UPDATED NOVEMBER 2, 2026

Holiday events in Muskegon and Grand Haven, 2026

Tree lightings, the Jingle Bell Parade, the Singing Christmas Tree, Santa and New Year's Eve, on both sides of the lakeshore. Every date here comes straight from the organizer. 🎈 = family-friendly, 🆓 = free.

November

Sat, Nov 14 🛍️ Holiday Craft & Artisan Market – Central Park Place, Grand Haven. 57 local artists, crafters, makers and bakers under one roof.

Fri, Nov 20 🎈🆓 Holiday Light Night – Downtown Grand Haven, 5 to 8 PM. Main Street flips on the holiday lights, with caroling and late shopping.

Nov 25 to Jan 3 🎄 Festival of Trees – Muskegon Museum of Art. Galleries full of trees decorated by local artists. Ticketed.

Sat, Nov 28 🛍️ Small Business Saturday – Downtown Muskegon, Lakeside and downtown Grand Haven, all day.

Sat, Nov 28 🎈🆓 Community Tree Lighting – Hackley Park, downtown Muskegon. Festivities start at 4 PM and the tree lights around 6. Free cookies and cocoa, holiday train rides and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Western Ave lights up right after, and Social District spots pour nightcaps until 11.

Sat, Nov 28 🎈🧸 Lumberjacks Teddy Bear Toss – Trinity Health Arena vs. the Madison Capitols, 6 PM. Bring a new stuffed animal for the toss.

Nov 28 to Jan 3 🎈🆓 Hackley Park holiday lights – Dusk to 11 PM nightly. Drop a letter in Santa's mailbox in the park through Dec 15.

Nov 28 to Dec 28 🏛️ Hackley & Hume Holiday Tours – Self-guided tours of the decorated historic homes, 3 to 7 PM on Nov 28, every Saturday in December and Dec 27 and 28. $12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 kids 3 to 12.

December

Dec 3 to 5 🎄 America's Tallest Singing Christmas Tree – Frauenthal Center, downtown Muskegon. The Mona Shores choirs stack into a 67-foot tree. It often sells out, so grab tickets early.

Sat, Dec 5 🎈🆓 Jingle Bell Parade – Downtown Grand Haven, 6 PM. Lit-up floats roll from Franklin St to Harbor Dr, then up Washington Ave to Central Park for the tree lighting, a carol sing-along and hot chocolate. The Coast Guard Festival runs it for the first time this year.

Sat, Dec 5 🎈🆓 Holidays in Lakeside – Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon, 10 AM to 5 PM, with the Lakeside Tree Lighting at Lakeside Pocket Park at 6.

Sat, Dec 5, 12 and 19 🥧 Harvest to Holiday Market – Muskegon Farmers Market, 9 AM to 2 PM. Gifts, baked goods and seasonal finds.

Sat, Dec 12 🎈🆓 Santa in Centertown – Momentum Center, Grand Haven, 11 AM to 1 PM. Santa, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer, plus free hot chocolate for kids 12 and under.

Sat, Dec 12 🎈 Hot Cocoa Hop + Santa at the Museum – Muskegon Museum of Art, 11 AM to 2 PM.

Sat, Dec 12 🍪 Cookie Crawl and Santa Bar Crawl – Downtown Muskegon. The Cookie Crawl runs 10 AM to 8 PM, the Santa Bar Crawl noon to 5.

Sat, Dec 12 🩰 The Nutcracker – Frauenthal Center, 4 PM.

Sun, Dec 20 🎈🆓 Free Family Movie Day: Home Alone – Frauenthal Center, 3 PM.

Thu, Dec 31 🎆 New Year's Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks – Western Ave and 4th St, downtown Muskegon, starting at 8 PM. The Lumberjacks play a Glow Night game at 6 if you want to make a night of it.

The fine print

Muskegon dates come from the City of Muskegon's 2026 Holidays in the City brochure and the organizers' own pages. Grand Haven dates come from the Coast Guard Festival, Grand Haven Main Street and Visit Grand Haven. Times and ticket prices can change, so check with the organizer before you head out. Planning something we missed? Send it our way.

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