9 Best Michigan Christmas Towns You Must Visit This Holiday Season! + Map (Lovely Hallmark Towns for a Christmas Vacation!)

Best Michigan Christmas Towns | By: Sherry Trautman | Travel-MI.com | Updated: December 7, 2022

When Christmas nears, Chris and I love to bundle up and visit all the lovely Michigan Christmas Towns in Michigan. It's such a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! 

Oh...

• And one of Hallmark Christmas towns involves an incredible steam train ride, can you guess which one? 

Are you ready? Let's go! 

If you are looking for the best Christmas towns in Michigan, keep reading!

Interactive Map of the Top Michigan Christmas Towns To Visit

1. Frankenmuth Michigan Christmas Town Should Be at the TOP of Your Michigan Bucket List!

We have been asked, "What is the name of the Christmas town in Michigan?" It's Frankenmuth and a super popular Bavarian village to visit during Christmas.

So if you are wondering, "Where should I go for Christmas in Michigan," we say, "Frankenmuth!!"

Why?

Well, From the moment you arrive in Frankenmuth Michigan, you will be engulfed in the Christmas spirit...It happens to everyone, even the Grinch!

Many people, and I'd have to agree, think Frankenmuth is the best Christmas town in Michigan... 

• There are so many things to do in Frankenmuth at Christmas! 
• You can go on a nostalgic horse drawn carriage ride, go ice skating, shop the Bavarian Inn Castle Shops, get hot chocolate, go on a Christmas lights driving tour and so much more!

See our Christmas in Frankenmuth guide ---> 10 Magical Things to do in Frankenmuth at Christmas!

• You can also visit Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the largest Christmas store in the world!

2. Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village is so Charming at Christmas!

Where: The Henry Ford - Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124

Fee? Yes

• See our Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village guide!

It's so fun to bundle up warmly as you wander this lovely Michigan Christmas "town." You'll hear carolers, smell the freshly cut wreathes and trees, sip creamy hot chocolate and enjoy the happy feel of Greenfield Village at Christmas as you stroll down Main Street.

It's a great place to shop for holiday goods and stocking stuffers for everyone on your Christmas list.

Hungry?  There are several places to enjoy food and warm beverages.

You can also take an unforgettable ride on a historic Model T or cuddle up in a lovely horse-drawn carriage. 

Oh and you can visit with Santa with his real live reindeer (so incredibly cute!)

There are several dining experiences too.

If you get cold, there are plenty of shops to step into or you can huddle around communal hot fire pits.

Pro Tip: You will need to buy your tickets for Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village very early, most likely before November or whenever they first go on sale as they sell out very quickly.

• See our Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village guide for more info and videos!!

3. Visit Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad for a Norman Rockwell Christmas

Where: Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad at 6140 N Bray Rd, Flint, MI 48505

Fee? Yes

My friends, if you want to feel like you just stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting, you absolutely must visit Crossroads Village in Flint Michigan.  You can wander through several vintage buildings, enjoy a buffet dinner, ride a vintage carousel and Ferris wheel. Such a Hallmark Christmas town!

But the crem de la crem of the night is the riding the vintage Huckleberry railroad! 

• Check out our Crossroad Village and Huckleberry Railroad guide! Complete with photos, video and tips!

4. Midland Michigan Is Wonderful During Christmas!

Where: Northeast Michigan

Were you surprised that we included Midland in our list of favorite Michigan Christmas towns?

Midland is home to the famous Tridge (3 way bridge, Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest...all scenic and fabulous places to visit during Christmas.

I also discovered a couple fabulous downtown Midland stores called Serendipity Road and Heather 'n Holly where I bought most of my local Christmas presents! 

Heather N' Holly as a wonderful assortments of chocolates and treats that are perfect for Michigan Gift Baskets, stocking stuffers and more! I appreciate the great assortment of delicious gift items!

Serendipity Road has so many fantastic gift items! I love that the great choice of Michigan items including syrup, coffee, soaps, clothing and home décor.  

Walk the super scenic Midland Tridge (three-way wooden footbridge) with views of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers in Chippewassee Park. One direction leads to the park and the other direction leads to baseball diamonds and Chippewa Nature Center.

Midland Santa House: Come see Santa! 

Midland Santa house is a huge Michigan attraction that you must check out! The lines are long during the evenings the closer you get to Christmas! So you can see why we included Midland in our Michigan Christmas Towns list!

Oh, and for more fun Michigan fun, ride the FREE Northern Star train! The short ride takes you in a scenic loop of the downtown Midland area, past the Loon's stadium. Perfect for seeing Michigan Christmas lights!

• Grab the schedule on our Midland Santa House page.  Registration is not required. 

5. Spring Lake is Stunning at Christmastime!

Every December, Spring Lake goes all out to decorate their city for their annual Spring Lake Sparkle Festival.  You can see more than 120,000 multicolored lights decorating trees, storefronts, and even their clocktower along the downtown’s main thoroughfare between Division and Buchanan streets. Definitely worthy to be included in our Michigan Christmas Towns list!

6. Downtown Rochester Christmas Lights are Magnificent! 

If you want to see incredible Christmas lights from the comfort of your vehicle, drive on over to Rochester this Christmas season.  Their drive through lights are absolutely incredible and FREE!

• Check out our Rochester Christmas Lights guide that is jam packed with parking info, videos, photos, and hours. Definitely worthy of being on our Michigan Christmas Towns list!
• While you are there: 7 FUN Rochester Christmas Events

7. Visit Ashley Michigan Christmas Town and Ride the Polar Express Stream Train!

Where: Steam Railroading Institute, 405 S Washington St, Owosso, MI 48867

So guys, if you love trains, visiting with Santa, and exploring cheerful Michigan Christmas Towns, you have to check out the Christmas town of Ashley! 

But do you want to know the best part?

You get to ride on a steam train to get there!

The 1225 Pere Marquette steam train from Owosso, Michigan to be exact!  The Polar Express steam train is an incredible experience!

Just hearing the raw power of the the 1225 Pere Marquette steam train is exhilarating.  Chris and I just had to pose in front of the train! 

Once arriving in the village of Ashley, you can shop for gifts and stocking stuffers (Chris and I purchased personalized ornaments) and enjoy a small town meal.

• Read our guide and see more photos, video and tips ----> Ride the Incredible Polar Express Michigan Christmas Train!

8. Visit Fredrick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids!

Where: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Throughout the month of December (and a bit before and after), be sure to see visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park! The University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition is just magical! 

See several adorned Christmas trees, lovely Christmas displays and the beloved Railway Garden. Be sure to walk the nature trails outdoors too. Indoors and out, Fredrick Meijer Gardens sparkles with 350,000 lights!

9. Canterbury Village Christmas is Simply Magical!

If you love seeing popular characters, festive light shows, professional carolers, twinkling light displays, roaring firepits and trying a variety of beers you will love Olde World Canterbury Village's Holiday Stroll!

Buy your tickets online at their website to enjoy an outside wintery wonderland lights walk throughout the month of December.

Additional Michigan Christmas Towns to Visit

During Christmas, St. Joseph, Saugatuck, Grand Haven and Holland brighten their streets with decorations, Christmas lights and holiday cheer to draw visitors to their downtown shops.  

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