Detroit–Warren–Dearborn · MI
Things to do with kids in Detroit — December 2026
94 family events in December 2026. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page. Dates are in Eastern Time.
What’s on now in Detroit →Events
Dec1TueNutcracker and showsTue, Dec 1
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Fox Theatre
Paid
Nov27FriCommunityThrough Dec 30
Holiday Walk at Meadow Brook Hall
Meadow Brook Hall
From $9
- Outdoors
Through Dec 31
Holidays in Heritage Lighted Walk — Canton
Heritage Park
FreeAll ages
- Light displays
Through Jan 17
Lagniappe and The Big, Bright Light Show — Downtown Rochester
Downtown Rochester (calendar lists the Rochester DDA)
Nov13FriLight displaysThrough Dec 30
MI Bright Lights Holiday Light Festival at Camp Dearborn
Camp Dearborn
Paid
Nov20FriNutcracker and showsFri, Nov 20
A Christmas Carol at Meadow Brook Theatre
Meadow Brook Theatre (Wilson Hall, Oakland University)
PaidAges 5+
Nov19ThuOutdoorsThu, Nov 19 · 6:00 PM
Wayne County Lightfest 2026
Hines Park, Merriman Hollow entrance
From $5
- Arts & crafts
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:30 PM
Build a Buddy Workshop — Sterling Heights Community Center
Sterling Heights Community Center
PaidAges 3–6
Dec3ThuMarkets and festivalsThu, Dec 3 · 6:30 PM
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village
Greenfield Village (The Henry Ford)
From $39
- Tree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 4:00 PM
Birmingham Winter Markt and Holiday Tree Lighting
Downtown Birmingham (Shain Park area)
Nov27FriMarkets and festivalsFri, Nov 27 · 6:00 PM
Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll
Canterbury Village
Paid
- Outdoors
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Kids' Night-In at the Nature Center — Lake St. Clair Metropark
Lake St. Clair Metropark Nature Center
From $15Ages 6–11
- Santa visits
Fri, Dec 4 · 3:00 PM
Letters to Santa at the Grosse Pointe Ewald Branch
Grosse Pointe Public Library – Ewald Branch
Free
- Light displays
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:30 PM
Macomb Township Holiday Tree Lighting and After Glow
Macomb Township Recreation Center
Free
Dec4FriCommunityFri, Dec 4
Royal Oak Holidays – Three Weekends of Holiday Fun in Downtown Royal Oak
Downtown Royal Oak (Centennial Commons and surrounding downtown)
With admission
Nov28SatSanta visitsSat, Nov 28 · 12:00 PM
Santa House in Shain Park, Birmingham
Santa House, Shain Park
Free
- Santa visits
Fri, Nov 27
Santa's Magic Forest — Taylor
Eureka Heights Elementary School
From $5All ages
- Tree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
St. Clair Shores Tree Lighting
St. Clair Shores (location not specified on the calendar entry)
- Light displays
Sat, Nov 21 · 5:00 PM
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo
Detroit Zoo
From $17All ages
- Community
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:30 PM
A Sterling Christmas in Dodge Park
Dodge Park
With admission
Dec5SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
A Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Van Hoosen Farm
Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm
Paid
Nov27FriSTEM & discoveryFri, Nov 27 · 12:00 PM
All Aboard! Model Railroad Exhibit at Rochester Hills Museum
Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm
Paid
Dec5SatLight displaysSat, Dec 5 · 5:30 PM
Berkley Holiday Lights Parade and Tree Lighting
12 Mile Road to Berkley City Hall
Free
- Community
Sat, Dec 5
Farmington Holly Days and Light Up the Grand Parade
Downtown Farmington (Grand River Avenue)
All ages
Dec5SatMarkets and festivalsSat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
Goodfellows' Taylor Winterfest 5K and Kids' Run
Heritage Park
Paid
Oct31SatArts & craftsSat, Oct 31 · 11:00 AM
Guardian + Child Tile Making Workshop (children 7-15) – Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery
From $50Ages 7–15
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 5
Holiday Fun & Santa Visits at Maybury Farm
Maybury Farm
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Holiday Nature Ornament Making — Stony Creek Metropark
Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center
From $6Ages 6+
Nov28SatCommunitySat, Nov 28 · 11:00 AM
Holly Dickens Festival Weekends
Downtown Holly
FreeAll ages
Dec5SatCommunitySat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Milford Christmas Open House
Downtown Milford
Nov7SatSports & playSat, Nov 7 · 10:30 AM
Move & Groove: YMCA Family Fitness at Farmington Community Library
Farmington Community Library – Farmington Hills Branch
Free
Dec5SatCommunitySat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Noel Night at The Wright Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
FreeAll ages
- Parades
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Orion Lighted Christmas Parade in Downtown Lake Orion
Downtown Lake Orion
Dec5SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
Santa at the Straight Farmhouse — Garden City
Straight Farmhouse Historic District
From $3
Oct24SatArts & craftsSat, Oct 24 · 10:30 AM
Saturday Mixed Media Workshops for Kids – Anton Art Center
Anton Art Center
From $15
- Public skating
Sat, Oct 31 · 4:15 PM
Saturday Public Skating – Detroit Skating Club
Detroit Skating Club
From $6
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM
Selfies with Santa at Barson's Greenhouse
Barson's Greenhouse
Free
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 7 · 11:00 AM
Sensory Friendly Saturdays at the DIA
Detroit Institute of Arts
Free
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Snacks with Santa — Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark Golf Course Starter Building
From $6All ages
Dec5SatSTEM & discoverySat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
STEMgineers: Creative Engineering with Minecraft — Westland Library
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland
Free
- Tree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM
Taylor Winterfest Day Celebration and Tree Lighting
Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion, Heritage Park
FreeAll ages
- Sports & play
Sat, Nov 7 · 12:00 PM
Teen Dungeons and Dragons Campaign — Westland Library (Grades 7-12)
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland
Free
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM
The Nutcracker — Ballet Americana with the Dearborn Symphony
Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
Paid
Dec5SatArts & craftsSat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Winter Reading Kickoff — West Bloomfield Library
West Bloomfield Township Public Library – Main Branch
FreeAll ages
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 3:00 PM
Winterfest in Cherry Hill Village — Canton
Cherry Hill Village
FreeAll ages
Dec6SunNutcracker and showsSun, Dec 6 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with the Grinch at Canterbury Castle
Canterbury Castle, King Richard Ballroom (Canterbury Village)
From $26.99
- Santa visits
Sun, Dec 6
Macomb Township Santa Cruise Light Parade
Parade route in Macomb Township (to be announced)
Free
- Santa visits
Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM
Sunday with Santa — Oakwoods Metropark
Oakwoods Metropark Nature Center
From $6All ages
- Tree lightings
Wed, Dec 9 · 6:00 PM
Westland Holiday Tree Lighting at Jefferson Barns
Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center
- Santa visits
Thu, Dec 10 · 4:00 PM
Elves Workshop — Sterling Heights Community Center
Sterling Heights Community Center
PaidAges 3–6
- Dec10ThuArts & crafts
Thu, Dec 10 · 4:00 PM
Lo-Fi Slam Teen Poetry Battle — The Wright Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
FreeAges 13–18
Dec11FriMarkets and festivalsFri, Dec 11 · 11:00 AM
Christmas in Plymouth and Mistletoe Market
Downtown Plymouth and The Gathering
Dec11FriNutcracker and showsFri, Dec 11
Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at the Fox Theatre
Fox Theatre
Paid
Dec11FriArts & craftsFri, Dec 11
DSO Home for the Holidays
Orchestra Hall, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center
Paid
- Community
Fri, Dec 11 · 6:00 PM
Friday Night Holiday Fun — Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark Food Bar
From $6Ages 4+
Dec11FriNutcracker and showsFri, Dec 11 · 6:00 PM
Grub with the Grinch — Redford
Redford Recreation & Wellness Center
From $12All ages
Dec11FriLight displaysFri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Lights Trolley Tours with Port Huron Museums
Port Huron Museums Carnegie Museum
From $10
- Community
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
Jingle Bell Barn at Heritage Park Petting Farm
Heritage Park Petting Farm
From $6All ages
Nov14SatSTEM & discoverySat, Nov 14 · 12:00 PM
Lost Lake Nature Park Open Houses (Arctic theme)
Lost Lake Nature Park
All ages
- Dec12SatArts & crafts
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Roots and Futures Youth Summit — The Wright Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Free
- Sports & play
Sat, Nov 14 · 1:00 PM
Teen Tabletop Game Club — Grosse Pointe Woods Branch (Grades 6-12)
Grosse Pointe Public Library – Woods Branch
Free
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 12 · 1:00 PM
Westland Community-Wide Christmas Festival
Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
All ages
Dec12SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 12 · 4:00 PM
Wilder Branch Annual Holiday Party with Santa
Detroit Public Library — Wilder Branch
FreeAll ages
Dec13SunArts & craftsSun, Dec 13 · 3:00 PM
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live at the Opera House with Detroit Opera Orchestra
Detroit Opera House
PaidAll ages
- Cooking
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM
Cook-A-Book: Story and Recipe for Kids — Westland Library
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland
FreeAges 4+
Nov8SunArts & craftsSun, Nov 8 · 10:30 AM
Little Makers Open House – Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Free
Dec13SunNutcracker and showsSun, Dec 13 · 12:00 PM
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Fox Theatre
Fox Theatre
Paid
- Outdoor rinks
Sun, Dec 13 · 11:00 AM
Sensory Friendly Sundays at Dodge Park Ice Rink
Dodge Park Ice Rink
With admissionAll ages
- Santa visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 2:00 PM
Visit Santa at the Trenton Cultural Center
Trenton Cultural Center
Free
Dec16WedCrafts and cookiesWed, Dec 16 · 6:00 PM
Gingerbread House Decoration for Kids — Novi Public Library
Novi Public Library
Free
Dec16WedCommunityWed, Dec 16 · 6:00 PM
Umoja: A Kwanzaa Celebration of Unity — Detroit Public Library Main
Detroit Public Library — Main Library, Children's Library (Explorers Room)
Free
Dec17ThuArts & craftsThu, Dec 17
'Twas The Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil
Fox Theatre
Paid
- Light displays
Fri, Dec 18 · 6:00 PM
Taylor Winterfest Stroll through Holiday Lights at Heritage Park
Heritage Park (Coan Lake historical area)
PaidAll ages
Dec18FriNutcracker and showsFri, Dec 18
The Nutcracker by Michigan Ballet Company (Macomb Center)
Macomb Center for the Performing Arts (Main Stage)
From $30
Dec19SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 19 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa at Canterbury Castle
Canterbury Castle, King Richard Ballroom (Canterbury Village)
From $26.99
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 19 · 11:00 AM
Christmas Around the World at Canterbury Village
Canterbury Village
Free
- Outdoors
Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM
Family Nature Hike — Stony Creek Metropark
Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center
From $3All ages
- Dec19SatCommunity
Sat, Dec 19 · 12:00 PM
Holly, Jolly Christmas at the Redford History Center
Redford History Center
All ages
- STEM & discovery
Fri, Nov 13 · 6:00 PM
Kids Night Out! at the Mad Science Lab (Pre-K/TK - Grade 5) – Mad Science of Detroit
Mad Science Lab (Mad Science of Detroit)
From $25
- Outdoors
Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM
Nature Play for Ages 4–8 — Stony Creek Metropark
Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center
From $3Ages 4–8
Dec19SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 19 · 9:00 AM
Santa's Jingle Bell Brunch at the Macomb Township Recreation Center
Macomb Township Recreation Center
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 19 · 10:00 AM
Winter Bird Discovery Hike — Kensington Metropark
Kensington Metropark Nature Center
From $3All ages
Dec19SatLight displaysSat, Dec 19 · 11:00 AM
Winter Solstice Celebration and Lantern Parade at Cranbrook
Cranbrook Institute of Science and Cranbrook Art Museum
From $20All ages
- Arts & crafts
Sun, Dec 20 · 2:00 PM
Pop-up Portrait Studio — Family Portraits at the DIA
Detroit Institute of Arts
With admission
- Outdoors
Sun, Dec 20 · 4:30 PM
Solstice Sunset Stroll at Dinosaur Hill
Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve
From $6
Dec20SunNutcracker and showsSun, Dec 20 · 3:00 PM
The Hip Hop Nutcracker (Fisher Theatre)
Fisher Theatre
PaidAges 5+
Dec21MonOutdoorsMon, Dec 21 · 9:00 AM
Camp Frosty Winter Break Day Camp at Howell Nature Center
Howell Nature Center
From $50
Dec21MonSTEM & discoveryMon, Dec 21 · 11:00 AM
Discovery Days: Celebrate Science — Winter Break at Cranbrook Institute of Science
Cranbrook Institute of Science
With admission
Dec22TueNutcracker and showsTue, Dec 22 · 7:30 PM
A Christmas Story, The Musical (Fisher Theatre)
Fisher Theatre
PaidAges 5+
- Dec23WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 23 · 5:30 PM
Cookies for Santa — Redford Recreation & Wellness Center
Redford Recreation & Wellness Center
From $12Ages 3–12
- Outdoors
Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM
Walk on the Winter Side — Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark
From $3Ages 8+
Dec27SunArts & craftsSun, Dec 27 · 1:00 PM
Craftapalooza Winter Break Crafts — Westland Library
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland
Free
Dec28MonCommunityMon, Dec 28 · 11:00 AM
Kwanzaa Family Storytime — Sherwood Forest Branch Library
Detroit Public Library — Sherwood Forest Branch
Free
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM
Puppet Karaoke Detroit: Noon Year's Eve at the DIA
Detroit Institute of Arts — Crystal Gallery
With admissionAll ages