Holiday lights and activities happening in Oakland County

There are plenty of upcoming activities and events to ring in the holiday season, including tree lightings, holiday light displays, parades and visits with Santa. For the latest information on event times and dates, check the event websites.

• Rochester Garden Club to host its Gifts & Greens Market, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church at 1550 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills. The opening gala is 5-8 p.m. Nov. 30,  $5 entrance fee, includes snacks. Market Days are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 2, $2 admission. Proceeds benefit community programs, RochesterGardenClub.org.

• Annual Potters Market is Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, 248-398-6846, www.thepottersmarket.com.

• Annual Holiday Magic Marketplace is 4-9 p.m. Dec. 1, Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, crafters and vendors, live entertainment,  free admission. Community tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m. between the market and the courthouse, followed by visits with Santa at City Hall, www.romi.gov.

• Troy Community Chorus Winter Memories Concert is 8-9:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Troy Athens High School Auditorium, 4333 John R Road, Troy, www.troycommunitychorus.com, advance tickets are $12 adults, $10 for seniors and ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and younger.

• Kris Kringle Market is 4-10 p.m. Dec. 1 and noon-10 p.m. Dec. 2, on West Fourth St. between Main and Walnut, downtown Rochester, downtownrochestermi.com.

• Holly Jolly Folly Fundraiser for the Orion Lighted Christmas Parade is 6 p.m. Dec. 1, Golling Buick GMC, 1491 South Lapeer Road Orion Twp., food, music, a silent auction, https://orionlightedparade.com, $60+.

• Orion Lighted Christmas Parade is 6 p.m. Dec. 2, downtown Lake Orion, https://orionlightedparade.com.

• Birmingham Winter Markt is Dec. 1-3, at Shain Park, 270 W. Merrill St., tree lighting at 6 p.m., Dec. 1, downtown Birmingham, local artists and vendors, Santa House and carriage rides, www.allinbirmingham.com.

• Handel’s “Messiah” performance is 7-9 p.m. Dec. 1, and 4-6 p.m. Dec. 3, Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian, 5171 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, www.olccp.com/events, $15.

• Holiday Extravaganza is Dec. 2, downtown Pontiac. Annual Parade is at 11 a.m., Winter Fun Festival is noon-3 p.m., live ice carving competition, petting farm with animals, reindeer, Santa and Mrs. Claus meet and greet. The parade route will begin on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue at the Oakland Livingston Human and continues down Saginaw Street and ends at the Pontiac City Square (Lot 9).  The Run Elf Run race is at 8 a.m., Holidayextravaganza.org.

• Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are offered 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2, at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, $7 members, $10 for nonmembers, www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms.

• Cocoa and Crafts with Santa: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 2-3, families can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, make holiday crafts, play games, drink hot cocoa, at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, $9 adv., discount to Troy Historical Society members. Register at https://www.troyhistoricvillage.org.

• Detroit Model Railroad Club Open House Shows are noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 2-3, and Dec. 9-10 at 104 North Saginaw St. Holly, 248-634-5811, dmrrc.org, $5 gen adm., $2 for ages 5-17 and $2 for younger than 5.

• Clarkston Art and Craft Show is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Clarkston High School, 6093 Flemings Lake Road, Clarkston, $4 admission, free for ages 10 and younger, keepsakecollectionshows.com.

• Salt Lutheran Church to host a family-friendly Kinder Craft Night and Pasta Meal is 4-8 p.m. Dec. 3. at the church, 5475 Livernois, in Troy, crafts, children’s-only gift shopping for family and friends, pasta meal, bake sale, Christmas sing at 6 p.m., making cards for veterans to be delivered to the VA Hospital in Detroit. Pasta meals are $6 for ages 15+ and $3 for ages 3+, or $15 for a family of over four people. Craft prices vary from between $1-$3. Gift items are $2 and under, register at 248-879-6400 and leave email address.

• Tree Lighting and Kris Kringle Market is 5-9 p.m. Dec. 4, Highland Twp., tree lighting at 7 p.m., at Veterans Park and Steeple Hall area, downtown Highland. Children’s Choir at 7 p.m. followed by tree lighting and visits with Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, popcorn, hot chocolate. Downtown Highlands Annual Festival of Trees is through December, www.highlanddda.com.

• Southfield Municipal Campus Tree Lighting Ceremony is 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5, on the front lawn of the Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield. Southfield A&T High School Marching Band, visits with Santa, petting zoo, ice carving demonstrations, University High Dance Team, children’s crafts, cookies and hot chocolate, free.admission, www.cityofsouthfield.com.

• Clarkston Holiday Lights Parade “Snowglobe Spectacular”: 6 p.m. Dec. 9, starting at Renaissance High School Community Education Building, 6558 Waldon Road, Clarkston, proceeding to Main St., ending at Calvary Lutheran Church, 6805 Bluegrass Drive, www.teamrush27.net/community/holiday-lights-parade.

• Jingle! is 6-10 p.m. Dec. 9, Pontiac Creative Art Center, 47 Williams St., Pontiac. Signature fundraising event, ugly sweater art exhibit, opening reception, live and silent auction and runway fashion show. Admission is free and all are welcome, https://pontiacarts.square.site/jingle, 248-333-7849.

• Friendship Circle and The Shul Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration is 7:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 9, West Bloomfield Twp., https://friendshipcircle.org.

• Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll opens at 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, through Dec. 17, and Dec. 21-23, at Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Ct., Orion Twp., featuring festive lights and a light show, choreographed to classic holiday songs, live Christmas performances and holiday scenes. Santa will be available for visits and his personal mailbox also will be available. Holiday Stroll takes place rain, snow, or shine, tickets must be purchased online in advance at CanterburyVillage.com. Children younger than two, active military members and veterans admitted free. Ticket prices vary, parking extra.

• Handmade for the Holidays Market artist’s gift market is Tuesday through Saturday through Dec. 20, 205 W. Livingston Road, Highland Twp., huronvalleyarts.org.

• Holiday Walk is offered 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Dec. 23, most dates, self-guided indoor tour of the three main floors of historic Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, filled with magnificent holiday sights and splendid decorations, https://meadowbrookhall.org/holidays.

• Santa Claus visits through Dec. 23, at Somerset Collection North Grand Court in Troy. Guests can reserve a photo session with Santa up to 14 days in advance by visiting, somersetevents.as.me/SantaPhotos, $35 for six poses and selfie photos are $10. Visits with Santa, without photos, are available on a walk-up, as-available basis.

• Santa House and Carriage Rides take place on select dates, through Dec. 24, at Shain Park, Birmingham, register at www.allinbirmingham.com.

• Oakland Mall in partnership with Canterbury Village to host Winter Wonderland Extravaganza, through Dec. 24, at Oakland Mall, 412 W 14 Mile Road, Troy. Canterbury Wonderland Walkthrough-A Magical Journey in the Old Sears Anchor Store, adorned with twinkling lights, Candyland, costumed characters, $14.99 tickets, and Canterbury Holiday Dinosaur Wonderland, $9.99 tickets. Purchase tickets at https://maingatetickets.com/events/view/1708.

• Free visits with Santa through Dec. 24, at The Village of Rochester Hills Shopping Center, 104 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, TheVORH.com.

• Santa’s Flight Academy is through Dec. 24, Twelve Oaks Mall, 27500 Novi Road, Novi, https://shoptwelveoaks.com, and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, 4000 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills, https://greatlakescrossingoutlets.com. Pre-paid photo package reservations available at the websites.

• Winter Wonder Lights is 5:30 p.m,-10 p.m., through Dec. 30, most nights, on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall, in Rochester on the campus of Oakland University, meadowbrookholidays.com, ticket prices vary, https://meadowbrookhall.org/holidays.

• Model Railroad Exhibit and Museum Holiday Drop-In Hours are noon-3 p.m. on select dates through Dec. 30, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, $5 for and $3 for seniors and students, rochesterhills.org/museum. Advance tickets not required.

• Magic of Lights drive-thru light show is 5:30-10 p.m. through Dec. 30, closes at 9 p.m. on holidays, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Independence Twp., https://magicoflights.com/events/clarkston, ticket prices vary.

• Glenlore Trails-Aurora is evenings on select dates, through Dec. 30, at 3860 Newton Road, Commerce Township, immersive illuminated forest, register for timed tickets at www.glenloretrails.com, $25 admission for ages 13+, $15 for ages 4-12, free for 3 and younger, $20 for seniors ages 65+.

• Holly Dazzle opens at 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday through Dec. 31, at 12600 Dixie Hwy., Holly, winter wonderland stroll along a three-quarter mile outdoor trail, adorned with Christmas scenes, 248-634-5552, hollydazzles.com.

• Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo is through Jan. 7, (5-9 p.m. select weeknights and Sundays and 5 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays), outdoor event limited to the front half of the zoo, no access to animal habitats, adv gen admission tickets, $17+ each, children younger than 2 are admitted free, parking is $8, dzoo.org/wildlights.

• The Big, Bright Light Show is 5 p.m.-midnight, through Jan. 21, downtown Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com/the-big-bright-light-show.

Submit community events online at https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.