ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS and THE HOLIDAY SEASON
The True Meaning of Christmas - if you never learned it or have forgotten it, this page explains it.
The True Spirit of Christmas - a serious religious explanation.
The History of Christmas - Learn the true history of Christmas, the history of Santa Claus, Christmas Tree history and facts, and more at History.com.
All Things Christmas - social events, decorations & fun, lists, forums, videos and more.
Kaboose Holiday Guide - family friendly Christmas activities and ideas.
Christmas Humor - jokes & stories, very cool and very funny! part of HumorMatters.
Celebrating Christmas - crafts projects, party themes, recipes, homemade gift ideas.
Trees For Troops Weekend 2009 (Friday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 6) - Consumers can visit designated retail lots & farms during Trees for Troops Weekend to purchase and donate a Real Christmas Tree to be distributed to military families nationwide.
Is it Christmas?
Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving, traditional start of Christmas Season shopping discounts. many deals posted on → Amazon.com gottadeal.com bfads.net blackfriday.info
MICHIGAN CHRISTMAS EVENTS and HOLIDAY EVENTS
November 20, 2009 (fri): Annual Lighting of Detroit's Holiday Tree - 6pm-9pm at Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit.
November 21, 2009 (sat): Holiday Magic Parade - in Downtown Royal Oak (just north of Detroit). 8th Annual, parade features musical acts, performances, floats and more from over 55 parade units, FREE admission. After the parade, visits with Santa. New this year is the Santa Scamper before the parade, A Fun Run, through the parade route for kids and families at 9:15am.
November 22-29, 2009 (except Thanksgiving Day): Annual Festival of Trees - at the Allen Park Municipal Auditorium, 16850 Southfield Rd, Allen Park, MI 48101 (south of Detroit). 25th in 2009. It's one of the largest annual special event fundraisers benefiting Children's Hospital of Michigan. professionally designed holiday trees, locally designed 2' trees, individually designed centerpieces and more, plus visits by Santa. General Admission $5 for adults, $3 for children, under 2 free, tickets sold at door. Preview Party Nov 21st ($75 & $25), Dance Party Nov 28th ($15).
November 26, 2009 (thu):Detroit's Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade - Officially it's called America's Thanksgiving Parade, held on Woodward Ave in Downtown Detroit. One of the largest Thanksgiving Day Parades in the U.S. with award-winning floats, larger than life balloons, bands, celebrities, papier-maché heads and Santa. televised.
November 27, 2009 (fri): Annual Grosse Pointe Santa Claus Parade - in Downtown Grosse Pointe. 34th in 2009. starts at 10am, ending with a tree lighting ceremony.
Nov 27-29, Dec 5-6, 12-13, 2009: Annual Dickens Festival in Holly (northwest corner of Oakland County). Admission is FREE. Join in the fun as Charles Dickens' Merry Old England comes alive. Central to the celebration are characters from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" – Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, The Ghost of Christmas Past and many others – brought to life by members of The Festival Singers. Photos with Santa, caroling, carriage rides, London Lock-Up, kids games, Christmas Tree Walk, Scrooge's Vault, Dickens Festival Parade is on Dec 13th.
December 2, 2009 (wed): Judson Center Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony - in Royal Oak. Enjoy Cookies, Caroling, Photos with Santa, and much more! Free Admission and parking.
December 2, 2009 (wed): City of Troy Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony - Santa Claus, caroling, cookies, hot cocoa and fun.
December 5, 2009 (sat): Orion Area Holiday Lighted Parade - in Lake Orion (north of Detroit). "Billed as the second largest night parade in Michigan with an emphasis on an abundance of colorful holiday lighted floats". held annually on the first saturday in December.
December 5, 2009 (sat): Annual Noel Night - in Midtown Detroit. 37th in 2009. Free, 5pm-9:30pm in Midtown Detroit's Cultural Center Area. Over 30 institutions, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Science Center, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History open their doors to the public free of charge during this Cultural Center-wide holiday "open house". Activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday shopping, family craft activities and performances by over 70 area music, theatre, and dance groups. The evening's festivities culminate with a community sing-along on Woodward Avenue led by the Salvation Army Band — a long-standing Noel Night tradition.
December 5, 12, 19, 2009 (sat): Breakfast with Santa at the Detroit Zoo - in Royal Oak. Buffet-style waffle breakfast, a special gift for each child, arts and crafts, photo opportunities and a visit from Santa and a few of his wildlife friends. Tickets are $20 to $30 per-person, Reservations Required. To make reservations call customer service at 248-541-5717 ext. 3750.
December 6-20, 2009: Ford House Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Display - in Grosse Pointe Shores. No fee for entering, advanced registration is required, contest is open to all metropolitan Detroit area residents. Following the contest, the gingerbread houses will be placed on display December 6-20 for thousands of visitors to enjoy.
December 12, 2009 (sat): Ferndale Holiday Ice Festival (just north of Detroit) - Annual. 40+ ice sculptures, free photo with Santa, Live Reindeer, lunch with Santa $10 adults and $6 children, Madden Football and Wii Fit free video game challenges, Ice Jungle in the Alley, more.
December 19, 2009 (sat): Detroit Santarchy - Santa themed pub crawl visiting many bars in Detroit. Put on your Santa suits, Elf Suits, Naughty Miss Clause Suits and get ready for another mayhem filled night of Santarchy. Bus pass last year was $20, Santa Suits (or Santa's Helpers) are required.
TBA December, 2009 (sat): Detroit Blues Society Annual Holiday Bash and Jam
TBA December, 2009 (fri): Annual Motor City Music Foundation Holiday Blues Bash - starting 9pm at Memphis Smoke located at 100 S Main in Royal Oak. $10 Donation - All proceeds go to the Motor City Music Foundation / Detroit Music Awards. Usually held the day after Christmas.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS IN MICHIGAN USA
includes SLEIGH RIDES, REAL REINDEER, and more
Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth (east lower peninsula, north of Flint).
YEAR-ROUND attraction for all ages. "World's Largest Christmas store. Every evening Bronner's ½-mile long Christmas Lane glistens with thousands of twinkling lights. Over two million people, including 2,000 group tours, visit Bronner's attraction annually."
Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World in Grand Rapids (west lower peninsula) at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. 300,000 lights, strolling carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides and more than 40 international trees and displays. November 18, 2009 – January 10, 2010.
The Santa Train in Coopersville (west of Grand Rapids in west lower peninsula), Nov 28th - December 20th, 2009. Train rides with Santa, Elves, presents, story-telling on the passenger cars of the Coopersville & Marne Railway.
Carousel Acres in South Lyon (west of Detroit).
Has Real Live Reindeer! Plus Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, some adorable elves and sleigh rides.
Santa's Village in Chesaning (northwest of Flint, east-middle lower peninsula).
Nov 27-29, Dec 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 2009. Visit with Santa, Holiday rides, Giant slide, Free entertainment, Huge model railroad display, more. Admission: Adults and Children 6 & over $9, Children 5 & under Free.
Sundays in Bay City (east-middle lower peninsula) from November 15 through December 20, 2009. Each Sunday includes Free Traditional Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides from noon till 3pm, Strolling Carolers & Sidewalk Musicians (weather permitting), drawings, more.
Common & Gentry Carriage Company - has sleigh rides. They have locations in Ann Arbor and Alma. call 616-204-3190.
Pinecrest Percherons and Carriages - has a Winter Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride and Dinner package. located in Lapeer (northwest of Detroit), 810-667-2721.
For Mike's complete list of Horse Drawn Carriages services in Michigan → click here
PLACES IN MICHIGAN WITH GREAT NAMES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR
Christmas, Michigan - a small town in the U.P. (Munising Area, middle of Upper Peninsula) [more info].
North Star Township - in Gratiot County (middle of Michigan's lower peninsula).
Nazareth, Michigan - in Kalamazoo County, Southwest Michigan.
Holly (Village of Holly) - in Oakland County, Southeast Michigan.
Good Hart, Michigan - town in the northern tip of the lower peninsula.
Coldwater - City in lower Michigan (a little north of the Ohio border).
St. Joseph County - in Southwest Michigan.
Gladwin - City in northern half of Michigan's lower peninsula.
Paradise, Michigan - a small town in the U.P. (north-eastern tip of Upper Peninsula).
Rich Township - in Southeast Michigan (Lapeer County, north of Detroit).
CHRISTMAS LIGHTING DISPLAYS and HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOWS in Michigan
Wayne County, MI - Wayne County LightFest (just west of Detroit) 7-10pm nightly, November 19 - December 31, 2009 (Closed December 25). Visit the Midwest's longest drive-through holiday light display. Four miles of of giant animated displays and nearly a million lights for a $5/car donation. Enter at Hines Drive off Merriman Rd, 2 1/2 miles south of I-96 between Ann Arbor Trail and Warren Ave in Westland. For more information or to register a bus/limo, call the parks office at 734-261-1990.
Battle Creek, MI - 2009 International Festival of Lights - November 21 - December, 31, 2009.
Flint, MI - Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic 2009 - see web page for specific viewing dates during Nov 27th to Dec 30th, 2009. The entire village is aglow with colored lights and more lights decorate the railroad's locomotive, coaches and trackside displays.
Garden City, MI - Krazy Christmas Lights 2009 - November 28th through December 31st, 6-10pm nightly. Display at our house has almost 50,000 lights which are controlled by 128 computer channels that sync with the music you listen too through your car radio on 90.1fm. No charge for the display but we do have a collection box for those who would like to give to Toys for Tots. New unwrapped gifts accepted through December 18th and on November 28th the US Marines will be at our house to help collect donations. Address: 490 Belton, Garden City, MI 48135 - 2 blocks west of Inkster Rd & 1 ½ blocks North of Cherry Hill Rd.
Livonia, MI - Livonia Lights 2009 - December 1st to 31st, nightly. House display with over 25,000 lights synchronized to music on 88.5 FM. Address: 34836 Bridge St., Livonia, MI 48152.
Rochester, MI - The Big Bright Light Show 2009 - November 30, 2009 through January 3, 2010. "over a million points of light" plus other large, lighted displays and a Snowflake Spectacular.
St. Clair Shores, MI - December Holiday Lights - TBA 2009. Nautical Mile Holiday Light Display at Wahby Park, on Jefferson between 9 and 10 Mile roads.
Some Related Information...
Energy Efficient LED (light-emitting-diode) Christmas Lights use 90% Less Energy Than Older Type Incandescent Bulbs, are longer lasting and don't get hot.
CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY LED LIGHTS - indoor, outdoor, white, blue, red, green, yellow, multi-color, string lights, snowflakes, candles, icicles, stars, SolarLED, 6' LED Tree and many more! searchable.
HIRE A MICHIGAN SANTA CLAUS - MICHIGAN SANTAS - SANTA SERVICES
SantaDotCom - Year-round Professional Santa Services, 25 years experience, based in Macomb MI. 586-263-8230.
Santa Jim - Have Santa make a special visit to your home, party, business, wedding or special event you're having in Michigan. based in Wolverine Lake, 248 area code.
Michigan Santa Claus - a real bearded Santa Claus based in Oak Park, serving the Detroit metro area and lower Michigan. holiday events and parties.
Michigan Santas - listed at SantaForHire.com. 6 Santas for hire, use request form on their site.
MICHIGAN CHRISTMAS VENDORS - HOLIDAY VENDOR SERVICES
Michigan Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) - helps you find a Choose and Cut farm to select your tree or the nearest retail lot to pick up a pre-cut tree. Real Trees, farm-grown, fresh Christmas trees in Michigan.
Justin Carriage Works - get a real sleigh (horse drawn type!). Company is based in Nashville, MI, which is located southwest of Lansing. phone 517-852-9743. This is also a great place to get many types of horse-drawn style carriages, buggies, wagons, hearses and pull-carts.
Madman Mike Your Musical Slave - Mobile DJ for Christmas Parties and Holiday Parties in Metro Detroit. Over 25 years experience.
DO A GOOD DEED IN MICHIGAN DURING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Michigan - "grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy."
Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit - "sole mission is to ensure that there is No Kiddie Without a Christmas". Each holiday season the Detroit Goodfellows distribute holiday gift boxes to children ages five through 13 living in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck. Each child receives warm clothing, toys, books, games and candy. They also have Shoe, Dental, Campership programs.
Toys for Tots South East Michigan | Bay County | Toys for Tots Michigan contacts
Objective of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas, to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable natural resources - our children, to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign, and to contribute to improving communities in the future.
Santa Claus Girls of Grand Rapids - a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit corporation, goal is to see that no child in Kent County is without a gift on Christmas morning.
Operation Quiet Comfort (OQC) - "Your donations help us to provide meaningful support to our wounded warriors and the amazing medical professionals who care for them. OQC is positioned at U.S. Combat Support Hospitals, Troop Medical Clinics, and with medic teams on the front lines." This is a 100% volunteer nonprofit organization based in LaSalle, MI.
Forgotten Harvest - Donated food is delivered free of charge to emergency food providers in the metro Detroit area. It rescues nearly 8 million pounds of food per year by collecting surplus prepared and perishable food from a variety of sources such as grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, dairies, farmers, wholesale food distributors, and other Health Department-approved sources.
Capuchin Soup Kitchen (Detroit) - "serves the poor who suffer from the lack of basic human needs: material needs, such as food, clothing, and household necessities; psychological needs, such as motivation, self-esteem, and rehabilitation; and social needs, such as support systems and meaningful relationships."
Detroit Rescue Mission - "founded in Detroit in 1909 and February 14, 2007 will mark its 98th year of service to Detroit's needy and homeless. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is a Christian faith-based charitable organization, accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). DRMM is dedicated to meeting the basic needs of humanity, while motivating individuals to rebuild their lives, one life at a time."
COTS Detroit - Coalition on Temporary Shelter - helping the homeless in Detroit.
Lighthouse of Oakland County - helping the homeless in Oakland County.
ChristNet - "a seasonal rotating emergency shelter (open October through May) for men, women, and children when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. As a shared ministry of more than fifty Protestant and Catholic churches in the Downriver and western Wayne County suburbs, the goal of ChristNet is to insure that no one has to be left out in the cold."
Penrickton Center for Blind Children - Based in Taylor, MI. "a private non-profit agency, providing five-day residential, day care, and consultation/evaluation services to blind, multi-disabled children ages one through twelve. Each program is individually designed to promote independence in all aspects of daily living. There is no charge to families for our services provided to their children! Penrickton Center for Blind Children relies solely on private donations for all programs and services. Penrickton Center does not receive any State, Federal, Insurance or United Way funding. All donations to Penrickton Center are tax deductible."
The Salvation Army in Eastern Michigan and in Western Michigan
These are just a few. There are many others who desperately need a helping hand.
Consider offering yours → click here
MORE RESOURCES AND RELATED INFORMATION
Holiday Gag Gifts - Lumpy The Dancing Lump of Coal, I'm Not Santa T-Shirt, Holiday Toilet Paper, Nasty Mistletoe Dirty Talker, Inflatable Christmas Tree, Pull My Finger Farting Santa Claus, more.
Pull My Finger Farting Santa
He Talks and... What a Smile!
click picture for info. just $14.98
Personalized Ornaments
Personalized Christmas ornaments with over 3000 and growing. One for every profession, hobby, sport, pet enthusiast and more.
Energy Efficient Christmas and Holiday Lights - LED's that use 90% less energy than standard bulbs.
Popular Christmas Music and Holiday Songs
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Jingle Bell Rock
The Little Drummer Boy
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
White Christmas
Feliz Navidad
Winter Wonderland
Sleigh Ride
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Wonderful Christmas Time
Do You Hear What I Hear
Jingle Bells
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas
Christmas Eve On Woodward Avenue
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Blue Christmas
Joy To The World
O Holy Night
Noel
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Deck The halls
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Silver Bells
Silent Night
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
Frosty The Snowman
Santa Baby
Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Run Rudolph Run
Santa Claus And His Old Lady
MICHIGAN - ADD Your Christmas Listing: send information in an e-mail → Click Here
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