The Ann Arbor area has 4 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas Trees in Dexter on November 13 to Santa Photos at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, which runs through December 24. 3 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in Michigan, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 4 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Ann Arbor for 2026, in Ann Arbor and Dexter
- First: Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas Trees, Dexter, November 13. Runs latest: Santa Photos at Briarwood Mall, Ann Arbor, through December 24
- Free: Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas Trees, Beaded Pipe Cleaner Icicles & Snowflakes and Sparkle Snowpeople
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Ann Arbor
3 confirmed events for kids in Ann Arbor, soonest first.
Santa visit
Santa Photos at Briarwood Mall
- When: Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Thursday, December 24, 2026 (daily except Thanksgiving, Nov 26; most days about 11 am to 7 pm; Dec 24, 9 am to 5 pm)
- Where: Briarwood Mall, Ann Arbor
- Cost: Price not listed; reservations recommended
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Santa sets up in Briarwood Mall from November 21 through December 24, 2026, between LensCrafters and DTLR. Hours vary by day, but most days run from about 11 am to 7 pm, with some weekends and the last days of the season running longer or shorter. Santa is closed on Thanksgiving, November 26, and on December 24 the hours are 9 am to 5 pm.
The mall page asks families to make a reservation through a linked booking page and recommends booking early. The ticket price is not listed on the page. The mall also lists A Special Visit with Caring Santa on December 6 at 10:30 am. Check the Simon page for the full day by day schedule before you go, since the hours change from one date to the next.
Parent tip: Book a reservation early through the link on the mall page. Check the daily hours, which change by date.
- Host
- Briarwood Mall (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Briarwood Mall, 100 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
- Sign-up
- Recommended
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holiday craftsFree
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Icicles & Snowflakes
- When: Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 1 to 2 pm
- Where: Malletts Creek Branch, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor
- Cost: Free
- Ages: Preschool to Grade 5
Details, tips and host
The Malletts Creek Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library hosts a seasonal craft session for children in preschool through Grade 5. Participants use pipe cleaners and pony beads to make fun decorations in the shapes of icicles and snowflakes.
The program takes place in the branch program room on Wednesday, December 9, from 1 to 2 pm. The library page does not mention a registration requirement. A midday weekday time suits younger children who are not yet in school, as well as families on a school break. The finished icicles and snowflakes can hang on a tree or in a window. The branch is on East Eisenhower Parkway on Ann Arbor's south side. This is a winter themed craft rather than a Christmas specific one, and the library lists it among its kids art and coloring programs.
Parent tip: The page does not list registration, so check the event page for any sign up note before you go.
- Host
- Ann Arbor District Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Malletts Creek Branch, Ann Arbor District Library, 3090 East Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holiday craftsFree
Sparkle Snowpeople
- When: Sunday, December 20, 2026, 2 to 3 pm
- Where: Westgate Branch, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor
- Cost: Free
- Ages: Grades K to 5
Details, tips and host
The Westgate Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library invites children in kindergarten through Grade 5 to make a few friendly and extra sparkly snowperson friends. Crafters use glittery craft foam and other supplies provided by the library.
The workshop runs from 2 to 3 pm on Sunday, December 20, in the West Side Room, five days before Christmas. A Sunday afternoon time is useful for families who are busy on weekdays. The library page does not list a registration requirement. The snowpeople make a simple handmade decoration or gift, and the activity is winter themed rather than tied to a particular holiday. The Westgate branch is on Jackson Avenue on Ann Arbor's west side, near Westgate shopping center. Children who enjoy crafts will find similar winter and holiday programs on the Ann Arbor District Library kids calendar throughout December.
Parent tip: Check the event page for any registration note. The craft is aimed at kindergarten through fifth grade.
- Host
- Ann Arbor District Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Westgate Branch, Ann Arbor District Library, 2503 Jackson Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Ann Arbor? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
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See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Dexter
1 confirmed event for kids in Dexter, soonest first.
Holiday craftsFree
Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas Trees
- When: Friday, November 13, 2026, 1 to 2 pm
- Where: Dexter District Library, Dexter
- Cost: Free, no registration
- Ages: Children of all ages
Details, tips and host
The Dexter District Library invites children of all ages to a drop in craft before the holidays. Kids make an ornament to decorate the library Christmas tree, which stands in Monument Park in downtown Dexter, and then make another ornament to take home.
The program runs from 1 to 2 pm on Friday, November 13, 2026. Registration is not required, so families can stop in whenever it suits them during the hour. The activity connects to Dexter's community holiday traditions, and seeing the finished tree in the park later can be a fun follow up visit for children who helped decorate it. Dexter is a small town west of Ann Arbor, and the library sits close to downtown shops and the park. Contact details on the event page go to the youth services staff.
Parent tip: Drop in any time during the hour. Walk over to Monument Park later to look for your child's ornament.
- Host
- Dexter District Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine Street, Dexter, MI 48130 (near Ann Arbor)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Every event above was confirmed on the host’s own page, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Michigan Christmas train rides page.
Ann Arbor Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 4 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Ann Arbor and Dexter
- Season
- November 13 to December 24, 2026
- Free events
- 3
- Kinds of events
- holiday crafts and Santa visit
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Ann Arbor Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas Trees in Dexter on November 13; the last runs to December 24. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas TreesDexter · Nov 13
- Santa Photos at Briarwood MallAnn Arbor · Nov 21 to Dec 24
- Beaded Pipe Cleaner Icicles & SnowflakesAnn Arbor · Dec 9
- Sparkle SnowpeopleAnn Arbor · Dec 20
Looking further afield? Our Michigan Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Flint and Battle Creek. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November: unlock the list and we'll email you as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor does Christmas in a college-town way: a German-style market in Kerrytown, late-night shopping on Main Street and a symphony holiday concert in Hill Auditorium. The city no longer holds its own big tree lighting, so its neighbors have kept that tradition going.
How Ann Arbor celebrates
Ann Arbor's Christmas traditions center on its downtown neighborhoods. Kerrytown holds a yearly tree lighting where Santa has visited, and its Kindlefest is an outdoor market with artisans, food and mulled wine, modeled on German Christkindlmarkts. Main Street shops stay open late for Midnight Madness, described as a famous annual season kick-off, with fire pits, s'mores and possible Santa sightings. Merchants have also funded a Santa's Mailbox on Main Street, where kids drop wish lists. The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Pops fills Hill Auditorium each December.
Christmas last year in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor with Kids, a local family site, notes that Ann Arbor no longer has its own tree lighting, so families head to nearby towns. The last season's list included free lightings in Pinckney on November 29, Chelsea's Pierce Park and downtown Ypsilanti on December 5, and a Manchester Christmas parade and lighting on December 6. Closer to home, Midnight Madness kicked off the shopping season downtown, and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra performed Holiday Pops at Hill Auditorium. The Ypsilanti Krampusmarkt handmade bazaar, with more than 50 makers, reached its fourth year in 2024.
Fun facts about Christmas in Ann Arbor
Kindlefest, in Kerrytown, borrows the look of a German Christkindlmarkt, with artisans, food and mulled wine. Kerrytown is also home to a farmers market that began in 1919 and moved in 1921. In 2015, downtown merchants paid for a free mail route to the North Pole, and wish lists in the Main Street mailbox were answered if they arrived by December 18. The Michigan Theater has shown free holiday classics like It's a Wonderful Life on Sunday afternoons. Nearby Saline holds a Christmas parade with more than 100 participants, including a hot-air balloon and Santa.
Trains and Christmas near Ann Arbor
Michigan has plenty of holiday rail within reach of Ann Arbor. The Southern Michigan Railroad Society runs a Santa Express on Michigan's oldest branch line from Clinton. In Dearborn, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation has a Railroads exhibit with vintage trains and hands-on displays, open every day. Durand Union Station, a grand 1905 depot where the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor railroads crossed, is now the Michigan Railroad History Museum and holds Santa events each year.
- Southern Michigan Railroad Society: A volunteer railroad on Michigan's oldest branch line that runs a Santa Express.
- Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: A Railroads exhibit of vintage trains and hands-on displays, open every day.
- Durand Union Station / Michigan Railroad History Museum: A 1905 depot where the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor railroads crossed, with Santa events each year.
Traditions today
- Kerrytown Kindlefest: An outdoor market with artisans, food, mulled wine and kids' activities, modeled on German Christkindlmarkts.
- Kerrytown tree lighting: A yearly tree lighting in Kerrytown where Santa has made an appearance.
- Midnight Madness: Downtown Ann Arbor's annual season kick-off, with shops open late, fire pits, s'mores and possible Santa sightings.
- Santa's Mailbox: Main Street merchants have funded a free mailbox where kids can send wish lists to the North Pole.
- Holiday Pops at Hill Auditorium: The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra plays holiday favorites at the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium each December.
- Holiday films at the Michigan Theater: Free classics such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life on winter weekends.
A fact for kids
In Ann Arbor, kids can mail a wish list to Santa from a special mailbox downtown. Shop owners paid for a direct mail route to the North Pole!
Questions about Christmas in Ann Arbor
What is Kerrytown Kindlefest?
Kindlefest is an outdoor Christmas market in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown district, modeled on German Christkindlmarkts. It has artisans, food and mulled wine, and it has been held in early December. Families can browse handmade goods, warm up with treats and enjoy the festive atmosphere together.
Does Ann Arbor have its own Christmas tree lighting?
Not a big citywide one. A local family site says Ann Arbor no longer has a tree lighting, so many families head to nearby towns like Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Manchester and Dexter. Kerrytown has held its own yearly tree lighting, where Santa has visited, and Briarwood Mall lights a tree too.
What is Midnight Madness in Ann Arbor?
Midnight Madness is downtown Ann Arbor's famous annual season kick-off. Shops and restaurants stay open late, and there are fire pits, s'mores and a chance to spot Santa. For this year's date, see our Ann Arbor Christmas events guide on this page.
Can kids mail letters to Santa in Ann Arbor?
Yes. In 2015, Main Street merchants funded Santa's Mailbox, a direct mail route to the North Pole, with a box in front of Conor O'Neill's. Letters had to arrive by December 18 to get an answer. Nearby Chelsea also has a Santa Mailbox for wish lists during its Hometown Holiday.
What is the Ann Arbor Holiday Pops concert?
Holiday Pops is a December concert by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra at the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium. It features holiday hits in lively arrangements and audience participation. In 2024 the concert was conducted by new Music Director Earl Lee for the first time.
What is the Kindlefest schedule like for families?
Kindlefest is held outdoors in Kerrytown, with craft stalls from artisans, food and mulled wine. Kids' activities run in the early evening, followed by live music until about 10 p.m. Dress warmly, bring the kids early for the activities, and stay for the music if little ones still have energy.
What is Kerrytown known for at Christmas?
Kerrytown is a downtown Ann Arbor neighborhood whose farmers market began in 1919 and moved in 1921. At Christmas it hosts a yearly tree lighting, where Santa has visited, and the Kindlefest holiday market. Both draw families to the neighborhood each season.
Does Santa visit Ann Arbor?
Yes, in several places. Santa has visited the Kerrytown tree lighting and is sometimes spotted at Midnight Madness downtown. Families also meet him at nearby events like Chelsea's Hometown Holiday, the Saline parade and Light Up Dexter. Our Ann Arbor Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed visits.
What happened in Ann Arbor around Christmas last year?
Downtown kicked off the season with Midnight Madness, and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra played Holiday Pops at Hill Auditorium. Because Ann Arbor has no citywide tree lighting, families traveled to free lightings in Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Manchester and Pinckney. Those happened between November 29 and December 6.
What is the Krampusmarkt near Ann Arbor?
Krampusmarkt is a handmade holiday bazaar at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse that reached its fourth year in 2024. Admission is free, with more than 50 local makers selling handmade goods, including Krampus themed crafts. It is a good stop for families who like unusual, handmade gifts and local artists.
How do I explain Kindlefest to a young child?
Tell your child it is a Christmas market outside, where local artists sell handmade things and everyone warms up with treats. It is inspired by the Christmas markets of Germany. Kids like the early evening activities and the music, so you can promise them something to do while you look around.
Is there a Christmas parade in the Ann Arbor area?
Ann Arbor itself has no large Christmas parade, but nearby towns do. Saline holds one with more than 100 participants, including dancers, musicians, animals and sometimes a hot-air balloon. Milan and Manchester have parades too. Our Ann Arbor Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
What is Hometown Holiday in Chelsea?
Hometown Holiday is a monthlong celebration in Chelsea, a short drive from Ann Arbor, organized by the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce. It has a tree lighting, a light pole contest, a light parade and a Santa Mailbox at Palmer Commons, where kids can mail wish lists.
What is Christmas in the Village in Dexter?
It is a lantern-lit stroll through a historic village near Ann Arbor, run by the Webster Township Historical Society. Families meet costumed carolers and Santa, hear a schoolhouse reading, watch a blacksmith and drink hot cocoa. In 2024 tickets cost $10 per person.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Ann Arbor?
Downtown Ann Arbor and Kerrytown glow during Midnight Madness and the tree lighting, and nearby Dexter, Chelsea and Ypsilanti hold free community lightings. Bring light up necklaces or glow sticks, which one local family site recommends. Our Ann Arbor Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
Can kids see holiday movies in Ann Arbor?
Yes. The Michigan Theater has shown free holiday classics such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life on Sunday afternoons. In 2015 the screenings were at 1:30 p.m. Check our Ann Arbor Christmas events guide on this page for this year's lineup.
Where can kids see trains near Ann Arbor at Christmas?
The Southern Michigan Railroad Society in Clinton runs a Santa Express on Michigan's oldest branch line. Durand Union Station, home of the Michigan Railroad History Museum, has Santa events each year. The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn has a Railroads exhibit with vintage trains, open daily.
Is there a railroad museum connected to the Ann Arbor Railroad?
Yes. Durand Union Station is a grand 1905 depot where the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor railroads crossed, and it is now the Michigan Railroad History Museum. It is open Tuesday to Sunday afternoons, ADA compliant, with Halloween and Santa events each year.
What makes Christmas in Ann Arbor different?
Ann Arbor mixes college-town culture with small-town feel. A German-style market sits next to a farmers market district, the university's Hill Auditorium hosts a symphony holiday show, and families travel to neighboring towns for tree lightings. Santa even has a mailbox on Main Street.
What Christmas events do the Ann Arbor suburbs have for kids?
Nearby towns have parades, tree lightings and village strolls. Saline holds a Christmas parade with more than 100 participants, Chelsea has Hometown Holiday with a light parade, and Dexter has Light Up Dexter and a lantern-lit Christmas in the Village. Our Ann Arbor Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's details.
Sources
- Christmas tree lightings, Ann Arbor with Kids
- Holiday Events in the Ann Arbor Area, Reinhart Realtors
- Annual holiday events to attend, Destination Ann Arbor
- Kerrytown, Ann Arbor, Wikipedia
- 2015 Family Holiday Guide, Ann Arbor Family
- Holiday Hullabaloo, Ann Arbor Family
- Southern Michigan Railroad Society, Rally Takes the Train
- Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Rally Takes the Train
- Durand Union Station / Michigan Railroad History Museum, Rally Takes the Train
Ann Arbor Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Ann Arbor this year?
We confirmed 4 for the 2026 season, and 3 of them are free. Good places to start: Sparkle Snowpeople (Dec 20), Santa Photos at Briarwood Mall (Nov 21 to Dec 24) and Ornament Decorating for Monument Park Christmas Trees in Dexter (Nov 13). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Ann Arbor?
Yes, 3 of the 4. Beaded Pipe Cleaner Icicles & Snowflakes (Dec 9) is a good one to plan around. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.
Where can kids meet Santa in Ann Arbor?
Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.
Is anything on for kids in Ann Arbor on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes. Santa Photos at Briarwood Mall runs through Dec 24.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 1 of the 4 events, yes: they sell tickets or ask you to sign up ahead. Meals with Santa and ticketed shows fill up first. Most library and park events are walk-in, and each listing says which is which.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Ann Arbor?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Ann Arbor Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 4, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.