The Big Reveal Kicks Off the Holiday Season in Milford

Downtown Milford

Downtown Milford is celebrating 150 years on a high note with events and activities sure to spread holiday cheer! This year’s holiday season in Milford kicked off with their annual Big Reveal downtown.

The Big Reveal is one of the most magical downtown events year after year. Nearly 40 businesses along Main Street, between Library Street and Commerce Road, set up festive holiday window displays they gift wrap for awaiting eager children to unwrap after the countdown for the Big Reveal!

WIndow display at Gina's Bridal

“The Big Reveal is when all of the businesses in town decorate their windows for their holiday display. It goes from now until after the holidays,” explains Gina Salaski, owners of Gina’s Bridal Boutique.  “We tend to do a pretty elaborate display, we like to do a winter theme, and feel good theme, something that’s obviously very sparkly, that what we’re known for here (Gina’s Bridal Boutique). It’s a fun event for the kids to come and unwrap the windows and kick off the holiday season in town.”

Did you miss this year’s Big Reveal? Don’t worry, we have a video recap for you to enjoy and plan your trip for next year:

The Big Reveal is the only the first in a series of holiday events to enjoy with your family and friends this season in Milford.

“The Big Reveal is just a fun event we do in downtown Milford to kick off the holiday season,” shared Kathy Magaluck, owner of Acorn Farm. “All of us store owners plan special window displays for the season, we get them done and then the windows get paper up. On the night of the big reveal children line up and down the streets and when the countdown/announcement comes, they tear off the paper and that begins the start of the Christmas season in downtown Milford. It’s just a fun magical evening that night.

Acorn Farm Storefront

Continue reading

Shop Small at Oakland County Independent Toy Stores

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 FacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramPinterest, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.

Memorable Milford Memories

Crowd at Milford Memories 2018

Milford, Michigan hosted it’s 27th annual Milford Memories Festival the weekend of August 10-12, 2018. Always held the second full weekend in August, thousands of visitors from all over the region flocked to the streets of Downtown Milford for art, food, music, and fun.

Check out some highlights from the 2018 Milford Memories Festival below and be sure to mark your calendars for this free annual event each summer!

Continue reading

Season of the Sandhills

Sandhill Crane

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Sandhill Cranes are dancing and singing their courtship songs all across Oakland County. Their leaping, wing-flapping dance moves are one of the finest and perhaps most astonishing shows of nature for those that are lucky enough to witness their exuberance for life. The spectacular performance takes one’s breath away. An early morning solo hike near the entrance of Rose Oaks County Park presented me with an opportunity to watch that ritual from a crouched position among dry cattails with Red-Winged Blackbirds as my companions.

Sandhill Crane

Continue reading