Don’t let the chilly weather keep you indoors this winter. Bundle up and head downtown for some family fun! 

HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES

• Light Up the City @ Detroit’s Tree Lighting – 11/22: Ring in the holiday season as you watch Detroit flip the switch and light up their tree!
• Welcome Santa to Detroit @ Thanksgiving Day Parade – 11/28: Wave to Captain Underpants, catch some candy and beads from the clowns, and welcome Santa to Detroit at this Thanksgiving Day tradition
• Catch a Holiday Play @ Detroit’s Theatres: There’s no better time to share an unforgettable memory with your kids, than taking them to a holiday show at one of Detroit’s many beautiful theatres.
  • How The Grinch Stole Christmas Musical @Fox Theatre, Detroit: November 20-23
  • Disney Jr. Holiday Party @ Fox Theatre, Detroit: Wednesday, November 27
  • The Illusionists: Magic of The Holidays @ Fox Theatre: November 29 & 30
  • The Nutcracker @ Detroit Opera House: Saturday, November 30
  • Rudolph The Musical @ Fox Theatre, Detroit: Sunday, December 1
  • A Christmas Carol @ Bonstelle Theater, Detroit: December 4-15
  • Uncle Gerry and Friends @ Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Saturday, December 7
  • Winter Wonderland @ Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Saturday, December 7
  • Cirque Dreams Holidaze @ Fox Theatre, Detroit: December 13-15
  • Mannheim Steamroller Christmas @ Fox Theatre, Detroit: Saturday, December 21
  • Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker @ Fox Theatre: Sunday, December 22
  • Hop Hop Nutcracker @ Masonic Temple, Detroit: Monday, December 23
  • The SpongeBob Musical @ Fox Theatre, Detroit: December 26 – January 5
• Noel Day & Night @ Midtown – 12/7: Explore over 100 participating venues throughout Midtown, Detroit for a FREE day of live entertainment, family craft activities, music and more.
• Celebrate Christmas @ Historic Fort Wayne – 12/7: Meet with soldiers from the Revolutionary era and see how the holidays were celebrated hundreds of years ago.
• Pick Out Some Greenery @ Capitol Park: There’s fresh cut trees, wreaths and garland ready and waiting for you to take home for the holiday.
• Put a Little Jingle in your Run @ The Corner Ballpark – 12/7: The Jingle Bell Run is a festive race for all ages with special seasonal guests!
• WinterFest @ Palmer Park – 12/8: Head to the historic Log Cabin for a multi-cultural holiday celebration!
• Have Supper with Santa @ The Whitney – 12/9 & 12/16: Have a magical evening in the Midtown castle and enjoy dinner with Santa!
• Holiday Stroll @ Belle Isle – 12/13: Escape to an island for holiday fun! There will be cocoa, cookies, crafts and more!
• Get Gingerbread house decor @ Rocky’s: Get just enough candy or all kinds and colors for your gingerbread house or a weekend treat!
• Drink Hot Cocoa and Play Some Games @ Cadillac Lodge: Find the perfect present at the glass hut pop-ups in Cadillac Square before grabbing a bite to eat at the cozy Cadillac Lodge.
• Take a Selfie with Santa @ Beacon Park 12/15: Put on your best holiday outfit and head to Beacon Park Detroit to see Saint Nick.
• Watch a Holiday Classic @ Old Redford Theatre: $5 movie tickets are hard to beat, so is the beautiful interior of the vintage movie theatre.
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol – December 1
  • Jingle All The Way – December 1
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – December 6
  • White Christmas – December 13
  • It’s A Wonderful Life – Dec. 20 & 21
• Celebrate Kwanzaa @ The Wright: All cultures are invited to experience the music, dance, ceremonies, and fun of African culture.
• New Year’s Eve Kids Countdown @ Beacon Park – 12/31: Celebrate 2020 in time for bedtime at Beacon Park with family fun and games.
• New Year’s Eve Matinee Looney Tunes Classics @ Detroit Film Theatre – 12/31: Start a new decade with some old fashion laughs.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 2020

• Let it Snow for Winter Blast – January: Skate at The Rink, zip line across Woodward, ride the big slide for a weekend of icy fun!
• Put on Green and White for Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Parade – March 15: Come down to the oldest neighborhood in Detroit and enjoy Corktown hospitality and fun!
• Come Out To See the Nain – March 22: New Orleans has Mardi Gras and Detroit has the Marche Du Nain Rouge, bring your littles down to experience the Cass Corridor tradition.
• Show Your Motor City Pride @ The Auto Show – June 13 to 20: From muscle cars to electric minis and full-size trucks – little ones will love to see all the autos on display.
• Kick-off Summer @ The Ford Fireworks – June 22: Find a seat on the Riverfront and take in an amazing fireworks display.

PLAN A DAY DOWNTOWN

• Go Ice Skating @ Campus Martius: Bring your skates or rent them and come slip and slide with the city skyline surrounding you.
• Take a Carriage Ride Around Town: Enjoy the sights and sounds of downtown from an old-fashioned horse drawn buggy on Fridays & Saturdays from 6pm to midnight starting November 16th.
• Enjoy a family meal @ Cadillac Lodge: This isn’t your average pop-up, order a meal and play some games in a cozy winter lodge in the middle of downtown!
• Scream Opa! @ Greektown: The lights are always strung and the music is always playing in the lively Greektown district, so head down for a family fun and saganaki!
• Take a Ride on the People Mover: See the city from up high and inside the city’s ‘train’. The 3 mile circular loop takes about 20 minutes and offers little kids LOTS of fun for $0.75.
• Hop on the QLine: Go for a longer ride on the QLine. Hop on in New Center (the iconic Fisher Building) and head downtown for winter fun!
• Taste Test Coneys @ American & Lafayette: Do a taste test and judge for yourself who has the best coney in Detroit.
• Go Swimming @ Boll Family YMCA: Visit this state of the art facility and take a swimming class, rock climb or join their summer camps for kids.
• Plan a Staycation @ Shinola Hotel: The boutique hotel is located in the center of the city next to family-dining destinations, the QLine and retail shops.
• Snap a Selfie @ the Hudson site: The tallest building is Detroit is being built so don’t miss your chance to snap a picture of your little ones in front of the building before it grows from the ground.

INDOOR ADVENTURES

• Learn to Play Chess @ The Detroit Institute of Arts: The museum is open late on Friday nights. Explore the art exhibits and join the Detroit City Chess Club for a drop-in play session and/or lessons.
• Visit the Fish @ Belle Isle Aquarium: This historic aquarium recently reopened to the public, with lots of exhibits and events to celebrate it’s revival.
• Enjoy Nature @ Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory: Warm up in the greenhouse! The conservatory is undergoing upgrades this winter but will remain open to the public.
• Bowl & Play Football @ Fowling Warehouse: For those with kids 10+, come on down for a sport that is unique to Detroit – football meets bowling. Kids 10+ are allowed to play on the weekends from noon to 6pm.
• Have an ‘Outdoor Adventure’ Inside: The Michigan DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center allows you to experience the joys of the Mitten’s recreational fun without the coat, gloves and mittens.
• Go Bowling @ Garden Bowl: Hit the lanes in America’s oldest active bowling center.
• Go to a Reading @ Detroit Public Library: Wander the halls or stop in for storytime at Detroit’s Public Library.
• Battle It Out @ Detroit Dart Club: Fight off the winter blues with a friendly Nerf competition.

IT’S SHOWTIME! GET TICKETS NOW

• Detroit Opera House
  • Charlie and The Chocolate Factory: February 18 – March 1
  • The Very Last Green Thing: April 25
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Kids Programming
  • Uncle Gerry and Friends – December 7
  • Winter Wonderland – December 7
  • Jazz, Wiggle and Giggle – February 15
  • Musical Heroes – February 15
  • Gemini – April 25
  • Gershwin’s Magical Key – April 25
• Fisher Theatre
  • Wild Kratts Live – May 20
• Ford Field
  • Monster Jam– March 14 & 15
  • Supercross – March 21
• Fox Theatre
  • Seasame Street Live! Let’s Party – January 22 to February 2
  • Nick Jr. Live – March 6 – 8
  • Masterchef Junior Live – March 19
• Little Caesars Arena
  • Cirque du Soleil Axel – January 2-5
  • Disney On Ice Road Trip Adventure – Feb. 13-16

DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW AT THE MUSEUM

• Detroit Institute of Arts: The DIA is FREE for Wayne, Macomb and Oakland county residents. Explore the galleries, drop-in for a craft or stay for a show.
  • Puppet Performance: Pinocchio – November 29 – December 1
  • Tea-Time Theatre: Howl’s Moving Castle – December 26
  • Tea-Time Theatre: The Boxtrolls – December 27
  • Tea-Time Theatre: Eleanor’s Secret – December 28
• Belle Isle Nature Center: Get an up-close view of Michigan wildlife inside and outside at the nature center.
• Charles H Wright Museum: Learn about the history of African Americans from the colonial era to present day.
• Michigan Science Center: Let your littles enjoy hands-on fun at the Science Center.  See the stars at the planetarium, burn some energy on the STEM playground and visit Kids Town.
• Motown Museum: Dance in the street and sing like the Temptations at the former home of Berry Gordy and original studio of Motown Records.
• Detroit Historical Museum: Walk the streets of old Woodward, see what life was like when Detroit was the arsenal of Democracy and make music in Kid Rock’s Music Lab.
• Dossin Great Lakes Museum: Head to Detroit’s island, Belle Isle, and hop aboard some old ships at the Great Lakes Museum.

FAMILY MEAL & FOODIE TREATS

• Find Fresh Produce @ Eastern Market: Eastern Market isn’t just a summer time destination. The ‘outdoor’ market (some of the sheds are fully enclosed) is still open every Saturday morning, rain or shine, sleet or snow!
• Grab a Dutch Girl Donut: Dutch Girl does not disappoint! Get a melt in your mouth donut anytime of day!
• Eat Authentic Mexican @ Mexicantown: Head to Bagley Street in Southwest Detroit and take your pick of amazing Mexican restaurants!
• Play Arcade Games & Eat Pizza @ POP + Offworld: Take your kids downtown and back to the 80s and at this retro second floor pizza arcade.
• Have a Party @ Punch Bowl Social: No reservations needed – bowl, sing karaoke or play table games before or after dinner.
• Play a Boardgame and Have a Beer @ Eastern Market Brewing Company: Detroit has a great beer scene and EMBC is fun because you can bring your own food, grab a game and indulge in a grown-up drink in a family-friendly environment.
• Sip Hot Cocoa @ City Bakery: Have a big city morning a New York City’s famous City Bakery located inside the Fisher Building – order hot cocoa with a homemade marshmallow and a pretzel croissant!

ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM!

• Detroit Lions
  • Watch the game on the big screen for FREE @ Beacon Park for a family-friendly tailgate on November 10 & December 8
• Detroit Red Wings
• Detroit Pistons
• Detroit Roller Derby

Photo credit: Facebook

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