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Michigan Festivals & Events in November 2026 by Weekend

Written by the USA Fest Bot team with AI help. · Published · Updated

Downtown Detroit towers across a blue river under a clear sky, seen from the Windsor riverfront
The Detroit skyline seen from the Windsor riverfront (not one of the events below). Photo: Andrew Heneen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, cropped.

November in Michigan moves from Halloween weekend into Día de los Muertos on the Detroit riverfront, then holiday shopping, craft shows, tree lightings, Santa and Christmas parades, America’s Thanksgiving Parade, a turkey trot and the first light shows of the season. This guide covers 16 public events listed on USA Fest Bot for November 2026, grouped by weekend, from Halloween weekend through Thanksgiving weekend. You’ll find Spooky Spectacular at Orchestra Hall and Día de los Muertos on the Detroit Riverfront, the All Things Detroit Holiday Shopping Experience, Christmas in Clawson Craft Show, Silver Bells in the City in Lansing, tree lightings and lighted parades in Auburn Hills and Northville, the Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade, the Wyandotte Christmas Parade, America’s Thanksgiving Parade and the S3 Turkey Trot in Detroit, the Frankenmuth Christmas Experience Kickoff, The Nutcracker at the Detroit Opera House, and light shows that run all season at the Detroit Zoo and the Gilmore Car Museum. Each one links to its listing page and to the event’s own website.

Pick a weekend, then open the listing and the official site before you go. USA Fest Bot doesn’t sell tickets.

Dates can change, so check the event’s website before you go.

Weekend of October 30 – November 1

Two events on our list fall on this weekend, in Detroit. Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, this year.

November 6–8

One event on our list falls on this weekend, in Detroit.

The Grand Rapids skyline along the Grand River under a blue sky with light clouds
The Grand Rapids skyline along the Grand River (not one of the events below). Photo: WMrapids, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0.

November 13–15

One event on our list falls on this weekend, in Clawson.

November 20–22

Six events on our list fall on this weekend, including events in Northville, Auburn Hills and Lansing.

The Mackinac Bridge spanning blue water under a cloudy sky, seen from Lake Huron
The Mackinac Bridge, seen from Lake Huron (not one of the events below). Photo: WildChild300, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.

November 27–29 (Thanksgiving weekend)

Two events on our list fall on this weekend, in Frankenmuth and Detroit. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Also included here: America's Thanksgiving Parade (Thursday, November 26) and S3 Turkey Trot Detroit (Thursday, November 26), which fall on weekdays before this weekend. See more turkey trots and Thanksgiving parades across the country.

Running all season

These holiday listings open in November and run into December or January, so they are not tied to one weekend. The dates show the full season, so check the organizer’s page for which nights they are open.

Planning by area

Michigan’s November listings sit mostly around Detroit and the near suburbs, with a few in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Northville and Frankenmuth, so it can help to plan by area as well as by weekend.

Detroit metro. Spooky Spectacular at Orchestra Hall is October 31, and Día de los Muertos on the Detroit Riverfront is November 1. The All Things Detroit Holiday Shopping Experience & Food Truck Rally is November 8, and Christmas in Clawson Craft Show is November 14. On November 20, Auburn Hills has a tree lighting and Northville has a Holiday Lighted Parade & Tree Lighting. Northville’s Hometown Holiday Greens Market & Festival and the Wyandotte Christmas Parade are both November 21. America’s Thanksgiving Parade and the S3 Turkey Trot are both Thanksgiving Day, November 26, in Detroit. The Nutcracker with Grand Rapids Ballet and the Detroit Opera Orchestra is November 28–29. Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak opens November 21 and runs into January.

Grand Rapids and west Michigan. The Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade is November 21. Winter Wonderland Holiday Experience at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners opens November 28.

Lansing and elsewhere. Silver Bells in the City in Lansing is November 20. The Frankenmuth Christmas Experience Kickoff is November 27.

If you know a Michigan event that is missing, you can submit a listing.

Before you go: a short checklist

  • Open the official site the week you go. Each listing page links to the event’s website. Organizers post hours and updates there.
  • Check the day you plan to go. Several events here run two days. Our listings show the full dates, so check the organizer’s page for each day’s plans.
  • Add it to your calendar. Every listing in this guide has an “Add to calendar (.ics)” link and a map link.

Find more events near you

The rest of the site covers more of Michigan. Michigan events collects every Michigan listing on USA Fest Bot. There is also a city page for Detroit. More parades, including Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas parades, are on parades. More runs and walks, including Thanksgiving Day turkey trots, are on charity runs and walks. Weekly markets are on farmers markets. For plans across the country, see this weekend. Missing an event you know? Submit a listing.

Quick answers

Can these dates change?

The dates in this guide match each event’s listing page on USA Fest Bot. Dates can change, so check the event’s website before you go.

Is an event I know missing?

It may not have posted its 2026 dates yet. You can submit a listing with a link to the event’s website.

USA Fest Bot is not affiliated with any event in this guide and does not sell tickets. Found a date that has changed? Send a correction.