’Tis the season for holiday gift-buying, with elaborate seasonal displays at shopping malls and open houses and special experiences in many downtowns. The Snow Globes featuring The Polar Express displays bring a flurry of excitement to Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, and Novi’s Twelve Oaks Mall. Also in the Detroit area, Somerset Collection in Troy stuns with its elaborate holiday décor and exclusive shops. Holiday shopping kicks off the day after Thanksgiving with early bird specials at Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids and Grand Traverse Mall, Traverse City.
On Main Streets across the state merchants are welcoming shoppers with holiday décor and treats. During the November 20th Luminary Festival in St. Joseph, more than 800 luminaries light the way throughout the shopping district, and holiday music fills the air.
The Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration in Dowagiac brings holiday sights, sounds and Santa to town, plus plenty of good cheer at downtown shops, November 20-22.
Holland’s Dutch WinterFest & The Holidays season-long event begins with the lighting of 1,500 luminaries, caroling, and shoppers’ specials during the Holiday Open House on the evening of November 21. The Holiday Kerstmarkt, an authentic, open-air European Christmas marketplace featuring jewelry, woven goods, ornaments, evergreens, baked goods, imported Dutch items and foods is open November 27-28 and December 1, 4, 5, 11, 12.
Ever thought about rolling out of bed and shopping in your PJs? Show up pajama-clad at the Glen Arbor PJ Party & Sale between 5-7 a.m. on November 27 and nab special deals. Then head to the nearby Leland PJ Partyfor early morning shopping fun between 8-10 a.m. Bounce back to Glen Arbor that evening for tree-lighting and caroling, and the Holiday Market Place on Saturday.
Santa’s Arrival on November 27 is a big day in downtown Traverse City, where the holiday spirit fills more than 150 interesting shops, galleries and restaurants, and the community tree is lit to the sound of caroling that evening.
Christkindlmarkt transforms the Frankenmuth Farmers Market into a traditional European-type Christmas market to the November 27-29. Of course Bronner’s, the World’s Largest Christmas Store, is open year round, but is especially festive during the holiday shopping season.