Lake Orion & Orion Township

It’s Time for Outdoor Winter Fun in Oakland County!

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment
Child ice-skates with his family

There’s so much fun to be had this winter in Oakland County. From skiing and snowboarding, to skating and more, the opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless!

Bundle up, grab your gear, and head out to an Oakland County Park, trail, hill, or lake to stay active and enjoy the winter season. Check out our full list of outdoor winter activities below, or scroll down to use our interactive map.

Outdoor Winter Fun in Oakland County

Grab your ice skates to glide around the rinks at Annie Lathrup Park in Lathrup Village, or set out for a downhill skiing adventure at Alpine Valley in White Lake. Hook the “catch of the day” while ice fishing at Orion Oaks County Park in Lake Orion or choose from several other locations in the county.

If you’re planning to ice fish or ice skate on a lake, remember that no ice is 100% safe. Ice must be at least 5″ inches thick to safely enjoy these activities. Before you head out, view these important Ice Safety Tips from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Our interactive map will help you find activities near you. The icons on the map and legend show various activities, like tobogganing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, ice fishing, sledding, and cross-country skiing. Clicking the arrows below the icons in the legend will allow you to see a list of locations for that activity.

Do you know of any other outdoor winter activities in the Oakland County area? Let us know by contacting us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leaving a comment below.

Visit our website, and use #OaklandCounty on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for more county news and information all year round.

Lights on the Lake Brightens Oakland County this Holiday Season!

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Lights on the Lake in Lake Orion is a must-see light and sound display, with over 14,000 pixels synchronized to music and two different shows that run on alternating days. Head to 439 Shady Oaks to see it in person while you listen to the broadcast on 93.1 FM.

Check out our video for a preview before you go and learn what inspired Rob and Lindsey-Anne Gawthrop to create a holiday wonderland using pixels. Each individual pixel can be controlled to show any color, making all kinds of patterns possible. The show runs: Sunday–Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday–Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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Oakland County Indoor Activities

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Great Lakes Crossing sign in Auburn Hills.

There are so many opportunities for indoor fun in Oakland County! Take a trip to a mall, jump around at a trampoline center, or attempt an exciting escape room puzzler. With more than 200 locations for indoor fun in the county, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect activity for you.

Click the button below to check out our full list of indoor fun, or scroll down to use our interactive map.

Indoor Fun in Oakland County

Head over to Palazzo di Bocce in Lake Orion or Whirlyball in Novi for unique sporting experiences, catch a show at Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, or play arcade games and laser tag at Safari Playground in Walled Lake.

For an entire day of fun, visit Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills and check out their new Michigan themed play area, catch a movie at AMC Star Great Lakes, visit Sea Life Aquarium and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, or go bowling and play arcade games, karaoke, billiards, ping-pong, and darts at Round 1 Bowling & Amusement.

Use our interactive map to find locations near you. The legend lists a wide range of activities, like archery, arts and crafts, gymnastics, ice and roller skating, museums, rock climbing, theaters, and many more.

Map listing various indoor locations in Oakland County, such as bowling alleys, escape rooms, and movie theatres.

Do you know about another indoor activity in the Oakland County area? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter, by contacting us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leaving a comment below.

Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.

Shop Small at Oakland County Independent Toy Stores

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

Shopping small is a great way to support local businesses and find the perfect gift for anyone on your list this holiday season and throughout the year. Oakland County is home to several independent toy stores that offer a variety of specialty toys and gifts. Check out our full list of independently owned toy and gift stores:

Independent Toy Stores in Oakland County

Surprise the little ones in your life with something they’ll treasure from a local toy store. Find classic kid favorites as well as the latest and greatest toys at Adventures in Toys in Birmingham, The Village Toy Shoppe in Milford, and Funky Monkey Toys in Oxford.

For the hard to shop for on your list, check out unique stores featuring Michigan-made, whimsical, and lifestyle gifts at Catching Fireflies in Berkley or Rochester, Green Hippo Gifts in Lake Orion, or Leon and Lulu in Clawson.

Looking for something specific? Check out our interactive map of toy stores and use the legend to sort by different types of specialty shops: Collectibles; Comics; Dolls; Games; Hobby; Magic; Anime, Manga & Kawaii; Blocks & Robots; Toys; and Toys & Gifts.

Map of many different toy stores across Oakland County.

Do you know of any other independent toy or gift stores in the Oakland County area? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter, by contacting us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leaving a comment below.

Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.

Oakland County Holiday Lights Map

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Celebrate the season with a tour of holiday light displays in and around Oakland County! Show off your decorated property or visit one of the many holiday light displays using the 2nd annual Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. Use the map below to discover festive homes like My Light Show in Waterford, community displays such as the Big, Bright Light Show in Downtown Rochester, and popular attractions like Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo.

Submit your display or find one to visit using the interactive Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. Residents, communities, and businesses in the area can submit their own properties and, once approved, they will show up on the map for others to visit in person.

Holiday Lights Map

Submit Your Holiday Lights Display

Enter your own property into the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map by following the instructions below:

  • Visit the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map webpage from your mobile device or desktop computer. Mac desktop users should use Safari or Firefox for optimal experience.
  • Press the “+ Submit Your Light Display” button on the top right corner of the webpage.
  • Upload a picture of your decorated property, the title of your holiday display, your address, and a description of what visitors should expect to see.
  • Press the “Accept Terms and Submit” button.

That’s it, you are done! Wait a few hours and check back to view your property on the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map.

Please note, all submissions will go through an approval process before showing up on the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. Submissions without a photo will not be accepted. Only submit photos of your own property and be aware that by uploading your submission, you are encouraging people to visit your property.

Check out the 2018 Oakland County Holiday Lights Map to submit and travel to your favorite decorated displays in and around Oakland County. Before planning your trip, continue reading below to learn about three of last year’s holiday lights displays and their charitable impact upon the community.

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