with climate control, entertain the kids with onboard TVs, charge devices with power outlets – the list goes on! Best of all, our professional team will get you to each destination so you can fully enjoy the festive fun without stressing over directions or parking. Call 313-209-8443 today to book the perfect bus for your holiday adventure around Detroit. Detroit Party Buses is here to provide seamless group transportation so you can focus on making merry memories all season long! Let the holiday magic begin.