• The Downtown Rochester Festival of Trees is is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 18, children’s craft station, free admission.
• Christmas in the Village is noon-4 p.m. Nov. 18 at Mill Race Village, 215 Griswold, Northville, includes holiday decor, holiday music, gift shop, historic presentation, Northville Historical Society, www.millracenorthville.org, 248-348-1845.
• 13th Annual Arts & Greens Holiday Art Market is through Nov. 18 at Bogie Lake Greenhouses, 1525 Bogie Lake Road, White Lake Township. The free event includes artwork by 60 artists in various mediums, children’s activities including building graham cracker houses, holiday greens building classes, Huron Valley Council for the Arts event, huronvalleyarts.org, free admission.
• Lagniappe (Lon-yop) is 6-9 p.m. Nov. 19 in downtown Rochester. Merchants offer “Lagniappe” to their customers as a token of appreciation for their support throughout the year. The evening includes strolling carolers, free horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa Claus, and the lighting of The Big, Bright Light Show at 7 p.m. The Big, Bright Light Show is 5 p.m.-midnight nightly through Jan. 6 and continue on weekends through Jan. 20, 248-656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com.
• Rochester’s Gingerbread Express Ribbon Cutting: 10:30 a.m. Nov. 21, Royal Park Hotel, Rochester, the lobby will be decorated with hundreds of pounds of candy gingerbread, 248-652-2600, royalparkhotel.net.
• On Give Back Friday, Nov. 23, Milford stores and restaurants will offer special sales, discounts and one-of-a-kind gifts. Participating businesses will also donate a percentage of proceeds to a local charity or nonprofit. Small Business Saturday Selfie is Nov. 24 where shoppers can submit selfies of themselves shopping or dining in downtown Milford for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate, entries accepted through Nov. 29, www.meetmeinmilford.com. Milford businesses and community partners will pick up the tab for random diners through the Dinner’s On Us program, 5:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 29-Dec. 20, in downtown Milford.
• Meadow Brook Annual Holiday Walk “Landmark in Lights” is Nov. 23-Dec. 23, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester. Daily touring, 11 a.m.-4 p.m,, evening tours, 4-9 p.m. on select dates, 248-364-6200, self-guided tour, holiday activities and Santa and his reindeer, meadowbrookhall.org. Admission Nov. 23-Dec. 20 is $20 for adults, $7.50 for ages 6-12 (accompanied by an adult); free for ages 5 and younger. Dec. 21-23 is 22.50 and $10 for ages 6-12.
• All Aboard! Model Train Exhibit is noon-3 p.m. Nov. 23-Dec. 29, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farms, Rochester Stoney Creek Model Railroad Club, exhibit fills the Calf Barn, 248-656-4663, rochesterhills.org/museum.
• Shop Small. Shop Downtown Rochester. is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 24 at E. Fourth & Main, Rochester. complimentary carriage rides, 248-656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com.
• The City of Royal Oak celebrates the grand opening of Main Street Alley, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nov. 24, with family-friendly ‘Small Business Saturday’ event, Santa, live entertainment, games, behind businesses along Main Street between 11 Mile and Third Street. Parking will be available at the west Farmers Market lot, and in P4 between City Hall and the library. Participating businesses will gift patrons Royal Oak bags and ornaments for every $25 spent, www.romi.gov.
• Downtown Berkley hosts Merrimonth, Nov. 24-Dec. 24 with holiday activities. To start, Small Business Saturday is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24, where shoppers can text and have the chance to win $5,000. Merrily We Share Food Drive to benefit Gleaners is Nov. 24-Dec. 22 at the Berkley Public Library. Petting Zoo & S’mores Warming Station is 2-5 p.m. Dec. 1 and Holiday Lights Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony with Santa, carriage rides is 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Also, visit with Santa, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Berkley Public Library, Berkley, coloring contest, goodie bags for parents. For more events, visit downtownberkley.com.
• Holiday Farmers’ Market is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 20 at Rochester Fire Department, 277 E 2nd St., Rochester, farmers’ market vendors and artisans, 248-656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com. The Market will be closed Nov. 22.
• Holiday Art Market is open through Dec. 21 at Paint Creek Center for the Arts, 407 Pine St., Rochester, 248-651-4110, pccart.org.
• Cornerstone Community Financial‘s six branches will have oversized, festive mailboxes for local children to drop off their letters to Santa through Dec. 22. The credit union also has special stationary for download on its website at ccfinancial.com and inside branch locations in Auburn Hills, Royal Oak and two locations in Troy. Each branch will be helping Santa surprise some select children with responses and gifts. Letters must be submitted by Dec. 12, to be considered. Complete rules and conditions are available at www.ccfinancial.com.
• Macy’s is hosting the annual Believe campaign, to benefit Make-A-Wish for children with serious illnesses. Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish for every letter to Santa dropped off in stores in the red Believe letterboxes or submitted online at Macys.com/Believe, up to $1 million, through Dec. 24.
• Santa’s Flight Academy at Twelve Oaks Mall is open through Dec. 24, where youth can join Santa’s flight crew, visit with Santa, snowfall dance party. Flight crew badges can be created in advance at www.shoptwelveoaks.com/holidays.
• Children can visit Santa during Somerset Collection hours through Dec. 24 in Somerset Collection’s North Grand Court. After their visit, they can use special coins to shop for gifts at the “Somerset Kids Collection,” located on the second level. For a $5 donation, children receive five gold coins to buy gifts that can be wrapped on-site. Merchandise is donated by Somerset Collection retailers. Proceeds of special coin sales go to SAY Detroit, to benefit Detroit residents in need, www.thesomersetcollection.com.
• Holiday exhibits and program: noon-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 29, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, Historic Buildings of Rochester Quilt Exhibit, rochesterhills.org/musprograms. Admission is $5 adults; $3 seniors and students.
