Making cookies, giving gifts, listening to festive music, and watching holiday movies — there is so much to love about the holiday season. But one of our favorite activities is admiring all the sparkling lights around town — on various businesses, residences and tall evergreen trees!

To help you track down the most spectacular holiday lights, we’re sharing a complete lineup of holiday light displays and light-centric events happening throughout the Ann Arbor area in 2022. You’ll find options both near and far, all adorned with bright, cheerful lights, and other holiday festivities, like Santa visits, train rides, hot cocoa, parades, carriage rides, and more. We’ve included a mix of community events and public light displays, plus a handful of private homes who have garnered attention for their holiday lights and decorations. Bundle up to experience the magic of the holiday season under the lights in Ann Arbor!

 

Nite Lites | Brooklyn

Where: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn

When: November 24–December 31, 2022

Extending 6.5 miles, Nite Lites is the largest Christmas drive-thru light show in Michigan — and it’s right here at the Michigan International Speedway! The display utilizes more than a million light bulbs in various Christmas-themed displays, many of which are animated. Instead of the indoor Winter Wonderland with Santa, Nite Lites has a train ride traveling through the display this year. Just make sure you buy a ticket for the train and bundle up! Nite Lites is open every day from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve — even on holidays.

 

Wayne County Lightfest | Westland

Where: Merriman Hollow Park, Westland

When: November 17–December 24, 2022

Head to Merriman Hollow Park in Westland for the Wayne County Lightfest, which is lit up on Wednesdays through Sundays from 6–10 p.m. November 17 through December 24! Within 3-5 miles of the entrance on North Merriman Road, you can tune into AM 1640 to receive regular updates on wait times, traffic flow, special events and event costs. And once you get there, admission is just $5 cash per car (with an additional fee for commercial vehicles). Halfway through the show, you can make a stop at Perrin Park to drop off a letter to Santa in the giant mailbox, grab food from one of the two food trucks, and use the restroom. On November 23, November 30 and December 7, Wayne County Lightfest is celebrating Toy Night, which allows visitors to donate a new unwrapped toy in lieu of paying the car entrance fee!

 

Holiday Lights at Hamlett Lavender Farm | Pinckney

Where: Hamlett Lavender Farm, Pinckney

When: November 24–December 31, 2022

Hamlett Lavender Farm is a lavender farm in Pinckney focused on their lavender products made by hand at the farm. They also have a beautiful holiday lights display — and several ways to experience it, starting the day after Thanksgiving all the way through the new year. Fridays are character nights, which means you can meet Santa, Mrs. Clause, and the Grinch (with a special guest Santa visiting on December 3!). And Saturdays are holiday farmstand nights, where you can simply explore the lights display, visit the holiday farmstand, warm up by the fire, and enjoy Christmas music. Admission is free but you must make your shopping appointment online so you can secure a parking spot and shop from their Holiday Lavender Farmstand, which will also feature a few local crafters selling their homemade items in addition to the farm’s lavender products. Get all the details on their Facebook page, which includes a complete lineup of events happening throughout the holiday season.

 

Northville Symphony of Lights | Northville

Where: Northville Christian School, Northville

When: December 1, 2022–January 1, 2023

Formerly called Livonia Lights, the Northville Symphony of Lights is an inspiring Christmas light show at Northville Christian School in Northville. While it is a much-anticipated tradition for the school and the local community, it has also garnered national attention as one of the best displays in the region. The 2022 show features 125,000 lights synced to both contemporary and traditional songs, plus a giant wall of lights, tons of leaping arches, animated Christmas trees, a lighted cross 30 feet above the ground, a large special effects grid, and more. Stop by between 6 and 8:30 p.m. to catch the start of the show every 20 minutes. The display will be running from December 1 through New Year’s Day! Check out the Northville Symphony of Lights Facebook page for more details about this year’s show.

 

Christmas in the Village | Manchester

Where: Downtown Manchester

When: December 2 + 3, 2022

An amazing hometown celebration every year, Manchester’s Christmas in the Village includes a Christmas parade, a lighting contest, Santa visits, carriage rides, a scavenger hunt, a cookie sale, a home tour, a pop-up market, and more. This year, it’s going to be a Candyland Christmas! Manchester residents can register to participate in the lighting contest here before November 26 or participate in the lighted parade, where vehicles and floats will be decorated with lights and other holiday decor.  Follow the team on Facebook for updates.

 

47th Annual Holiday Parade | Saline

Where: Downtown Saline

When: December 3, 2022

Downtown Saline will be bustling with excitement — and lots of lights — during the 47th Annual Holiday Parade on the evening of December 3! People from all over the area will line the streets to admire the 100+ parade participants, from animals to dancers and musicians to a hot air balloon. All the while, enjoy plenty of sparkling lights, music and entertainment, including a visit from Santa! The parade starts at 5 p.m. and admission is completely free.

 

Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village | Dearborn

Where: Greenfield Village, Dearborn

When: December 2-4, 9-11, 15-23 + 26-28, 2022

Step back in time to experience an old-fashioned Christmas at Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, which has been a beloved annual tradition for more than 20 years. Enjoy warming bonfires, carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday treats and beverages, and more yuletide activities. Hosted by the Henry Ford Museum, this event has no shortage of historic touches. Warm up inside historic homes adorned with lights on the outside and decked out with timeless decor inside — and be sure to stick around for the fireworks show at the end of the evening! Tickets tend to sell out quickly each year, so reserve your spot now. And if you want to take the holiday magic to the next level, you can purchase a reservation-based dining experience, like Supper with Santa and Holiday Nights in the Eagle Tavern.

 

Dexter Light Festival | Dexter

Where: Dexter

When: December 10–31, 2022

The whole town of Dexter will be well-illuminated throughout the Dexter Light Festival, which starts on December 10 and extends through New Year’s Eve. Businesses and residences decorated with lights have all registered so you know exactly where to go — just click here to see them all. Kick off the festival at the Holiday Light Parade on December 10 at 6 p.m.!

 

Bostick Family Light Show | Garden City

Where: 29195 Sheridan Street, Garden City

When: December 2022

The Bostick Family Light Show has quickly become a sensation in the Garden City community. It all started in July 2020, when the Bostick family began scheming about a Halloween display to attract more trick-or-treaters. Ever since, they have put together a masterful display for a number of holidays, including Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and even the Fourth of July. This year, their Christmas show includes 20 songs synced to their animated light show — plus, a brand new addition: a waving snowman! Stop by on weekends between 6 and 9 p.m. to see the magic firsthand. Check out their Facebook page for updates throughout the season — or find them on TikTok to see a sneak peek of this incredible production.

 

Bazillion Lights | Livonia

Where: 28718 Robert Drive, Livonia

When: December 2022

The display at 29718 Robert Drive in Livonia is nicknamed “Bazillion Lights” due to the sheer number of lights adorning the property. Since it all began in 1998, the production has grown more and more extravagant year after year, resulting in an impressive animated show with decorations and lights synced to 88.5 FM. This year, they have 45,000 lights in the display, which runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night through New Year’s Eve! Follow Bazillion Lights on Facebook for updates throughout the season.

 

Happy Holidays!

What light displays in the Ann Arbor area are we missing out on? Tell us in the comments below!