Get ready for another wonderful holiday season right here in Traverse City. If you have been looking for the ideal spot to spend your holidays with family, look no further. Traverse City features many festive events and activities that will bring a smile to everyone’s faces. Make sure to document your holiday stay with family holiday picture to commemorate the fun. You can get a photo taken at one of the lively holiday events in the city or track down one of the best viewing areas. Here are the best spots for family holiday photos in Traverse City:
Whenever you visit Traverse City, you will find that Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore needs to be at the top of your bucket list. This national park has everything you could want for a little winter outdoor exploration. Visit the island, where you can find the park and its famous sand dunes. However, the winter season makes Sleeping Bear Dunes even more unforgettable, as the dunes are covered in a layer of snow for a truly picturesque moment. Grab your smart phone and get a picture of the family in front of the snow-covered dunes. After getting your holiday picture, venture further into the park, where some of the trails will still be open for you to explore. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a destination that cannot be missed during the holidays.
Each year, Traverse City kicks off the festivities with lively holiday events, including the Downtown Traverse City Light Parade, Santa’s Arrival, and Tree Lighting all taking place the same night. This extended evening of holiday celebrations is one of the best chances to snap a holiday family pick during your stay. The fun kicks off with Santa’s Arrival, where he will help usher in the official tree lighting ceremony with the mayor of Traverse City. Similar to other cities, Traverse City has its own holiday tree that is huge and covered in thousands of holiday lights. Both Santa and the city mayor will light up the tree for the first time this evening. Grab a picture with your family in front of the tree, the perfect shot to use on your holiday card. After the tree lighting ceremony is complete, the Light Parade will march along Front Street until it reaches Union. The parade will include wonderful floats decked out in a variety of holiday lights and décor. The event will officially end at Santa’s house after the parade, where you can get photos with Santa and enjoy some holiday treats. The Tree Lighting ceremony and other events will take place on November 23rd starting at 5:30 PM. Make sure to get there early as it will be a popular event and many viewing areas will be taken quickly.
Traverse City is also home to many different spots around town that are Instagram worthy and will make for the perfect backdrop for a family photo. One such location is the postcard mural found in Downtown Traverse City. The mural is located on the side of Kilwins Chocolate and was painted by KnUpp North Art. It features a charming postcard that includes many local attractions found around Traverse city in the lettering. Grab the family picture in front of the mural to show that you were in Traverse City and here for the holidays!
One of the lesser known facts about Traverse City is that it is home to dozens of wineries and taprooms. The region is known for specially grown grapes that are used for incredible adult beverages. Bonobo Winery is one of the most popular wineries to check out during your holiday stay, and all ages are welcome on the property. One of the best spots to take your family picture is in front of their famous swing. This rope swing is found in front of their vineyard so you can get grape bushes in the backdrop. This is perfect for families with a single child who can sit on the swing while the parents stand at each side. The holiday season never looked or tasted so good!
Get a head start on your own holiday journey to Traverse City by booking a stay at one of our vacation rentals in the area. Each property will make sure you remain comfortable throughout your stay and have access to the finest amenities. Best of all, you will be close to all of these wonderful photo spots that will make for the ideal holiday family photo opportunity here in Traverse City. Contact us to book your stay today.
It does not get any better than traveling over the holiday season. The winter holidays are always best spent with family and friends, so why not treat them to a holiday getaway to Traverse City. You will find our destination to always be inviting and full of fun activities. One of the best ways to enjoy the holidays is through festive events taking place all over Traverse City. Take a look at what is going down this holiday season for events in Traverse City.
Each year the holiday season officially kicks off with Thanksgiving that is then followed by a variety of winter events to help bring on Christmas. Thanksgiving takes place at the very end of November this year causing many holiday events to either take place earlier or later than usual. This includes Traverse City’s very own Downtown Traverse City Light Parade. This annual parade typically takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving but will in fact take place the Saturday before this year. This is one of Traverse City’s most revered events that is always looked forward to by our community.
Downtown Traverse City will close down Front Street at 3:30 PM to get ready for the big festivities. Viewers are encouraged to get to the intersection of Cass and Front Street early to find the best viewing areas. Holiday music still start around 5:30 PM before Santa Claus and the Traverse City mayor arrive to start the official tree lighting ceremony. The Traverse City holiday tree stands tall among the buildings and is a joy to behold as the Christmas lights shine on for the very first time of the season. The tree lighting will start at 6:00 PM and is always very popular so getting there early will ensure you can see the fun. The light parade will kick off promptly after that at 6:30 PM. The parade will march down Front Street and feature various different floats that are decked out in thousands of Christmas lights along with unique décor. Musical performances will also be a part of the parade and so will Santa Claus too.
After the parade is over, you can visit Santa’s House until 9:00 PM for a meet and greet along with photo opportunities with Santa; you will even find some tasty candy cane treats there too! This is one of Traverse City’s biggest events of the year, so do not miss out on this year’s Downtown Traverse City Light Parade.
A visit to Santa’s House is not just reserved for the light parade this holiday season. In fact, following the light parade Santa’s House will be open for a visit every Friday through Sunday from Thanksgiving up until Christmas. Stop by on Fridays during this time frame from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Saturdays and Sundays open hours will be from noon to 3:00 PM. You will also find special days that Santa’s House is open on Monday December 23rd and Tuesday December 24th so the kids can visit him just before Christmas. Santa’s House is located at City Center Plaza over on the corner of State and Cass Streets. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable meet and greet that only Santa can provide!
Everyone knows that some of the biggest deals that come with holiday shopping can be found on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. If you find yourself in Traverse City around Thanksgiving, you will want to make sure you take advantage of all the great deals at your fingertips. Black Friday is not just shopping stores but also for local restaurants and other businesses too. While Black Friday is widely known Small Business Saturday is little more under the radar. This day is reserved for small and local businesses to take the spotlight so you can support local. Traverse City has many incredible locally owned businesses that help make the city what it is today. Consider shopping local at this two day event here in Traverse City.
Traverse City also sponsors Ladies’ Night and Men’s Night, two separate nights focused on holiday shopping so you do not show up to Christmas empty handed. The ladies will be out on the town on December 5th while December 12 is reserved for the guys. Check out local businesses offering great deals and stop by the local restaurants and nightlife spots for a fun evening out with the town!
The holidays have never looked better than how they do here in Traverse City. Contact us to reserve one of our magical vacation rentals and see how you the holidays are always best spent here. Browse our pet friendly rentals here.
Looking for a new way to celebrate the holidays this year? Consider bringing your family to Traverse City, Michigan, to create some unforgettable memories and traditions. Ask your family what their favorite activity of the holidays and you are sure to hear “see the Christmas lights!” as an answer. There is something simply magical about seeing local neighborhoods and events decked out in thousands of Christmas lights that add a little shine to the season. Traverse City offers an array of festive Christmas lights and displays that are sure to brighten your holiday season. Our vacation rentals will keep you close by them so you can spend more time exploring the area and its abundance of holiday lights. Take a look at the best ways to see Christmas lights in Traverse City this holiday season.
Looking for a festive way to enjoy the Christmas lights in Traverse City? Take a stroll through the local neighborhoods and soak in the beautiful displays put up by the residents. Festive Alleys transforms into Christmas Alley near Central Traverse City, with houses adorned with thousands of twinkling lights, reindeer on rooftops, and illuminated Santas. It’s common to find friendly locals greeting passersby from their garages. Not far from Christmas Alley is Grand Traverse Commons, where a magnificent Christmas tree stands at the center, surrounded by historic hospital buildings. It’s a perfect spot to take a break before continuing your light-viewing adventure. Just a short distance from the Commons, 6th Street boasts charming Victorian homes bedecked with festive lights and decorations. These are just a few of the many neighborhoods that you are able to explore. You will find that Traverse City is a welcoming city that shines bright with all of our Christmas lights on display for the season.
One of the highlights of the holiday season is the Light Parade and Annual Tree Lighting with Santa, which marks the official start of the holiday season in Downtown Traverse City. This enchanting event features the illumination of a magnificent Christmas tree, with the city mayor and Santa himself in attendance. Following the tree lighting, a captivating light parade kicks off, featuring beautifully decorated floats and lively musical performances. The parade winds its way through the city streets, creating a magical atmosphere for all to enjoy. After the parade, don’t miss the chance to visit Santa’s house at Rotary Square, where you can meet Santa and capture a memorable photo with him. This delightful event is free to attend and promises hours of holiday cheer. Make sure to arrive early to secure a prime spot along the parade route, and don’t forget to bring your best light-up accessories to add to the festive atmosphere. This year’s Light Parade and Annual Tree Lighting with Santa takes place on November 23rd with the festivities beginning promptly at 5:30 PM. This is an absolutely free event that is open to the community including our visitors. Traverse City’s Light Parade and Annual Tree Lighting with Santa is a cherished tradition that promises to fill your holiday season with joy and wonder.
If you find yourself at Traverse City State Park during your visit to Traverse City, make sure to check out Lights Gone Wild in the evening. This breathtaking holiday light display has been in the making for two decades and has become one of the area’s most stunning attractions. Lights Gone Wild is a beautiful tribute to the former Clinch Park Zoo, featuring Christmas light displays that bring shining animal shapes to life at night. This year, Lights Gone Wild is expected to be open in November and December. While a Michigan Recreation Passport has been required in the past, you can easily register at the gates. Don’t miss out on this nostalgic nod to a classic Michigan attraction.
These are some phenomenal events and ways for you to see all of the beautiful Christmas lights here in Traverse City. You will have a vacation getaway that is second to none when you reserve one of our exclusive vacation rentals here in the area. Our properties or privately owned vacation homes can be found near these holiday events that feature Christmas lights. You can even find a property located in the many neighborhoods that are known for houses to put on stunning displays of Christmas lights out front. You will find it easy to feel right at home like a local and enjoy luxury amenities that hotels and other properties are unable to provide. Make the most of your holiday stay in Traverse City this year and book with us just in time for the holidays. Contact us to book your stay today. Browse our rentals by amenity here.
