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Ann Arbor Christmas Lights - Girl looking at purple and white lights.

Illuminate the Season: Christmas Lights Near Ann Arbor

/ By / Christmas, family

If you’re looking for Ann Arbor Christmas Lights, we’ve got the ultimate list of where to find the best Christmas Lights Near Us! Christmas Lights in Ann Arbor definitely add some brightness to the short winter days. They make it so much easier to come home in the dark at 5:30p.

Our list includes:

  • Drive-thru Christmas Lights near Ann Arbor
  • Walk Through Christmas light trails near Ann Arbor
  • Spectacular Individual houses or businesses with Christmas Lights in Ann Arbor, MI.

For years, there was no one destination that springs to mind as the “Griswold” house like in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. But, in 2021 we finally got one! Check out the home on Shadford Rd in Burns Park. There is also a house near Lawton that is synchronized to music. We will have to see if they return in 2023. Find the details in the Standalone Displays Section below.

For individual houses and businesses, we really need your help. We have added a submission form at the bottom. So if you’ve seen a standalone or know of a big display not currently on our list, add it there for use to review. We will be checking in with the ones on the list for 2022.

Places to See Christmas Lights Near Ann Arbor

This map shows where to see Christmas Lights near Ann Arbor.

Events from our Sponsors

Disclosure: Links below may be affiliate links. Ann Arbor with Kids receives a commission on sales. We appreciate your support by shopping through our links.

Prepare for Looking at Lights

If you’re going to be out looking for lights, be sure to get in the mood first. Bring along some hot cocoa and get the holiday tunes cranking in the car.

Why not bring some lights with you? Get your glow on by wearing some lights

Best Christmas Drive-Through Lights Near Ann Arbor 2023

Stay cozy and wam in your car at these drive-thru Christmas Light displays. Be sure to check each one for admission rates and whether advance purchase is available. Check out options like Wayne County Lightfest 2023, Michigan Speedway Christmas lights (Nite Lites at MIS), and Magic of Lights at Pine Knob. These are some of the biggest and best Christmas lights in Michigan.

Nite Lites at MIS

Drive through the holiday lights at Michigan International Speedway.

Admission Tickets can be bought online or on site. They accept cash and credit cards.

The Nite Lites Express, an open air train added in 2022 returns for 2023. The train can be added to your vehicle admission or be experienced without the full Nite Lites show. Tickets must be bought in advance.

Only the MIS entrances from US-12 can be used for Nite Lites. From Westbound US12 use the Lot 8 Entrance. From Eastbound US12 use Graves Farm Entrance.

At a Glance

Address: Michigan International Speedway, 12626 U.S. 12, Brooklyn, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024
Hours: 5:30-9p Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-10p Friday and Saturday
Price: $35/Car, $50/limo, motorhome, or mini-bus, $100/tour bus

More Information

Wayne County Lightfest

The Wayne County Lightfest runs nightly from November 16 through December 24.

Drive through the lights at Merriman Hollow Park.

Santa will make an appearance at their opening night event. , but there will still not be a Santa shelter in 2023. However, half-way through there will be a Santa mailbox and three food trucks at Perrin Park.

Toy Nights are November 22&29 and December 6&13. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate instead of the admission fee.

At a Glance

Address: Wayne County Lightfest, North Merriman Road, Westland, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 16, 2023-December 24, 2023
Hours: 6-10p
Price: $5/car, $20/commercial van, RV, limo, $25/mini bus, $40/bus

More Information

Magic of Lights

Drive through the holiday lights at Pine Knob! You’ll enjoy the seasonal lights while staying warm and toasty in your car.

See your favorite holiday scenes and seasonal characters. The display uses LED technology and digital animations.

At a Glance

Address: Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, City of the Village of Clarkston, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 17, 2023-December 30, 2023
Hours: 5:30-10p. Closes at 9p on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Price: $27.50/any day. $22.50/weekday(Sunday-Thursday). $65/limo (more than 3 rows of seating)

More Information

Sadly the Domino Farms Light Show for Christmas is no longer an option. From some research it looks like it ended in 2002, the year before I moved to Ann Arbor. So there will be no Domino Farms Christmas Lights in 2023.

Ann Arbor Christmas Lights: Walk Through Events

These events are walk through trails with lights. The group includes trails that charge admission and free walkthroughs featuring trees decorated by the community. Don’t miss the Glenlore Trails Aurora Christmas Lights in Michigan.

Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas

Each year the Toledo Zoo celebrates the holidays with Lights Before Christmas. They add over 1 million lights to the zoo grounds and have over 200 illuminated animal images across the zoo.

Check out their newly redesigned Winter Village in the Amphitheater.

  • Visit Santa from 4-8p daily. (through December 23)
  • Ride the Ice Slide ($3/ride)
  • Roast S’mores at a fire pit (buy at Sweet Shoppe)
  • Shop seaonal Merchandise
  • Enjoy festive beverages

Don’t miss these rides & activities

  • Ice Carving Demo
  • Reindeer Encounter (find more places to meet reindeer)
  • Model Train Club Display in the Cafe
  • Carousel – $3/ride
  • Holly Jolly Express Train – $3/ride

Members receive free admission and members with the experience pass receive free rides.

At a Glance

Address: Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 17, 2023-December 31, 2023
Hours: 3-9p – last admission at 8p. Note the zoo is not open during the day except for New Years Eve.
Price: $29/Adults, $26/Kids (2-11) & Seniors (60+)

More Information

Walk Thru the Lights

Hamlett Lavender Farm will have a Holiday Farmstand on Friday and Saturday nights.

They will have plenty of outdoor Christmas lights, a warm fire, and Christmas music to enjoy.

Santa, Mrs Claus, & the Grinch will be there each night. The Smoke Doctor from Pinckney will be a special guest Santa on December 2nd & 16th. This is a great opportunity if you are looking for a Black Santa!

The farmstand will feature their lavender bath & body products, baked goods, and 10 other local crafters. Don’t miss their peppermint chocolate popcorn, lavender marshmallows, and lavender cookies.

There will be campfires to keep you warm and s’mores kits for sale.

Admission is free, but there are Only 50 entries per half hour. Buy your hot chocolate ($7)online in advance to secure entry.

At a Glance

Address: Hamlett Lavender Farm, 10722 Stinchfield Woods Road, Pinckney, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2023-December 23, 2023
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays 6-8p
Price: Free, but $7 hot chocolate purchase in advance secures your entry time

More Information

Glenlore Trails Aurora

Glenlore Trails returns for the 2023 Holiday Season with Aurora.

Glenlore Trails is an immersive night walk where the forest comes alive with lights, sounds, and wonder. The event is family friendly.

New for the 2023 season is a Taco Truck!

Visit Santa on December 7 & 8.

At a Glance

Address: Glenlore Trails, 3860 Newton Road, Commerce Charter Township, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 17, 2023-December 30, 2023
Hours: 5:30-9p Thursdays-Sundays. Closed Thanksgiving & Black Friday. December 15 is Adult (ages 21+) Night only
Price: $25/adults (13-64), $15/Youth (4-12), $20/Seniors (65+)

More Information

Winter Wonder Lights

Head to Meadow Brook Hall on the Oakland University Campus for Winter Wonder Lights.

The Candy Cane Courtyard will have special activities like a giant Light Bright, make your own s’mores kits, a light up dance party and more.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Kids are free on select nights (November 26, December 3, 10, & 17 with promo code MBHFAM23_A71

Meadow Brook Hall also hosts Holiday Walk, an indoor daytime holiday event. Join them on Saturdays December 2-23 for Santa Saturdays. Santa will be available to meet and for photos.

At a Glance

Address: Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 24, 2023-December 30, 2023
Hours: Through December 15: Thursdays & Sundays 5:30-7:30p, Fridays & Saturdays 5:30-8:30p. December 16-30: 5:30-7:30p (closed 12/24-26)
Price: Adults: $22.50, Youth (3-12): $12.50. Seniors 62+ $18.50 on Value nights. Military & Veterans: $18.50

More Information

Wild Lights at Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo is bedecked with millions of LED lights and over 280 sculptures at Wild Lights.

The Enchanted Trail introduced in 2022 has been enhanced for 2023. The Underwater Trail and Field of Light have both been enhanced for 2023.

There is a new Environmental Impact II Art Exhibition during Wild Lights.

Add-on a Polar Express 4D movie, or access to the Polar Patio for all you can eat food & dessert dining experience.

At a Glance

Address: Detroit Zoo, 8450 West 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 24, 2023-January 7, 2024
Hours: 5-10:30p Fridays and Saturdays, 5-9p Sundays & select weekdays
Price: $17-26. Include the Polar Patio for $45-55 total admission package. Other packages available

More Information

Holiday Light Trails

Several local towns are creating lists of their local homes and businesses that are decorated. We are sharing the lists here. If you visit and any individual house or business on the list is truly a standout, add it below for our standalone display.

Best Christmas Light Displays Near Ann Arbor

Individual homes are always the hardest for us to capture. We rely a lot on user feedback and self-reporting of homes. This section of our Best Places to See Christmas Lights near Ann Arbor will mostly be updated after Thanksgiving and continuously as we hear of displays.

Note, we list dates as December 1-31 for most of these. We don’t have exact dates and don’t guarantee that they will be operating on any specific night.

If you have a recommendation for the best neighborhoods for Christmas Lights near us, please use the form below to add a good neighborhood instead of an individual home or business.

Pamela Ave

Theres a house on Pamela Ave between Maple & Center Drive that is decked out in lights and displays in the front yard.

Note: We spotted the displays from Maple during daylight hours and did not see it lit this year.

At a Glance

Address: Pamela Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2022-December 31, 2022
Hours: Night
Price: Free

Bazillion Lights

This house in Livonia is covered in a “Bazillion Lights”,. Not only are there a bazillion lights, they are animated to music.

As of November 16, their Facebook page still reflects Halloween decorations. They don’t typically open until December 1, so I expect to see updates soon.

Check out the video below from a previous display – all their videos seem to be from 2009. I am sure it is even better now.

They are aiming for a December 1 start date. Their last day is typically New Years Eve.

At a Glance

Address: Bazillion Lights, 29718 Robert Drive, Livonia, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2022-December 31, 2021
Hours: 5:30-9:30p
Price: Free

More Information

West Stadium & Arella

A house on Stadium near Arella Boulevard is all lit up. Drive by and check out all the lights and displays.

At a Glance

Address: West Stadium Boulevard & Arella Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: After Dark
Price: Free

Lohr & Textile

2022 Update – Will not have their typical display due to safety concerns with the new traffic light at Lohr & Textile.

Every year the house at the corner of Mallard Cove Dr, Textile, and Lohr Rd is decked out for the holidays. The house is on the southwest corner of the intersection. If you are not turning on Mallard Cove, you can best see it heading west on Textile or south on Lohr.. If you are driving east on Textile, you will not get a great view of the front of the house.

At a Glance

Address: Mallard Cove Drive & West Textile Road, Pittsfield Charter Township, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 26, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: Dark
Price:

IHA WestArbor

The IHA West Arbor Complex on Jackson Rd has several lit displays along Jackson Rd. It certainly brings some holiday cheer to that section of Jackson Rd.

At a Glance

Address: IHA West Arbor Medicine, Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: Nightly After Dark
Price: Free

Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast

Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast can be driven by day or night. They have a vast collection of holiday inflatables in the yard – and on the building.

Last year, my personal favorite was the Millennium Falcon. I drove by this year, but didn’t get a chance to look and see if it was back this year.

At a Glance

Address: Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast Inn @ Rackham Gardens, @Rackham Gardens Condominium, 921 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2022-December 31, 2022
Hours: Anytime. Inflatables were up in the afternoon
Price:

Easthaven Animal Hospital

Every holiday season Easthaven Animal Hospital is draped in Green lights.

They are located on Huron River Drive just south of Washtenaw Ave, but you can see the lights from Washtenaw.

As of November 10, the lights are on for 2023!

At a Glance

Address: Easthaven Animal Hospital, South Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 11, 2023-January 1, 2024
Hours: Nightly After Dark
Price: Free

Galen Circle – Christmas Lights

A reader has let us know that the neighborhood has a few homes that are highly decorated.

At a Glance

Address: Galen Circle, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 9, 2022-December 25, 2022
Hours: Evenings
Price:

Shadford Dr

A homeowner on Shadford Dr in Burns Park shared their house with us in 2021. They’ve got tons of lights on the house and lit figures in the yard.

Shadford Rd Christmas Lights

We drove by on November 27 around 6p. We could see lights were up, but they were not on. We are setting a December 1 date in the list, but will try to verify later if they are back on.

At a Glance

Address: Shadford Road, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2022-January 1, 2023
Hours: 4:30-11p
Price: Free

Synchronized Lights & Music – 7th Street in Lawton Neighborhood

House on 7th just after you cross Scio Church, in the Lawton neighborhood. From 5:30-8 pm and synchronized to holiday music on 89.3. There are some Frozen and a hannukah song on the 30s.

At a Glance

Address: South 7th Street & Braeside Place, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 9, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: 5:30-8p
Price: Free

Any Other Suggestions of Where to See Holiday Lights Near Ann Arbor?

So, what holiday lights near Ann Arbor have I missed? Where does your family like to go to see Holiday Light Displays? As you see new holiday lights, add them to the form below. That way we can continue to help everyone with where to see the lights near us.

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Illuminate the Season: Christmas Lights Near Ann Arbor

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