December is when Traverse City settles into Christmas: Santa visits downtown, late shopping nights, village cocoa crawls and tree lightings, indoor markets, ballet and jazz at Interlochen, and shows at the City Opera House. This guide covers Monday, December 1 through Thursday, December 25, 2026.
Every date, time, price, and location below comes from Local Verifier findings or our live event listings, checked most recently on November 8, 2026. Outdoor events depend on the weather, so recheck the organizer before you go. For late November markets and Light Up Downtown, see our holiday markets and lights guide and the Thanksgiving weekend guide. The fuller November calendar is in the November events guide.
December 1 to 25 at a glance
| Date and time | Event | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Sat., Dec. 12 | Merry Marketplace | Crooked Tree Arts Center, 322 Sixth St. | Free galleries; Sat close 4 pm |
| Through Wed., Dec. 24 | Santa's House | City Centre Plaza (Cass and State) | Mostly Fri, Sat, Sun; also Dec. 23 and 24 |
| Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm | Indoor Farmers Market | The Village at Grand Traverse Commons | Continues Dec. 19 and 26 |
| Thu., Dec. 3, 5 to 9 pm | Ladies' Night | Downtown Traverse City | Shop specials vary |
| Fri., Dec. 4 to Sat., Dec. 19 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Old Town Playhouse | Adults $35; youth under 18 $25 |
| Fri., Dec. 4 and Sat., Dec. 5, 7:30 pm | Opera Theatre: HOME | Interlochen | Free; no tickets required |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 11 am to 5 pm | Leland Cocoa Crawl | Downtown Leland | Self-guided |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Light Up the Night and Soup Cook-Off | Downtown Bellaire | Tree lighting 6:30 pm; evening parade |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 2 to 4 pm | Santa's Workshop at the resort | Grand Traverse Resort Gallery of Shops | Also Dec. 12 and 19; complimentary |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 4 to 5:30 pm | Santa's Workshop | Garden Theater, Frankfort | Before the tree lighting |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 6 to 8 pm | Frankfort Community Tree Lighting | Rotary Park, Frankfort | Outdoor lighting |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 6 pm reception | Biggest Little Holiday Party | Grand Traverse Resort | Dinner 7 pm; $52 per person |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 7:30 pm show | City Opera House Annual Gala | City Opera House | Cocktail hour from 6:30 pm |
| Sun., Dec. 6, 7:30 pm | Jazz Combo Holidays Showcase | Interlochen | Adult $17; child through college $14 |
| Thu., Dec. 10, 5 to 9 pm | Men's Night | Downtown Traverse City | Shop specials vary |
| Thu., Dec. 10 to Sun., Dec. 13 | The Nutcracker | Corson Auditorium, Interlochen | Adult $42; child through college $19 |
| Sat., Dec. 12, noon to 6 pm | Mistletoe Magic | Downtown Frankfort | Holiday shopping afternoon |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 7 pm | A Magical Motown Christmas | City Opera House | Tickets from $40 |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 2 pm | An Afternoon with Jeff Daniels | City Opera House | Tickets from $50 |
| Thu., Dec. 17, 4 to 8 pm | Leland Sip and Shop | Downtown Leland | Chamber event |
| Thu., Dec. 17, 7:30 pm | Sounds of the Season | Interlochen | Adult $36; child through college $19 |
| Fri., Dec. 18, 5 to 9 pm | Wrap It Up Night | Downtown Traverse City | Last-minute shopping |
| Fri., Dec. 18, 7:30 pm | The Accidentals with Kaboom | Interlochen | Tickets starting at $25 |
| Fri., Dec. 18 to Sun., Dec. 20 | Craft and Vendor Show | Grand Traverse Mall | Hours and admission not posted |
| Sat., Dec. 19, 9:30 to 11:30 am | Breakfast with Santa | Grand Traverse Resort | Adults $38; ages 4 to 14 $18 |
| Sat., Dec. 19, 1 pm | I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas | City Opera House | $25; kids $15 |
| Sat., Dec. 19, 6:30 pm | Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings | Kirkbride Hall | Zones from $54 |
| Sat., Dec. 19, 7:30 pm | Home for the Holidays: Let it Swing! | Interlochen (TC Philharmonic) | Seat tiers $33 to $72 |
| Sat., Dec. 19, 7:30 pm show | Bob James and DiSimone Family Holiday Show | The Alluvion | $50 advance; $55 door |
| Sun., Dec. 20, 3 to 5 pm | Home for the Holidays: Let it Swing! | Interlochen (TC Philharmonic) | Same tiers as Saturday |
| Sun., Dec. 20, 4 pm | Kristin Key: The Chosen Family Christmas | City Opera House | Tiers from $20 |
Santa, markets, and downtown shopping nights
Santa's House (through December 24)
Santa's House, City Centre Plaza at Cass and State streets, downtown Traverse City. The Downtown Traverse City Association runs Santa visits from November 20 through December 24, 2026, mostly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, plus Wednesday, December 23, and Thursday, December 24. Families can meet Santa, share wish lists, and take their own photos. Posted December windows include Fridays Dec. 4, 11, and 18 from 5 to 8 pm; weekend afternoons Dec. 5 and 6, 12 and 13, and 19 and 20 from noon to 3 pm; and Dec. 23 and 24 from 11 am to 2 pm. It is not open on Christmas Day. Admission is not posted. Details are on the DTCA Santa's House page.
Merry Marketplace at Crooked Tree Arts Center
Merry Marketplace 2026, through Saturday, Dec. 12, Crooked Tree Arts Center, 322 Sixth St. Handmade gifts and artwork from Michigan artists fill the Cornwell Gallery and the Gallery Shop. The exhibit runs November 13 through December 12. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm; Sundays are closed except for scheduled classes and events. Galleries are free. CTAC-TC's winter holiday closure begins December 23, after this market ends. Details are on the Merry Marketplace page and the visit page.
Saturdays: Indoor Farmers Market at the Commons
Indoor Farmers Market at The Village, Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm, The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, 1200 W. Eleventh St. The weekly indoor market runs in the Commons buildings from November through April. The Village calendar lists December 5, 12, 19, and 26, so it continues through Christmas week. See our event listing and The Village events page.
Ladies' Night, Men's Night, and Wrap It Up Night
Ladies' Night, Thursday, Dec. 3, 5 to 9 pm, downtown Traverse City. Participating shops stay open late with one-night sales, giveaways, and refreshments at some locations. The full list can still change. Details: DTCA Ladies' Night.
Men's Night, Thursday, Dec. 10, 5 to 9 pm. Participating retailers and restaurants stay open late with deals and giveaways. Details: DTCA Men's Night.
Wrap It Up Night, Friday, Dec. 18, 5 to 9 pm. A last-minute holiday shopping night with promotions and treats at participating downtown businesses. Details: DTCA Wrap It Up Night.
Grand Traverse Mall craft show
Craft and Vendor Show - Christmas, Friday, Dec. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 20, Grand Traverse Mall, 3200 South Airport Road. The mall lists the date range; daily hours and admission are not posted. See the mall event page.
Village days: December 5 and beyond
Saturday, December 5: Leland Cocoa Crawl
Leland Cocoa Crawl, 11 am to 5 pm, downtown Leland. A self-guided stroll among Leland businesses serving cocoa and seasonal treats, per the Leland Chamber. Chamber contact details are on our Leland Chamber of Commerce listing. See our event listing.
Saturday, December 5: Bellaire Light Up the Night
17th Annual Light Up the Night and Soup Cook-Off, downtown Bellaire. The Bellaire Chamber's full day includes a 5K Elf Run (10 to 11 am), a last-chance craft fair (10 am to 3 pm at the ASI Community Center), a Polar Plunge (11:30 am to 12:30 pm), a free holiday matinee (1 to 3 pm at the Bellaire Movie Theater with a non-perishable food donation), Santa and Mrs. Claus (3 to 5 pm at the downtown pavilion), a soup cook-off (4:30 to 7 pm, $15 per person), an evening Parade of Lights, and the community tree lighting at 6:30 pm after the parade. The chamber notes the schedule is tentative, and its own pages disagree on the parade clock time, so this guide names the evening parade without a start time. Confirm that week on the Light Up the Night page.
Saturday, December 5: Frankfort Santa's Workshop and Tree Lighting
Santa's Workshop, 4 to 5:30 pm, Garden Theater, 301 Main St., Frankfort. A pre-lighting visit with Santa, with holiday crafts and letters to Santa, per Downtown Frankfort. See our event listing.
Frankfort Community Tree Lighting, 6 to 8 pm, Rotary Park, 412 Main St., Frankfort. The community lights the tree at 6 pm, with the Frankfort Elementary Choir, per Downtown Frankfort's tree lighting page. See our event listing.
Saturday, December 12: Mistletoe Magic in Frankfort
Mistletoe Magic, noon to 6 pm, downtown Frankfort. An afternoon of holiday shopping and festivities on Main Street, per Downtown Frankfort. See our event listing.
Thursday, December 17: Leland Sip and Shop
Leland Sip and Shop, 4 to 8 pm, downtown Leland. Listed on the Leland Chamber calendar. Program details beyond the time window are not posted.
Holiday shows
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 J Maddy Pkwy, Interlochen, has several verified December productions. Ticket prices below come from Interlochen's own event pages and concert feed.
Opera Theatre: HOME, Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30 pm. Free; no tickets required. See our event listing.
Jazz Combo Holidays Showcase, Sunday, Dec. 6, 7:30 pm. Adult $17; child through college $14. See our event listing.
The Nutcracker, Thursday, Dec. 10 through Sunday, Dec. 13, Corson Auditorium. Evening shows Dec. 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm; Dec. 12 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Dec. 13 matinee at 2 pm. Adult $42; child through college $19. See our event listing.
Sounds of the Season, Thursday, Dec. 17, 7:30 pm, Corson Auditorium. A family holiday concert of seasonal songs and stories, with a visit from Santa. Adult $36; child through college $19. Ticket holders can book 50 percent off Stone Hotel and Cottages stays Dec. 16 to 20 with code sounds50. Details: Interlochen event page.
The Accidentals with Kaboom Collective Studio Orchestra, Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm, Corson Auditorium. The Sonus Borealis holiday concert; tickets starting at $25. Ticket holders can book 50 percent off Stone Hotel and Cottages stays Dec. 16 to 21 with code accidentals. Details: Interlochen event page.
Traverse City Philharmonic at Interlochen
Home for the Holidays: Let it Swing!, Corson Auditorium. Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, and Sunday, Dec. 20, 3 to 5 pm, with guest conductor Lonnie Klein and singers Dominic Fortuna, Lynne Giacalone Church, and Jane Rhodes. Seat tiers are Platinum $72, Gold $55, Silver $44, and Bronze $33, with student, first-time, and group discounts on the organizer pages. Details: Saturday performance and Sunday matinee.
City Opera House
The restored City Opera House, 106 E. Front St., has a full December slate. Tickets are sold on each event page and through the box office at (231) 941-8082 ext. 201.
City Opera House Annual Gala, Saturday, Dec. 5. Cocktail hour 6:30 to 7:30 pm; performance and live auction begin at 7:30 pm; show ends at 9:30 pm. Table of 10 $2000; table seat $200; balcony seat $75. See our event listing and the gala page.
A Magical Motown Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 12, 7 pm. Tier 1 $50; Tier 2 $40; students 18 and younger $20 for Tier 2. See our event listing and the show page.
An Afternoon with Jeff Daniels, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 pm. Tier 1 $150; Tier 2 $75; Tier 3 $50. See our event listing and the show page.
I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 19, 1 pm. A family holiday musical from The Barter Players. Tickets $25, or $15 for kids. Details: City Opera House event page.
Kristin Key: The Chosen Family Christmas featuring The Carlile Family Band, Sunday, Dec. 20, 4 pm. Tier 1 $45; Tier 2 $35; Tier 3 $20. Details: City Opera House event page.
Old Town Playhouse
Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, December 4 to 19, Old Town Playhouse, 148 E. Eighth Street. Evening performances at 7:30 pm on Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19; matinees at 2 pm on Dec. 6, 12, 13, and 19. Adults $35; youth under 18 $25. Details: Old Town Playhouse show page.
The Alluvion and Kirkbride Hall
Alluvion Presents: Bob James and DiSimone Family Holiday Show, Saturday, Dec. 19, The Alluvion, 414 East Eighth Street (second floor of the Commongrounds Building). Doors and bar open at 7 pm; the seated, all-ages show starts at 7:30 pm. $50 in advance; $55 at the door. Details: Alluvion ticket page.
Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings, Saturday, Dec. 19, 6:30 pm, Kirkbride Hall, 700 Cottageview Drive. A 60-minute candlelit string-quartet concert by the Listeso string quartet. Zone C $54; Zone B $69.50; Zone A $77 (plus booking fee). Ages 8 and up; doors open 30 minutes before. This is a tribute concert and is not affiliated with the original artists named in the program notes. Details: Fever ticket page.
Grand Traverse Resort holiday events
At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd., Acme:
Santa's Workshop, Saturdays Dec. 5, 12, and 19, 2 to 4 pm, Gallery of Shops. Complimentary meet-Santa time next to the Marketplace. Details: resort holidays page.
The Biggest Little Holiday Party, Saturday, Dec. 5. Reception at 6 pm and dinner at 7 pm; $52 per person. Bookings: 231-534-6205. Details: resort holidays page.
Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, Dec. 19, 9:30 to 11:30 am, Governors' Hall. Adults $38; children 4 to 14 $18; children 4 and under complimentary. Details: resort holidays page.
Lodging ideas
Crystal Mountain, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville. A four-season resort west of Traverse City that also hosts Thanksgiving weekend holiday events (see the Thanksgiving weekend guide). Check the resort directly for December stay options.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The Christmas Break Package for stay dates December 18 to 30, 2026, includes two nights of accommodations, a $25 credit to The Den, a $50 food and beverage credit, an in-room Christmas tree, and a Christmas stocking. The package's nightly dollar rate is not posted; call (231) 534-6000. The Santa Suite is available November 13, 2026, through January 8, 2027, as a one- or two-bedroom suite; call the same number for prices and availability. Details: Christmas Break Package and Santa Suite.
Chateau Grand Traverse on Old Mission Peninsula. The property has a tasting room and an inn on site. December nightly rates are not posted on the inn's stay page; check cgtwines.com/stay or call before you book.
The Inn At Black Star Farms. A Wine Country Extended Stay special offers 50 percent off the third night from November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, with promo code THIRDHALF, but the terms include blackout dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Weekend stays have a two-night minimum. A separate Christmas nightly rate is not posted. Details: Black Star Farms package specials.
For more winter trip context, see our winter activities and safety guide.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day hours for downtown shops and restaurants vary, and no downtown-wide 2026 open-or-closed statement was posted on the DTCA pages checked for this guide, so call ahead before you go. Related facts that are confirmed: Santa's House is not open December 25 (the season ends December 24); Crooked Tree Arts Center Traverse City is closed December 23 through January 2, 2027; and Grand Traverse Resort lists a Christmas Day Brunch at Aerie Restaurant on December 25, though the time and price are not posted on the holidays page.
Still being confirmed
These items are still waiting on a 2026 organizer date or a downtown-wide statement:
- The Village at Grand Traverse Commons tree lighting (the organizer page still shows a 2025 date only; no 2026 date is announced yet)
- Christmas in the Village at the Commons (the organizer calendar still shows 2025 dates only)
- A downtown-wide Christmas Day hours statement from DTCA or the chamber
- Time and price for Aerie's Christmas Day Brunch at Grand Traverse Resort
- Daily hours and admission for the Grand Traverse Mall craft and vendor show
- The Bellaire Parade of Lights clock time (chamber pages disagree; named above without a start time)
We will add these once each organizer confirms them.
How to plan your Christmas trip
- Anchor on Dec. 5. Leland's Cocoa Crawl, Bellaire's Light Up the Night, Frankfort's Santa visit and tree lighting, the City Opera House Gala, and several Grand Traverse Resort events all land that Saturday.
- Use the midweek shopping nights. Ladies' Night (Dec. 3), Men's Night (Dec. 10), and Wrap It Up Night (Dec. 18) keep downtown open late.
- Book shows early. The Nutcracker, Motown Christmas, Jeff Daniels, the Philharmonic pops, and Sounds of the Season sell reserved seats.
- Watch the weather. Cocoa crawls, tree lightings, and outdoor parade watching are cold-weather plans. Check the National Weather Service in Gaylord before you head out.
- Keep an indoor backup. Merry Marketplace, the Commons farmers market, Interlochen, Old Town Playhouse, and the City Opera House work on icy days. Our rainy day guide and winter guide list more options.
- Park smart downtown. Our downtown parking guide covers garages and lots for Opera House nights and shopping evenings.
More ideas: the holiday markets and lights guide, the Thanksgiving weekend guide, the November events guide, the Leelanau Peninsula guide, and the ExploreTraverse events calendar.
Last verified November 8, 2026. Dates, times, prices, and hours change; confirm with each organizer before you go.
Hero photo: Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Northport, Leelanau County, by Sheen Watkins, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
