Grand Rapids is a magical place to celebrate the cold-weather season, with a jam-packed schedule of holiday events and activities through November and December, and America’s largest winter festival in January and February. Come early to get into the holiday spirit and shop for everyone on your gift list. Come back to enjoy the best of the Grand Outdoors, from ice skating and skiing to massive light-filled art installations all over downtown. Come anytime for excellent dining, made-for-the-season craft beverages, pro sports games, and much, much more!
Read on to explore some of winter’s hottest events and activities, and scroll to the bottom of this page to search our Winter Events Calendar by date, venue and event category.
Now in its fourth year, the Christkindl Markt is an authentic European-inspired Christmas market experience at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. Grab a commemorative glass full of hot cocoa, hot cider, Christmas beer, eggnog, bubbles or glühwein and stroll through an outdoor Christmas village lined with 60+ artisan gift and food vendors, holiday entertainment and family fun. Reserve a private Alpenglobe or group curling experience with food and beverage pre-orders. It’s 28 days of Christmas cheer filled with unique holiday experiences illuminated with international flair – right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Open Wednesdays- Sundays, Nov 18-Dec 24, with a bonus day Tuesday, Dec 22. Closed Thanksgiving Day.
The Christkindl Markt at the Downtown Market is inspired by the world-famous Christmas street markets that originated in Germany in the late Middle Ages and spread to other countries. The Downtown Market is transforming its outdoor space into a European-style Christmas Village lined with artisan…
Join Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in celebrating holiday cheer at two annual exhibitions. Christmas & Holiday Traditions (Nov 25, 2026 - Jan 10, 2027) features 40+ displays honoring diverse cultures and holiday traditions, plus a miniature railway garden with buildings modeled after local landmarks, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more – including a Nov 24 Tree Lighting Ceremony. ENLIGHTEN at Meijer Gardens (Nov 23, 2026 - Jan 10, 2027), named America’s #3 Best Botanical Holiday Lights, is an outdoor experience where art, music, light and nature come together. Not holiday-themed, but well worth a visit: CHIHULY: Radiant Forms, an indoor gallery exhibition tracing the evolution of renowned artist Dale Chihuly over more than six decades as he daringly stretched the limits of glass art (through Jan 10).
Step into a world of enchantment with ENLIGHTEN, the ultimate winter light show experience. This dazzling display of lights and festive wonder is perfect for families, friends, and anyone looking to celebrate the season in a spectacular…
This exhibition—honoring cultures and holiday traditions from around the world—has grown to 46 unique displays depicting fact and folklore, past and present. November 25, 2026 - January 3, 2027
You’ll find something for everyone on your gift list in Grand Rapids. Shop the Holiday Market at Studio Park (Nov 18 - Dec 23 in downtown GR for handmade goods, artwork, jewelry, home décor, specialty foods and apparel from Michigan artisans, makers and small businesses. Studio Park is a 10-minute walk from the Christkindl Markt (Nov 18 - Dec 24), where you’ll find unique gifts with an international flair. There are 100 or so additional shops downtown, all within an easy walk on streets lined with holiday lights and finery.
You’ll also want to check out Breton Village Shopping Center, RiverTown Crossings Mall , Tanger Outlet Mall and Woodland Mall for famous brand-name merchandise and neighborhood shopping districts like Ada, East Grand Rapids, Lowell, Rockford and Uptown for one-of-a-kind finds. Shop these unique stores to find something truly special. There are also dozens of community shopping markets and events through the season – and they’ll be added to the event calendar at the bottom of this page as soon as they’re announced.
The Grand Rapids Santa Parade kicks off in downtown Grand Rapids at 5pm Nov 22. Following the parade, Santa will exit his sleigh and make his way to Rosa Parks Circle for the city’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, starting at 6:45pm. FREE family-friendly events at Rosa Parks Circle follow the tree lighting.
December 5 is a big day for Santa, as he makes appearances at daytime parades in Ada, Grand Haven and Saugatuck, and nighttime parades in Grandville and Lowell. Other area holiday parades include Hudsonville (Nov 19 night), Sparta (Nov 20 night), Zeeland (Nov 30 night), Holland (Dec 1 night), Kentwood (Dec 3 night) and Coopersville (Dec 4 night).
Holiday Lights
See downtown Grand Rapids (and other Kent County destinations) all dressed up in glittering lights and holiday finery throughout the season. View the Chanuka lighting in Calder Plaza every day from Dec 4-11. Hop aboard the BYOB Holiday Lights Trolley (Nov 27-28, Dec 3-5, Dec 10-12 & Dec 17-19) to enjoy festive music, holiday trivia, games, prizes and a guided tour of the city's most spectacular seasonal lights and landmarks – in downtown and beyond. Drive through the Christmas Lite Show (Nov 25-Jan 2) at LMCU Ballpark to see more than two million lights and 70 animated displays.
Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and Candlelight: Christmas Classics feature holiday classics played live under the glow of candlelight, Dec 10 & 17
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is a stage show that fans of Monty Python, Mr. Bean and Dr. Seuss will love. At Wealthy Theatre Nov 19.
Annie, the classic family musical set during the Christmas season of 1933, is at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre from Nov 20-Dec 20.
Cirque Dreams Holidaze comes to DeVos Performance Hall with an all-new wonderland spectacular featuring circus acts, jugglers, acrobatics and more. Nov 27.
Santa and his elves put on a show aboard the Santa Train, a newly renovated vintage railroad passenger car that runs Fridays and Saturdays from Nov 28 - Dec 20.
Comedian Jeff Allen brings his Christmas Tour to The Intersection for an evening of family-friendly laughs Dec 5.
Grand Rapids Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a beloved family tradition featuring stunning sets designed by Grand Rapids’ own Chris Van Allburg (The Polar Express). At DeVos Performance Hall Dec 11-13 & 18-20.
It’s such a busy season, be sure to take time to relax and let someone else do the cooking (and brewing and distilling) once in a while. Browse our restaurant,brewery, cidery, coffee shop and distillery lists for something sure to hit the spot.
Speaking of the outdoors, you can stroll the sidewalks of the Downtown Refreshment Area to view holiday lights and decorations while enjoying drinks and food from participating vendors. Other Refreshment Areas around the region offer similar opportunities.
Get the Flights of Flavor pass to find the city’s best food & drink pairings – ideal for sharing with friends and family in this festive season. Check in with the pass to earn t-shirts, caps, cutting boards and more. (They’d make perfect gifts, but you’ll probably want to keep them for yourself).
Need some wine and/or champagne for the holidays (or any day)? Grand Rapids has some great wine shops and wine bars.
Indoor and outdoor dining is available throughout the area.
Rosa Parks Circle ice rink in downtown Grand Rapids is one of the city’s most treasured winter destinations. It opens as soon as weather allows, typically late November or early December. Grand Rapids is also a great place for fatbiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and other winter sports. Head to Cannonsburg Ski Area, 20 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, for downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing and winter biking.
Enter a local race to keep your running game strong during the cold-weather months:
Kids’ Food Basket Gobble Wobble 5K Run & Walk at East Grand Rapids Middle School, Nov 26
World of Winter, America’s largest free winter festival, once again transforms Grand Rapids into a vibrant outdoor playground in early 2027. Expect more than 100 art installations – including large-scale, interactive and illuminated pieces – plus outdoor performances and activities for all ages. It all takes place in Grand Rapids' walkable downtown, which also features 300+ restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and entertainment venues within a 10-minute walk. More details to come as the event draws closer!
Receive admission into many attractions around Grand Rapids as well as additional exclusive discounts with our Attraction Pass now with adult, children and senior pricing.
