Guide to Detroit Metro Area Christmas Festivals and Holiday Events 2007

The Detroit metropolitan area sparkles with Christmas events and holiday festivals kicking off with the traditional Thanksgiving Day parade. Christmas classics such as The Nutcracker and a Santa's Village, and a variety of different holiday events delight children of all ages throughout Detroit and southeast Michigan's 2007 Christmas season.

More than one million people along Woodward Avenue and Merchant's Row are expected to ring in the holiday season with Detroit's 81st annual America's Thanksgiving Parade. 'Hats Off Detroit' is the parade's celebratory theme this Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 22, 2007. Impressive floats, giant inflatable balloons, bands, and celebrities are just some of the highlights of the parade which steps off at 9:30am on Woodward and Mack in downtown Detroit, ending at Woodward and Congress.

America's Thanksgiving Parade generates additional Detroit holiday events. The premier family fundraiser the Hob Nob Gobble is presented by General Motors at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on Wednesday November 21 from 6pm to 10pm, and the 25th Annual Turkey Trot is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. Detroit's Thanksgiving Day race, known as "the tradition before the tradition," starts at 7:30am and is Michigan's largest 10K run.

Detroit's historic Fox Theatre showcases the classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker and the Mousetrap. As part of the Fifth/Third Bank Holiday Series, The Nutcracker is presented by the Michigan Opera Theatre. The first curtain goes up on Thursday December 6 at 11am followed by 7:30pm performances Thursday Friday, Saturday, and December 6, 7, and 8. Matinee performances are Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at Noon, with the last show Sunday, December 9 at 5pm. Fox Theatre is located at 2211 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Ticket prices range from $22 to $97.