Holiday Lights in Grand Rapids: Downtown & Around Town

Grand Rapids always celebrates the year-end holidays in high style, generating so much excitement and goodwill that we’ve been named America’s Jolliest City.

Lavish light displays are an essential part of our festivities. Millions of glowing, twinkling, flashing and blinking lights illuminate every corner of the city, starting with downtown’s Rosa Parks Circle – the site of Michigan’s most dazzling light display, per the Travel Channel.

Add in a bounty of spectacular holiday events, playful outdoor activities, excellent shopping and a family-friendly atmosphere, and you can see why so many people make a visit to Grand Rapids part of their holiday itinerary. 

Here are some of our best “lightseeing” suggestions for your trip:

Downtown Walking Tour

The city center is especially beautiful at night, when you get the full impact of all of the lights. There are many ways to explore all of the downtown holiday decor, and any of these stops are great on their own if the walk isn’t an option. 

If you want to see as many holiday lights as possible, here’s one suggested route to help you hit the highlights.

Ellis Parking Lot: Start Here

Park in or near the Ellis Parking lot at the Monroe Avenue/Lyon Street intersection. The waving Santa on the Ellis Parking Ramp building and lit trees in the parking lot will start your evening off with a smile. (The Pearl Street side of the building is also decorated with lights.)

Monroe Center 

Now head south on Monroe Avenue to Pearl Street and cross to get to the diagonal Monroe Center Street NW, where 50+ trees glimmer with hundreds of miniature lights over several blocks. Monroe Center is lined with shops and restaurants if you want to pop in for a gift or a bite, and it’s a perfect vantage point for viewing the city’s official Christmas tree.

Towering 40 feet above Rosa Parks Circle, the tree will be lit in a fun-filled Lighting Ceremony following the annual Santa Parade on Dec. 7. It provides a beautiful backdrop to the ice skating rink at Rosa Parks Circle, which is encircled by smaller lighted trees and is brightly lit for nighttime skating.  

Van Andel Arena

Continue along Monroe Avenue towards Fulton Street. As you approach, you’ll see the lights of Van Andel Arena, and the huge holiday bow that spans the entire front of the building.

Along the way, you’ll see twinkling lights on the trees in front of Plaza Tower Apartments and the Courtyard by Marriott.

Louis Campau Promenade

Head back north on Monroe Avenue to the Louis Street intersection. Just past Louis, look to the left to see lit trees in Louis Campau Promenade, home of the iconic pop art LOVE sculpture. On your right, you’ll pass more lighted trees decorating the lawn in front of Rosa Parks Circle.

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, South Entrance

Walk west (left) at the Pearl Street intersection to see the Amway Grand Plaza’s entrance draped with hundreds of lights in a display that will make your heart leap. Head inside the hotel to take in the exquisite decorations and towering lobby Christmas tree.

JW Marriott Grand Rapids

Back outside the south entrance of the Amway Grand Plaza, cross Pearl Street at Campau Avenue and head toward the main entrance of the JW Marriott Grand Rapids hotel. Trees lining the entrance are dressed up in dazzling blues.

Grand River Bridges

Head back to Monroe Avenue and turn left (west) to cross the Grand River. As you walk across the Pearl Street Bridge, you’ll see the famous Blue Bridge to your left, which is lit up in festive hues every night of the year. Look right and you’ll see the warm white glow of lights adorning the Gillett Bridge.

River West

Trees at the west end of the Pearl St. Bridge are wrapped in multicolored lights, helping illuminate the façade of the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the entrance to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Venture onto the Ford Museum grounds and you’ll see a massive wreath over the front door. Walk past the Museum and you’ll encounter the Gerald R. Ford and Betty B. Ford Burial Site, where a sugar maple tree – a gift from the Ford children to their parents – is decorated with lights and garland.

City Skyline

Turn back to the east to see the lights of the city skyline. Red lighting at the top of the Amway Grand Plaza celebrates the season while the signature blue light “stripe” that spans the vertical length of the JW Marriott Grand Rapids seems even more festive at this time of year.

You can head back to the city center the way you came (via Pearl Street) to Monroe Avenue and your original starting point, Ellis Parking.

Heritage Hill Walking Tour

The historic home district adjacent to downtown GR takes on a storybook quality at the holidays, as stately 1800s-era mansions are trimmed with lights and decorations, often evoking their storied pasts. You can stroll neighborhood sidewalks and see the sights at your leisure or take the Deck The Halls Home Tour (Dec. 7, 14 & 21) to get inside decorated private homes with a guide sharing fascinating insights.

Christkindl Markt

Thousands of colorful lights and a mile of garland decorate the 60+ shops, private Alpenglobes and beverage hall of the Christkindl Markt at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. This traditional European-style Christmas village is a great place to find unique gifts, enjoy festive entertainment, and celebrate with family and friends. It’s open Wednesdays-Sundays through Dec. 23.

How About a Ride?

Hop on board the BYOB Holiday Lights Trolley for a three-hour guided tour of downtown lights and finery, plus visits to the Christmas Lite Show at LMCU Ballpark and various residential lighting displays around town. You’re invited to bring your own beverages – and since it’s assumed that most will be alcohol, this is a 21+ event. The trolley runs Fridays, Saturdays and three Thursdays through December 22.

If you’re looking for a more intimate experience, consider a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of downtown. Classic Carriage LLC  is found on the southwest corner of Pearl & Monroe, in front of PNC Bank and across from the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel on Friday and Saturday evenings, beginning at 7:00 pm (other days and times are by appointment only). The holidays are a popular time of year for carriage rides, so reservations (call 616-498-6090) are recommended, but walk-ups will be accommodated with availability. Rates start at $60 for a half hour.

The Common Gentry Carriage Company offers downtown carriage rides Mondays-Wednesdays from 7:30-9:30pm, with rates starting at $75 a half hour. Look for the horse and carriage stationed at Rosa Parks Circle.

More Ideas

ENLIGHTEN at Meijer Gardens

New this year at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, ENLIGHTEN includes a mile-long walk through outdoor gardens illuminated by innovative light displays, enchanting music, interactive experiences and world-renowned sculpture. Prices range from $12 for kids to $30 for adults, with a discount for members. Your ticket also includes entry to the indoor Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition, which features 40+ trees and displays celebrating holiday customs from around the globe. Nov. 27 - Jan. 4.

Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark

Speaking of rides – the annual Christmas Lite Show at LMCU Ballpark  invites you to view more than a million lights, animated displays and lighted tunnels from the comfort of your car, as you drive through the nearly two-mile route.

The Christmas Lite Show is open nightly from Nov. 27 – Jan. 4, and tickets start at $35 for a family vehicle. ($30 if you purchase tickets online.) Or you can ride the Memory Lane Train for a 360˚ view of the lights – it’s $40 per bench seat, which comfortably seats two adults (small children may sit on laps for free).

Deer Tracks Junction

This animal adventure park and drive-thru safari is hosting a Drive Thru Light Experience Christmas Adventure featuring glowing dinosaurs, jellyfish, penguins and other animals, plus a visit to Dr. Seuss’ Whoville and a Nativity scene with real animals. About a 25 minute drive from Grand Rapids, Deer Tracks Junction is open daily from Nov. 27 - Jan. 5. Tickets are $40 per vehicle.

Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium

You’ll have to head indoors for this light show at the planetarium  located in downtown’s Grand Rapids Public Museum. Let it Snow! features thematic animation, immersive special effects and full-dome scenery set to festive holiday music from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Burl Ives, Brenda Lee and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It runs Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm from Nov. 29 - Dec. 20, and daily at 4pm from Dec. 21 - Jan. 5. Tickets are $4 with general admission to the Public Museum and $5 for visiting the Planetarium only.

Nighttime Parades

The communities of Cedar Springs , Fennville , Grand Haven and Lowell are hosting after-dark holiday parades full of glowing lights, festive floats and more on Dec. 7.  Nighttime parades also take place in Hudsonville  (Nov. 21),  Zeeland  (Dec. 2), Holland  (Dec. 3) Kentwood  (Dec. 5), Greenville  (Dec. 6) and Coopersville  (Dec. 6). Many parades culminate in a tree lighting ceremony. East Grand Rapids and Saugatuck  get a jump on the season with tree lighting ceremonies Nov. 29, Walker Winterfest  includes a tree lighting on Dec. 5 and the Creston neighborhood just north of downtown GR holds its tree lighting on Dec. 7.

Everett’s Gardens Christmas Light Display

Everett’s Gardens, a Christmas tree nursery in Byron Center, stages a drive-through light display Nov. 22-23 & 29-30 and Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 & 26-28. It’s just $5 per vehicle – and you can enjoy s’mores by the campfire after your drive.

Tanger Outlet Mall

Enjoy the holiday display while shopping 70+ stores at Tanger Outlet Mall. Stroll the heated sidewalks and warm up at the cozy fire pits underneath the beautifully decorated, larger-than-life Christmas tree as you check off your gift list.

Ada Covered Bridge

This picturesque historic wooden bridge – pedestrian-only – is festooned with twinkling lights set to music starting Dec. 6. It’s on the Ada Village Winter Lights Walking Trail, which loops for nearly one mile through the charming downtown area decorated with more than 25,000 lights. End your Winter Lights Walk at Legacy Park to see the Festival of Trees.

Cannonsburg Ski Area

Take a half-mile stroll through the Winter Wonderland Forest at this ski resort 20 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids. Overhead Christmas lights illuminate the path, which is full of themed Christmas displays and inflatables. Open Dec. 1-2, 8-9 & 15-16. 

Caledonia

Caledonia’s 5^th Annual Luminary Walk features 1,000 luminaries lining the Caledonia Trail near Community Green Park. Grab a donut and a cup of hot chocolate at the Pavilion, then visit Santa at the Amphitheater before you start your walk. Dec. 14.

East Grand Rapids

The tree-lined residential streets of this GR suburb are a favorite for holiday lightseeing, either on foot or by car, as many homeowners consider decorations part of their civic duty. The city’s Gaslight Village business district is also decked out for the holidays. 

Sparta Candy Cane Lane

For a true small-town holiday experience, head 20 minutes north of GR to downtown Sparta, in the heart of Michigan’s apple country. Drive through streets lined with lights and decorated storefronts, and take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane, a festively lighted walkway open through Jan. 6.

Rockford

You’ll feel like you stepped into a Hallmark holiday movie when you visit the quaint shopping village of Rockford – especially after dark, when buildings and trees are lit up with lavish strings of multicolored lights. The lighted Rockford Dam Overlook offers a great vantage point for photos.