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Christmas with kids in Flint
Flint has been lighting up its holidays for a long time. In 1940 a 40-foot neon Santa stood in front of the Hotel Durant, and today a whole cultural campus glows for one big December evening.
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Holiday Walk at the Flint Cultural Center
When: Tue, Dec 1, 5 to 8 pm
Where: Flint Cultural Center, Flint
Cost: Free
The story of Christmas in Flint
How Flint celebrates
Flint's biggest Christmas tradition today is the Holiday Walk at the Flint Cultural Center, a free evening when museums, the library, the planetarium and music halls all open their doors on one campus of about 33 acres. It has run for decades and reached its 40th year in 2025. Downtown has its own kickoff, the TREEmendous Evening at Saginaw and Second Streets, where Santa arrives, live reindeer visit and the tree lights up. Smaller towns around Flint add candlewalks, parades and tree lightings of their own.
Christmas last year in Flint
On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the 40th Holiday Walk filled the Cultural Center from 5 to 8 pm, and the library ran a children's craft making an angel ornament while supplies lasted. Crossroads Village glowed with thousands of lights from November 29 to December 28. The Nutcracker marked its 50th anniversary at the Whiting Auditorium on December 6 and 7, the 10th Trail of Lights ran in Davison from December 6 to 21, and dozens of tuba players played carols at the Farmers' Market on December 13.
Fun facts about Christmas in Flint
Downtown Christmas used to be a very big deal. In 1937 about 1,200 children saw a free show at the Capitol Theatre and left with candy and an orange. In 1940 the Christmas Parade had bands, two floats, horseback riders and more than 200 people in costume. In 1947 volunteers called the Old Newsboys delivered toys, food and clothing to over 5,000 children. By 1951 a five-foot lighted star hung 60 feet high at Kearsley and Saginaw Streets.
Trains and Christmas near Flint
Flint is a good place for little train fans, because Crossroads Village, home of the Huckleberry Railroad, lights up with thousands of lights each holiday season. The Huckleberry is a narrow gauge steam train that circles Mott Lake. Nearby, the Flushing Area Museum is a restored train depot beside the tracks, free and volunteer-run. A bit farther west, Durand Union Station is a grand 1905 depot where two railroads once crossed, and it houses the Michigan Railroad History Museum.
- Huckleberry Railroad: A 40-minute narrow gauge steam train ride along Mott Lake inside Crossroads Village, the same village that fills with lights each holiday season.
- Flushing Area Museum: A fully restored depot beside the tracks with railroad history and period rooms, free and run by volunteers.
- Durand Union Station / Michigan Railroad History Museum: A grand 1905 depot where two railroads crossed, now a museum that kids can explore.
Traditions today
- Holiday Walk at the Flint Cultural Center: A free December evening when the museums, planetarium, library and music halls open together, with a tree lighting, Santa and kids' crafts.
- TREEmendous Evening downtown: Santa arrives, live reindeer visit and the downtown tree lights up at Saginaw and Second Streets.
- Christmas Holiday Magic at Crossroads: Crossroads Village glows with thousands of lights for about a month, from late November to just after Christmas.
- The Nutcracker at the Whiting: A holiday ballet tradition at FIM Whiting Auditorium that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
- Trail of Lights in Davison: A walk through thousands of lights at the Robert Williams Nature and Historical Learning Center, which marked its 10th year in 2025.
- Candlewalk in Flushing: Downtown Flushing glows with thousands of candles for two evenings each December.
A fact for kids
In 1940 Flint had a neon Santa 40 feet tall standing in a little park in front of the Hotel Durant.
Questions about Christmas in Flint
What is the biggest Christmas tradition in Flint?
The Holiday Walk at the Flint Cultural Center is Flint's biggest Christmas tradition. It is a free evening in early December when the museums, library, planetarium and music halls all open together on one campus, with a tree lighting, Santa and kids' crafts. The 2025 walk was the 40th one.
How long has the Holiday Walk been going?
The Holiday Walk has run for about 40 years. Visit Flint and Genesee listed the 2025 walk as the 40th annual, and the Cultural Center describes it as a free evening open to all. It takes place across a campus of about 33 acres, so families can visit several buildings in one night.
What happened at the Flint Holiday Walk last year?
The 40th Holiday Walk took place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 5 to 8 pm at the Flint Cultural Center. The Flint Public Library held a children's craft from 5:30 to 7:30 pm where kids made an angel ornament while supplies lasted. Visitors moved between museums, the planetarium and music venues.
What is the TREEmendous Evening in downtown Flint?
It is a downtown Flint holiday kickoff at the corner of Saginaw and Second Streets. Santa arrives, live reindeer visit, the tree is lit, and local shops stay open with specials. One year it also included carriage rides and a free movie screening at the Capitol Theatre. Our Flint Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's details.
What did Christmas look like in downtown Flint long ago?
In the 1930s and 1940s downtown Flint was full of holiday sparkle. Saginaw Street was strung with ornaments in 1932, the whole city was lit in 1939, and by 1951 evergreen ropes with lights crossed the street. Stores showed off holiday goods, and churches told the Nativity story on Christmas Eve.
Was there a giant Santa in Flint once?
Yes. In 1940 a 40-foot neon Santa stood in the triangular park in front of the Hotel Durant in downtown Flint. That same year the Christmas Parade had bands, two floats, horseback riders and more than 200 people in costume. It is a fun fact to share with kids who love big decorations.
What was the free Christmas show at the Capitol Theatre?
In 1937 about 1,200 Flint children attended a free Christmas show at the Capitol Theatre. As they left they were given candy and an orange, which was a real treat at the time. The Capitol Theatre is still part of downtown Flint holiday life, hosting a free movie at the TREEmendous Evening in one past year.
Who were the Old Newsboys in Flint?
The Old Newsboys were volunteers who helped Flint families at Christmas. In 1947 they joined other volunteers to deliver toys, food and clothing to more than 5,000 children, while the Salvation Army and local churches delivered holiday baskets. You can tell kids it was a way neighbors made sure everyone had a Christmas.
Where can kids see Christmas lights near Flint?
Crossroads Village lit up with thousands of lights for Christmas Holiday Magic from November 29 to December 28 in 2025. Davison's Trail of Lights, in its 10th year in 2025, ran December 6 to 21, and Flushing's Candlewalk uses thousands of candles. Our Flint Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
Is there a Candlewalk near Flint?
Yes. The Flushing Candlewalk fills downtown Flushing with thousands of candles on two evenings in early December, December 4 and 5 in 2025. Flushing is a short drive northwest of Flint. It is one of several small-town traditions around Genesee County, along with the Linden parade and Fenton JingleFest. Check our Flint Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
What is Fenton JingleFest?
Fenton JingleFest is a downtown Fenton holiday festival that Visit Flint and Genesee listed for December 6 in 2025, with a parade at 6 pm and fireworks. In earlier years it also featured tree decorating, lunch with Santa and horse-drawn wagons. Fenton is a short drive south of Flint, so many Flint families make the trip.
Does Flint have a Nutcracker tradition?
Yes. The Nutcracker was performed at FIM Whiting Auditorium in Flint on December 6 and 7, 2025, marking its 50th anniversary. That means the ballet has been a Flint holiday tradition since the mid 1970s. It is a good first ballet for children who know the story of the toy soldier and the Mouse King.
What is Tuba Christmas?
Tuba Christmas is an event where dozens of tuba and euphonium players gather to play Christmas carols together. In 2025 it took place on December 13 at the Flint Farmers' Market. Kids often love the deep, low sound of the big brass instruments, and the carols are ones they may already know.
What is the Santa Run in Flint?
The Santa Run and Walk is a family fun run hosted by the YMCA of Greater Flint. The 2025 edition, listed as the 16th annual, was on December 6. It is one of several December traditions in the Flint area, and it gives families a way to move around together before the holiday.
How can I explain the Holiday Walk to a young child?
Tell your child that on one special night the museums, library and planetarium all stay open and decorate for Christmas, like a giant party across a big campus. Santa arrives in a red convertible, a tree is lit, and kids can do crafts. Our Flint Christmas events guide on this page has this season's details.
Does the Holiday Walk have Santa?
Yes. The Cultural Center's page for the Holiday Walk says Santa arrives at Durant Plaza in the Sloan Museum's red 1963 Buick Wildcat convertible, and free photos with Santa are offered at the Whiting Auditorium. The page lists the 2026 walk for Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Check our Flint Christmas events guide on this page for updates.
Are there hands-on things for kids at the Holiday Walk?
Yes. The Cultural Center lists make-and-take art projects at the Flint Institute of Arts, children's crafts at the library, a book giveaway at the Sloan Museum, holiday crafts at the Whaley House and live reindeer at Applewood Estate. The planetarium also offers free sampler shows of its Cosmic Christmas Light Show.
Where can kids ride a train near Flint at Christmas?
The Huckleberry Railroad at Crossroads Village is a narrow gauge steam train that circles Mott Lake, and the village fills with thousands of lights each holiday season. Our museum page has the details on rides and seasons. Crossroads is a short drive from Flint, so many families combine trains and lights.
Is there a train museum near Flint kids can visit?
Yes. The Flushing Area Museum is a restored depot beside the tracks in Flushing, free and run by volunteers. Durand Union Station, home of the Michigan Railroad History Museum, is a 1905 depot where two railroads crossed. Both are an easy drive from Flint, and opening days are limited, so check hours first.
Why is Christmas in Flint special?
Flint's Christmas mixes old downtown memories with a strong community spirit. Families remember a 40-foot neon Santa and a big downtown parade, and today the Cultural Center turns an entire campus into one holiday evening. Towns around Flint add candlewalks, parades and light trails, so there is a tradition within a short drive.
Sources
- Holiday Walk at the Flint Cultural Center, Flint Cultural Center Corporation
- Flint Cultural Center Holiday Walk, December 2, 2025, Flint Public Library
- Flint and Genesee holiday events roundup, November 12, 2025, Michigan Business Network
- A Glimpse of Christmas Past, My City Magazine
- Flint to welcome holiday season with TREEmendous Evening, Flint Beat
- Holiday fun for the family, Explore Flint and Genesee
- Huckleberry Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
- Flushing Area Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Durand Union Station / Michigan Railroad History Museum, Rally Takes the Train