Detroit’s holiday season flips on in the heart of downtown with the 22nd Annual Detroit Tree Lighting, presented by the DTE Energy Foundation and produced by the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Expect a full on-site program that blends main-stage performances with on-ice exhibitions, Santa sightings, food trucks, giveaways, and more than a million lights brightening the surrounding parks and skyline. The schedule runs 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the event is free to attend. It is Detroit’s signature kickoff, designed to be both a neighborhood gathering and a city-wide spectacle.
This year’s celebration reaches beyond the park with an exclusive broadcast partnership on WDIV Local 4, expanding coverage to a two-hour special with additional streaming on Local 4+ and ClickOnDetroit. The upgrade puts the tree lighting alongside the city’s other marquee telecasts, making the moment accessible for viewers across Metro Detroit who want the energy without the commute. Whether you watch live from Woodward or from the living room, the program is built to capture that first-night glow.
Skating fans get a bonus. The evening includes star-power figure skating performances on The Rink at Campus Martius Park, and the rink itself operates daily from November through March, including holidays, for those who want to return and make a full winter outing of it. Few urban skylines frame a rink like this one, and the atmosphere only intensifies once the tree is lit. Plan a repeat visit to skate under the lights later in the season.
Make it a downtown night by pairing the lighting with a walk over to Cadillac Square, where the Downtown Detroit Markets and the Cadillac Lodge run November 12 through January 4. The outdoor marketplace features a rotating mix of small-business vendors, while the Lodge offers a cozy, family-friendly hangout steps from Campus Martius. Hours vary by day, with special operating times on Tree Lighting Friday.
