Start Your Holiday Shopping at One of These Joyous Christmas Markets in Michigan
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Looking for the perfect gifts this holiday season? Check out these incredible, festive Michigan Christmas markets…
For people of all ages, one of the best parts of the holiday season is shopping. Whether they’re shopping for friends, loved ones, co-workers, mentors, or other people in their lives, there’s no better feeling than finding the perfect gift for someone special.
The best places to find some of those unforgettable gifts are at the many Michigan Christmas markets that are as popular in the state around the holidays as eggnog, Christmas trees, and cookies.
These markets are packed with vendors selling all kinds of wonderful items, but they’ve also got events going on around them, so they’re the perfect spots to do some shopping and get in the holiday spirit.
ChristKindlMarkt | Frankenmuth
December
Michigan’s Little Bavaria is a favorite holiday haunt among Michiganders and out-of-towners alike for a variety of reasons, but one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is at the annual ChristKindlMarkt, which is open during select weekends in late November and early December.
ChristKindlMarkt is the region’s largest open-air holiday market and is modeled after a traditional German Christmas market. Visitors here can find unique handmade goods and gifts, visit with Santa, and enjoy hot beverages like hot chocolate and spiced wine.
Holiday Market at Eastern Market | Detroit
November/December
Detroit’s Eastern Market is a year-round destination, but Christmastime is the perfect time for families to shop for all their holiday needs.
The market’s stalls offer the freshest meats and produce to get all the trimmings for Christmas dinner as well as Christmas tree vendors and wreath vendors selling essential holiday-themed decor.
Vendors are also on hand on select days selling art, jewelry, beauty products, and more so visitors can find the perfect holiday gifts.
Downtown Holiday Markets | Detroit
Early November to early January
Downtown Detroit holiday markets at Cadillac Square make it easier than ever for visitors to support local businesses and find gifts for everyone on their list.
Market-goers can find a little bit of everything here, including beauty products, home goods, pet accessories, apparel, and games. The selection and the variety of vendors make it easier to get a lot of shopping done in one spot and visitors can also spend time warming up in the Cadillac Lodge.
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Olde World Canterbury Village | Orion Township
November/December
Canterbury Village is a magical wonderland in wintertime with many bright, fun-filled holiday events. That includes the annual Shopopoly event, which encourages visitors to shop locally while also giving them a chance to win great prizes.
Visitors can pick up a Shopopoly board from the Made in Michigan market and they then earn game pieces for every $10 they spend at a participating business. The goal is to fill the entire board to be entered to win a prize, but it’s also a fun way to support local shops.
Kerstmarkt | Holland
November/December
In Dutch, Kerstmarkt means “Christmas market” and visitors of all ages can enjoy this European-style outdoor market filled with live artisan demonstrations, unique holiday items, and lots of delicious seasonal food.
Holland CVB officials, wanting to winter tourism while honoring the city’s rich Dutch heritage, began Kerstmarkt in 1997 and has become an annual holiday tradition for many West Michigan residents. It’s so popular that out-of-town visitors from as far away as Texas come to experience the magic of the amazing market.
Holiday Glow & Christmas Market | Brighton
November
The Holiday Glow and Christmas Market kicks off the holiday season and this event, which started in 2021, has become very popular.
Attendees of all ages are encouraged to bring their holiday spirit, get ready to have fun, and maybe indulge in a little holiday shopping. Guests can soak in the reverie of the event, take pictures with reindeer, write letters to Santa, ride the Jollie Choo-Choo-train, and a whole lot more.
Kringle Holiday Market | Lansing
November
Kicking off with Lansing’s annual Silver Bells in the City event, the Kringle Holiday Market invites holiday shoppers to peruse for locally-made goods and handcrafted gifts while indulging in a little bit of holiday fun.
With a chance to buy unique gifts for family and friends, have some holiday fun with caroling, cookies, and hot cocoa, and give back to the community, this is the perfect event to get into the holiday spirit.
Open Air Christmas Market & Festival | Wayne
November
Situated right in the heart of downtown Wayne, this market bills itself as the “Biggest Holiday Event of the Year.”
The three-day event is packed full of activities for visitors of any age. The festivities include vendors, food, gifts, music, crafts, free photos with Santa, and much more.
Attendees can shop for sweet treats, handmade Christmas decorations, stained glass creations, paintings, hats, and plenty more to get some holiday shopping done.
Christkindl Markt | Grand Rapids
November/December
Grand Rapids offers visitors lots to do in the winter, but the downtown Christkindl Markt is a unique event worth attending.
Styled after a traditional European Christmas market, this festive wonderland offers memorable experiences, live entertainment, and plenty of vendors.
Grand Rapids’ Christkindl Markt has everything attendees need to have a good time: Handmade gifts, lots of holiday lights and decor, hot seasonal beverages, Santa Claus, caroling, and other winter fun like curling sheet rentals.
The Great Lakes Market | Essexville
December
NOTE: The Holiday Market at Great Lakes Market will continue in 2025
Christmas comes early at this year-round market during the holidays. Visitors are invited to discover the work of amazing artisans while enjoying tasty seasonal food and beverages.
This Christmas market takes place in the greenhouses of From Buds to Blooms and all of the talented artisans here have the perfect holiday gifts for all the special people in your life or you if you want to treat yourself.
The perfect blend of culture, arts, and crafts come together for this special market that showcases the very best in handmade gifts.
Fett’s Holiday Market | Mount Pleasant
November
NOTE: Plans for future Fett’s Holiday Markets are currently on hold
For shoppers wanting to avoid big-box stores and online shopping, Fett’s Holiday Market is a great spot to shop locally.
Shoppers can start checking folks off their Christmas list early at this festive market and many vendors sell unique items that make for great personal gifts. The creations found here are locally made and produced and customers can feel good as they shop about keeping money flowing in a local economy.
KindleFest | Ann Arbor
December
This festival in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown District pulls out all the stops during the holidays with live music, food vendors, and craft vendors selling unique holiday wares, beer, wine, brats, and much more.
Visitors can indulge in delicious food from Zingerman’s Deli and hot-mulled wine as they soak in the holiday spirit in a festive setting. More than three dozen vendors are on hand for the festivities and local businesses and restaurants usually stay open to take part in all the fun.
Merry Marketplace | Traverse City
November/December
Northwest Michigan may be cold in November and December, but this indoor market is full of warming holiday cheer.
Throughout November and December, there are several festive pop-up markets (a new one pops up each Saturday) that allow shoppers to peruse through beautifully made pieces and find everything to suit their gift-giving needs.
Mistletoe Market Gala | South Haven
November-December
This South Haven Christmas market has been going strong for almost 40 years is beckons visitors to come and shop and have some holiday fun.
Visitors who love seeking out Michigan-made gifts are in luck because the market features lots of vendors who sell gifts made right in the Mitten State. These gifts are perfect for gift-giving, or even at home for those who want to pick up a little something for themselves.
The market is open for nearly a month, so early birds can get shopping done right away and those seeking last-minute gifts can find everything they need to.
Kris Kringle Market | Rochester
December
Inspired by old-world Christmas markets, the Kris Kringle Market offers visitors all they may be looking for in a holiday market: Great vendors, the freshest holiday greenery, food and drink, and more.
In the midst of shopping for the perfect holiday gifts, visitors can enjoy festive caroling and live music performances, explore a wonderfully decorated gingerbread village, make smores, visit with Santa, and visit the warming tent, where they can enjoy food, beer, and hot spiced wine.
Christmas Through Lowell | Lowell
November
For more than three decades, Christmas Through Lowell has invited visitors to participate in a holiday shopping extravaganza.
Visitors of all ages will find unique, hand-made Christmas treasures, beautiful Christmas decor, leather goods, hand-knitted crafts, antiques, pieces of art, and much more. In all, the market features more than 350 crafters and artists.
This is the perfect place to find the perfect holiday gift for everyone in your life and a fun way to welcome in the holiday season.
Holiday Marketplace | Glen Arbor
November
The Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace is a one-day event that offers an amazing selection of vendors with a festival variety of gifts.
Visitors can participate in the town tree lighting and caroling the day before the market and they can also take part in the Holiday Market Preview Party, which gives visitors a chance to peruse goods before the market opens.
The market includes Christmas greenery, recycled items, homemade toiletry items, photos, paintings, hats, gloves, scares, and much more.
Christmas Market at Frugthaven Farm | Greenville
November
This locally owned and operated family farm is a great place to make memories, including at its annual holiday market.
Visitors are invited to enjoy a drink at the onsite cidery while shopping for holiday gifts in the Frugthaven Farm barns and tent.
The market and parking are both free and the market is also dog-friendly. More than two dozen food vendors and goods vendors are usually on hand, selling unique artisan gifts that are perfect for the special people in your life.
Holiday Night Bazaar | Battle Creek
December
During the holidays, Battle Creek’s Winter Wanderland is a fun-filled collection of events that welcomes winter to town.
One of the events, the Holiday Night Bazaar is a festive fusion of the Breaking Bred Bazaar and the local farmers market. Together, it creates a wonderland filled with vendors inside Kellogg Arena, as well as fun kids activities like meet and greets with Santa, indoor snowball fighting, and more.
BONUS: Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland | Frankenmuth
Open year-round
While it may not technically be a traditional Christmas market, a trip to the largest Christmas store in the world in Frankenmuth is a truly unique experience.
Filled wall to wall with any and all kinds of Christmas decor imaginable, visitors should plan on spending a couple of hours here to really see all the store can offer.
Whether you’re planning on stocking up on Christmas decor or you’ve sworn you’re walking out empty-handed, it’s almost impossible to walk out of Bronners with new Christmas tree ornaments or small Christmas decorations.
Visit a Christmas Market in Michigan This Holiday Season
No matter where you live in Michigan or where you might be planning to visit, you’re probably not far from a Michigan Christmas market. Visitors of all ages can enjoy traditional food as well as specialty foods and delicious treats, festive holiday shopping, and festive family fun.
If you can’t get enough of shopping for gifts during the holiday season, start at one market and then make your way to additional markets. Whether you buy a single gift or cross off everyone on your list, these markets are brimming with holiday activity and plenty of fun!