A month full of holiday traditions
December around Ann Arbor is all about the holidays. Downtown Ann Arbor stays open until midnight for one night of shopping, Kerrytown hosts a German-style holiday market, Chelsea lights up Main Street with a parade, and Ypsilanti makers fill the Freighthouse with gifts. The Wolverines are home for gymnastics and basketball, too.
Here are the events we would put on the calendar, grouped by type. Dates and prices came from the organizers' announcements, and details can change, so check each event's own page before you go.
Holiday markets, food, and drink
Midnight Madness in downtown Ann Arbor, Friday, Dec 4, 5 p.m. to midnight. Downtown shops stay open late with discounts, treats, and gift ideas, and restaurants serve holiday menus. There is a Holiday Cocktail Crawl from 5 to 11 p.m., Galens Tag Days collecting for local kids from 6 p.m. on, Santa from 7 to 9 p.m., strolling carolers from Voices in Harmony and the Pioneer High School Choirs, and free hot cocoa from the Ann Arbor Police Department from 7 to 9 p.m.
Kerrytown District KindleFest, Friday, Dec 4, 5 to 10 p.m. Modeled on Germany's Christkindlmarkt, this outdoor market at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St, has artisan vendors, hot food, and mulled wine, and nearby Kerrytown shops stay open late. Kids' activities with Santa, balloon art, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, and an iBallet performance run from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by music from the Pioneer Choir and Ann Arbor Concert Band.
Carols & Croissants, Saturday, Dec 5, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N 4th Ave, hosts its annual holiday morning with the Kerrytown Concert House Chorale and pianist Kevin Bylsma. Expect carols and sing-alongs, with free croissants, pastries, coffee, and juice. Tickets are required, and the Farmers Market next door makes it an easy pairing.
Ypsi Artisans Holiday Markets, Saturday and Sunday, Dec 19 and 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 6th annual market brings more than 40 Ypsilanti small businesses, crafters, and nonprofits to the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl, with live entertainment and local food vendors. A good stop for last-minute gifts.
Parades, music, and family fun
Hometown Holiday Light Parade in Chelsea, Saturday, Dec 5, 6 p.m. Every entry is lit up as the parade travels Main Street from Old US 12 to East Middle Street, where Santa closes out the night. Get there early for a good spot along the route.
Winter Nature Crafts & Cocoa, Saturday, Dec 5, 1 to 2:30 p.m. At the Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center near Dexter, kids 4 and up and their grown-ups make ornaments and gift wrap from natural materials, with warm cocoa. It is $6 per person, fully indoors and accessible, and registration closes at 4 p.m. on Dec 4.
Candy Cane Course, Saturday, Dec 12, 9 a.m. to noon. Rolling Hills Water Park, 7660 Stony Creek Rd in Ypsilanti, hosts a holiday race with a 5K, 10K, 15K, an untimed one-mile, and a kids' dash for 10 and under. Registration includes a shirt, finisher medal, and treats, and kids 12 and under get a lower price for the 5K and 10K.
Holiday Pops, Saturday, Dec 19, 7 to 9 p.m. The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Earl Lee, and the Detroit community chorus PRISM fill Hill Auditorium, 825 N University Ave, with "Sleigh Ride," music from "The Nutcracker" and "The Polar Express," and a holiday sing-along. Tickets are through the A2SO website.
Michigan sports
Michigan women's gymnastics exhibition, Thursday, Dec 10, 7 p.m., Crisler Center. Michigan hosts Central Michigan and Western Michigan for an early look at routines and new team members before the season starts in January.
Toledo at Michigan men's basketball, Wednesday, Dec 30, noon, Crisler Center. A daytime nonconference game over the holiday break. Michigan has won the last four meetings, and it is an easy outing if you have family in town.
New to the area?
Events like these are one of the best ways to get a feel for a town before you choose where to live. If you are weighing Ann Arbor against Dexter, Chelsea, or Ypsilanti, our Ann Arbor relocation guide and neighborhood guides are good next reads, and the school district lookup shows which district an address is assigned to.
Thinking about selling in the spring? A winter home valuation gives you time to plan repairs and timing before the busy season.