November Holiday Activities and Events in West Michigan

The holiday season is in full swing in West Michigan, with November bringing exciting events for all ages. From Thanksgiving dinners to tree lighting ceremonies, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. While December promises even more holiday fun, November kicks off the season with a variety of celebrations for families, children, and adults alike. Stay tuned for more events as the holiday season unfolds!

Saugatuck/Douglas

Friendsgiving Dinner at Virtue

November 23rd | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The holiday festivities in Saugatuck begin with a friendsgiving dinner at Virtue Cider. It will be an intimate evening to enjoy with friends, eat a delicious chef’s meal of turkey and sides with a curated list of specialty ciders, listen to live music, and more with fellowship and community. Attendees must be 21+ and for more information and tickets, visit Saugatuck’s event page.

Annual Saugatuck Tree Lighting

November 29th | 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

On the evening after Thanksgiving, begin the holiday cheer with the annual tree lighting ceremony in Downtown Saugatuck. The local community gathers to listen to the carolers at the Wick’s Park Gazebo, drink hot chocolate and watch the ceremonial lighting of the Saugatuck Christmas tree.

Small Business Saturday

November 30th | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Enjoy this special event to shop local and give back to the community. Small and local businesses in Saugatuck/Douglas and Fennville are hands-on this winter with a special day for holiday shopping, helping you complete your gift shopping list! Spend all day shopping from store to store, taking snack breaks at the various tasty restaurants and bakeries, and finish the day with the tree lighting ceremony in neighboring downtown Douglas.

Annual Douglas Tree Lighting Ceremony

November 30th | 6:00 pm

Downtown Douglas is hosting their annual tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy the holiday festivities with your loved one and families, partaking in this enchanting community experience with tree lighting, hot chocolate, and a special appearance from Santa Claus! Plus, there will be a prize drawing for the Douglas Shop and Dine Passport Program giving away “Downtown Douglas Dollars.”

Holiday Art Club Market

November 30th | 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

If your looking for a unique gift for yourself or friends and family, then stop by the Holiday Art Club Market. Local artists, photographers, sculptors, potters, and more will be showcasing their work from jewelry and textiles to paintings and handcrafted ornaments. It’s the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit! Click here for more information on the market.

Drive-Through Holiday Light Show

November 29th - December 29th

Crane’s Orchard is hosting their annual holiday light show. This year, the magical holiday light show event begins on Thanksgiving weekend and goes until the end of December. Drive through the lit-up wonderland and experience the orchard like never before! For more information on prices, times, and car sizes, visit their website.

Holland

Holiday Kerstmarkt

November 23rd - December 21st | Fridays 11:00 am- 8:00 pm & Saturdays 9:00 am - 6:00pm

Kerstmarkt means “Christmas Market” in Dutch, connecting to Holland’s rich Dutch history and culture. Inspired by European Christmas markets, the city of Holland has created their very own in the past couple years. The market is just like the ones you’ll find spread across France and Germany with wooden booths, european foods, and a hot chocolate bar. Other noteworthy happenings include sled dog demonstrations, performances, hand-painted cards and more! Visit the website for more information.

Holiday Open House

November 23rd | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Come stroll the beautifully decorated and brightly lit streets of Downtown Holland while shopping for all of your holiday gifts. During the Holiday Open House, shops and restaurants will be welcoming customers with free gift wrapping, holiday refreshments, merchandise discounts, fun giveaways, and so much more during this popular event!

Small Business Saturday

November 30th | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Celebrate your favorite locally owned and small businesses in Downtown Holland on Small Business Saturday! Participating shops and
restaurants will be offering fun promotions all day long. This will be a day packed full of giveaways, discounts, and lots of fun. Be sure to enter the annual selfie contest too.

South Haven

Holiday in the Park

November 29th | 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

South Haven is kicking off the holiday season with Holiday in the Park, an event with plenty of festive activities, ice skating, food, lights and more! The event is perfect for families and children or adults looking to partake in the holiday fun. Starting the event will be ornament crafting and a scavenger hunt, followed by a delicious coffee and dessert food truck. Enjoy the splendor of the season with the tree lighting ceremony and free photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Mistletoe Market

November 23rd - December 15th

Both the downstairs and upstairs of the South Haven Center for the Arts is transformed into a holiday art and gift market for the holidays. This is the 38th year of Mistletoe Market! Buy unique handmade gifts made by local and Michigan based artists including jewelry, cards and stationary, photographs, paintings and more. Click here for more details.