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Where to Find Holiday Spirit and Santa in the Copper Country
Tis the season to be jolly! During the holiday season, the Keweenaw’s charming historic downtowns come to life with sparkling lights, cheery laughter, rosy noses, and jingling sleigh bells. This season is a wonderful way to welcome the first snows of winter and usher in the season of giving. Plentiful holiday markets and festive events welcome you into local businesses for your locally-sourced Christmas and holiday gifts, while joyful outdoor events get the kids an audience with Santa Claus himself. Use this master list to make the most out of your Keweenaw holiday season:
It's official, you're on Santa's Nice list.
Hancock Annual Christmas Walk
Date: November 29, 2024
Time: 6-8PM
Quincy Street shuts down for an evening of holiday cheer! Enjoy dog sled rides, hayrides, Christmas cookie decorating, dog sled rides, hayrides, face painting, hot chocolate stands, food truck, craft stations, and much more all throughout downtown Hancock. Santa Claus will light the City of Hancock’s Christmas Tree at Memorial Park after the parade where families can visit with Santa! Share the holiday spirit by shopping with Hancock businesses (where you can enter for weekly Hancock Bucks raffles) and donate a new, unwrapped toy to the Hancock Police Department’s “Cram the Cruiser” event.
Rozsa’s Home for the Holidays Gift Market
Date: November 30, 2024
Time: 10AM - 3PM
The annual holiday tradition returns to the fabulously decorated Rozsa Lobby! Gather your family for a wonderful day at this holiday gift market featuring high-quality, locally sourced items to decorate your home and find the perfect gifts to give your loved ones.
Houghton Winter Wonderland
Date: December 6, 2024
Time: 5-8PM
Bundle up the family for a magical Winter Wonderland experience in Downtown Houghton! Deliver your Christmas wish-list to Santa, drink free hot cocoa, and celebrate the coming of Christmas along Houghton’s festively decorated Waterfront Pier. This annual winter celebration brings rustic horse-drawn carriage rides, your kid’s favorite winter-themed cartoon characters, and holiday music! Explore the downtown scene as local business and dining will feature deals and themed offerings!
Carriage rides along the Houghton waterfront give all the holiday feels!
Real People Media Holiday Celebration with Younce Guitar Duo
Date: December 6, 2024
Time: 7 – 9PM
Father and son guitar virtuosos strum the holidays to life! The Younce Guitar Duo performs front and center at the Chapel of St. Matthew in Hancock, courtesy of Real People Media. Create your own Copper Country story during this holiday event at RPM’s portable animation station, a wonderful creative opportunity for the young and young-at-heart!
Holiday Nights at Mount Bohemia
Date: December 7/14/21/28, 2024
Time: 11AM- 1PM
Discover the Holiday Spirit at one of North America's Best Ski Resorts! Every Saturday in December, head to Mount Bohemia in Lac la Belle, MI to ride the chairlift, snowshoe down the lantern lit trail, enjoy s'mores by the fire, decorate Christmas cookies, and hang out in the Nordic Spa! Tickets to Holiday Nights are $40 for all ages. Bohemia and Nordic Spa passholders are free for this event.
Christmas in Calumet: Horse Drawn Wagon Rides & Santa
Date: December 7 & 14, 2024
Time: 11AM- 1PM
Enjoy free wagon rides in the downtown Calumet historic district! Hop aboard the horse-drawn wagon on 5th Street by Cafe Rosetta to enjoy an old fashioned cruise through Calumet. Be dropped Encompass Therapeutic Massage (213 6th Street) to visit Santa. Be welcomed into local businesses throughout the Main Street Calumet area to complete your Christmas shopping!
Lake Linden Christmas Bazaar with Santa
Date: December 7th, 2024
Time: 10AM – 1PM
Experience the magic of the season with visits and photos with Santa Claus at the Little Gem Community Center! Lake Linden paints a picturesque holiday scene in the winter with ornate architecture adorned with Christmas lights, a perfect backdrop for this charitable event and market featuring high-quality goods from local farmers, artisans, and crafters.
Calumet Art Center’s Holiday Market
Date: December 7th, 2024
Time: 10AM-2PM
When you’re looking for something beautiful and unique to gift for the holidays – head to the Big Green Church in Calumet! This historic former church is home to the Calumet Art Center, and here you’ll find artisans, crafters, and a tasty treat during their Holiday Market.
Houghton TubaChristmas
Date: December 8th, 2024
Time: 6PM
Houghton TubaChristmas is part of a global celebration now in its 51st year. Created by Dr. Harvey Phillips in 1974, TubaChristmas honors the legacy of legendary tubist William J. Bell and celebrates the warm, rich tones of the tuba and euphonium. Brass instrumentalists from the Keweenaw (aged 8 to 92!) join together to bring the sounds of the season to life in an event that’s mirrored around the world!
Hallelujah! Performed by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra
Date: December 7th, 2024
Time: 7:30PM
Featuring J.S. Bach's Magnificat and Part 1 of Handel's Messiah, this concert melds together the heavenly sounds of Michigan Tech Combined Choirs and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra. The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra is the Upper Peninsula’s oldest orchestra and one of five symphony orchestras in the Lake Superior region. Over 100 musicians will take center stage in this holiday opus.
Santa & Mrs. Claus Are Coming to Hubbell!
Date: December 7th, 2024
Time: 6-8PM
Santa and Mrs. Claus are taking a short trip from their very busy schedule to stop at the Hubbell Fire Hall! Children will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and take home a treat bag. Santa's mailbox will be on site to drop off your letters – but don’t worry, Santa’s elves will provide stationary to list off your wishes to the Big Guy!
Snow and hot cocoa are a guaranteed hit with the family!
Chassell’s Old Fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting
Date: December 13th, 2024
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM
Welcome the holiday season in along the waterfront in Chassell’s Centennial Park during the 4th Annual Beth Zadorecky Community Tree lighting. Belt out your favorite Christmas tunes during a Live Caroling event and take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Head to the Chassell VFW after 5PM for children’s games, winter-themed family photos and refreshments.
Chassell’s Old Fashioned Christmas Market
Date: December 14th, 2024
Time: 10AM-3PM
Enjoy a snowy drive to the Chassell schools for their annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Market! Here you'll find a large variety of handmade goods, sweet and savory treats, and much more.
Chassell’s Old Fashioned Christmas at the Chassell Heritage Center
Date: December 14th, 2024
Time: 11AM-3PM
Head to the Chassell Heritage Center from 11AM-2PM to meet with Santa, cookie decorating, and even a free gift for the kiddos. From 11AM-3PM, step back into Copper Country history with a Christmas Fashion show by The Friends of Fashion, museum open house, and live music.
48th Annual Poor Artists Sale
Date: December 14th, 2024
Time: 11AM – 4PM
The Poor Artists Sale is an annual juried holiday art fair hosted by the Copper Country Community Arts Council as a benefit for the Community Arts Center in Hancock. This year’s sale offers the work of more than 60 artists. Shoppers will find handmade jewelry, pottery, paintings, stained glass, baskets, wood art, fiber arts, photography, ornaments, and many other special items made by local and regional artists.
Lake Linden Christmas at Village Hall with Santa!
Date: December 14th, 2024
Time: 4:30-6:30PM
Santa makes another round to Lake Linden, stopping at the Village Hall from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. After Santa heads back to the North Pole, families can enjoy a free Christmas movie, free admission, snacks, and door prizes! Beginning at 5:30PM, the annual the Love Light tree lighting will take place in front of the Village Hall. Love Lights purchased in remembrance of a loved one not only includes their name on the Village Hall Christmas Card display, but it also raises money for the Knights of Columbus toy drive. Sign up at the Village Hall or Lindell’s - $2 per name.
Holiday Nostalgia Night: The Muppet Christmas Carol
Date: December 14th, 2024
Time: 6PM
Tis the season for love, laughter and one of the most cherished stories of all time. Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol classic gets a Muppets-spin that’s nearly as iconic as the original. Pay-As-You’re-Able tickets through the Rosza usher you into a wonderful night at the Rozsa for holiday parties and a screening of the Muppet Christmas Carol. Come early for a multi-generational holiday party or stay late for our post-show Nostalgia Night, complete with trivia, music, and holiday-themed drinks.
Copper Harbor’s Winter Wonderfest & Park Lighting
Date: December 14th, 2024
Time: 12-6PM
Copper Harbor takes on a new glow during the holiday season! With fresh snow and seasonal décor, this far north Michigan locale could be Santa’s headquarters indeed! Head to the Holiday Marketplace inside the Mariner North starting at noon, featuring local artists based in Keweenaw county and beyond. Here you’ll find delicious baked goods to snack on during the festivities! Ornament making for kids, and a firetruck visit from Santa at 4PM! Be sure to stay until night falls – at 6PM sharp witness the Tree Lighting and fireworks display from Donny Kilpela Memorial Park. This event fundraises for "No Kid Without a Christmas Fund."
Copper Harbor bedecked in lights feels like Santa's home-away-from-home!
Lake Linden Christmas in the Park
Date: December 21st, 2024
Time: 10AM-1PM
Get into the holiday spirit with free horse-drawn carriage rides at Lake Linden Village Park, paired with warm hot chocolate and s'mores from the Lake Linden Fire Department, and festive Christmas music by Lake Linden Hubbell School Tidal Wave Jazz Band. Step into the Lake Linden Village Park warming house and get your photo taken with the bah humbug himself, the Grinch - cheer discouraged.
Christmas in Calumet: Calumet & Laurium Christmas Parade
Date: December 21st, 2024
Time: 2PM
As Christmas Eve draws ever closer, head to the fantastically beautiful and historic Calumet and Laurium downtowns! This Christmas Parade will begin in Calumet, and loop into Laurium, hearkening to the extravagant parades of Copper Country past!
Christmas in Calumet: Skate with Santa at the Gipp
Date: December 21st, 2024
Time: 3-4:30PM
Folks know that as soon as ice holds, it’s skating season. Even the Man in Red has been known to hit the ice. Strap on the skates and glide with Santa at the George Gipp Arena in Laurium following the Christmas parade on Saturday, December 21st!
