Can you feel the excitement and anticipation in the air? The holiday season is officially here and we’re thrilled to share our list of holiday events happening in Oakland County. There are so many ways to delight in the magic of the season during this special time of year.
View our list of Holiday Happenings. You’ll find everything from parades and seasonal excursions to performances, holiday markets, and craft fairs. Kids, young and old, are sure to have a jolly time!
Bundle up and have a blast this holiday season in Oakland County! Please check event websites for dates and times. Some events are one day only and others are on weekends only.
Do you know of any other Holiday Happenings in and around the Oakland County area? Let us know about them by contacting us at socialmedia@oakgov.com or leaving a comment below.
Visit the Oakland County website, and follow along with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more news and fun year round. Join the conversation using #OaklandCounty.
Experience the wonder at Meadow Brook’s Annual Holiday Walk! Spend the most wonderful time of the year at the Great Estate for self-guided tours through the decorated rooms of the mansion now until December 23rd.
“Landmark in Lights” features more than 50 glittering trees—including an all-new artist designed ice castle tree and a 10-foot tall Poinsettia tree created by 150 live plants—hundreds of feet of garland and thousands of twinkling lights. A trip to this signature holiday event in Oakland County is something you won’t want to miss!
Preview Meadow Brook Hall’s Holiday walk before you go:
Meadow Brook Hall During the Holidays
Meadow Brook Hall is bustling during the holiday season. In addition to their signature Holiday Walk Tours, Holiday Lights and Winter Nights,
Visitors can enjoy a walk through the mansion’s grounds and halls, as well as two events for kids of all ages: Cleo’s Candy Adventure and Letters to Santa.
Daily tours take place now till December 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with extended evening hours until 8:00 p.m. on select nights.
The Final Weekend of festivities takes on a magical new atmosphere with a visit from Santa and two of his live reindeer! Guests will also have the chance to see the lights at night, while warming themselves by the bonfire and sipping seasonal adult beverages until 8 p.m.
Admission
Reservations are not required for Mead Brook Hall Holiday events. Tickets can be purchased the day of your visit in the Holiday Shop at Meadow Brook Hall and are valid for the entire day, but re-entry is not allowed. Visit Meadow Brook’s website for prices and special rates. Advanced tickets are not available.
For more information about these Holiday events or special group tours, call Meadow Brook Hall at 248-364-6200.
The History of Meadow Brook Hall
This 110-room Tudor style mansion was constructed from 1926 to 1929 and was once the home of Matilda Dodge Wilson. She loved spending her time filling Meadow Brook Hall with lavish furniture, paintings, and art from around the world spanning several centuries. Her collections are still kept in the home today and reflect the elaborate lifestyles of the American Industrialists of the early 20th century.
Today, over 70,000 people visit Meadow Brook Hall every year to learn about and explore the historic mansion.
For ticket prices and more information on the Great Estate, visit the Meadow Brook Hall website, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
Light up the night this holiday season with the Detroit Zoo Wild Lights. This spectacular display of 280 sculptures, trees, and buildings is comprised of more than five million LED lights! Wild Lights illuminates the zoo for 29 nights from November 16th – January 5th.
Check out this video preview of the Detroit Zoo Wild Lights:
Thank you for your interest in the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. There is no map for the 2019 Holiday Season.
Continue reading below for highlights from the 2018 Map. Please note that all displays were self-submitted by homeowners last year and have not been updated and may not be operational in the 2019 season.
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 2018 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.
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.
Celebrate the joy of the holiday season in Downtown Rochester at The Big, Bright Light Show! Up and down Main Street, buildings will be covered by more than 1 million lights. This nightly, free event lights up Downtown through January 6th, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.
Preview the dazzling lights before you go:
Since 2006, the show has become an annual tradition for thousands of people from across the region. The festivities begin each year prior to Thanksgiving during Lagniappe when the lights are turned on for the first time and the town celebrates by giving a “little something extra” to guests.
Throughout the season, spectators gather to walk through Downtown, see the many-colored lights, and shop at decorated stores. Most stores are open Monday through Saturday, until 9:00 p.m.
New this year, The Big, Bright Light Show has been extended past January 6th to illuminate every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the Fire and Ice Festival on January 18th – 20th, giving visitors more time to enjoy the famous lights.