Free horse-drawn carriage rides, winter bumper cars, holiday strolls: 5 things to do
Metro Detroit boasts numerous winter activities to bundle up for and indulge in the holiday spirit this weekend. Explore family-friendly trails of holiday lights with festive displays and seasonal music for evening strolls. Rides and arcade games are offered at Monroe Street Midway in downtown Detroit. And Jolly Days in Royal Oak will offer free horse-drawn carriage rides and a visit with Santa.
Here are five things to do for the weekend of Dec. 15-18.
Monroe Street Midway
Enjoy some winter fun outdoors with bumper cars, puck-putt, a ride down an 80-foot slide, arcade games and more on Monroe Street, across from Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit.
Monroe Street Midway will be open through Jan. 7. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. 22 Monroe Street in Detroit. Free admission.
Winteractive Light Trail
This new family-friendly light trail was set up at a location that serves as a haunted forest attraction during Halloween season. It offers a festive stroll with lights for the holidays. It takes about 30 minutes to walk the trail.
The trail is open 7-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Dec. 22-24 at 35560 Goddard Road in Romulus. Tickets are $9.99 for adults and $7.99 for children. Purchase tickets in advance online.
Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll
Canterbury Village has been transformed into a winter wonderland with holiday displays, live characters, almost a million lights, light shows choregraphed to classic holiday songs, carolers, live Christmas performances, a visit with Santa Claus and more.
Friday-Sunday and Dec. 21-23. Tickets are $17.99 and $5 parking. Advance ticket sales only. 2359 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion.
Royal Oak Jolly Days
The City of Royal Oak is celebrating the holidays with several events this month.
Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides in downtown Royal Oak, visit Santa Claus and get free parking in any city-owned garage during the month of December when you shop at participating retailers.
Carriage rides and visits with Santa take place 5-9 p.m. this Friday and Dec. 22. Santa will also be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 23.
Carriage rides will depart from the Community Holiday Tree location adjacent to the 44th District Court building on a first-come, first-served basis. It runs every 30 minutes and holds 16 people each trip.
Santa’s Mini House will be located on the closed portion of W. Fifth Avenue, on S. Washington.
Glenlore Trails: Aurora
Take a night walk on the manicured, but unpaved trail and take in thousands of lights set to festive seasonal music on this mile-long illuminated winter trail.
Open Thursdays-Sundays through Dec. 30 at 3860 Newton Road in Commerce Township. $20-$25 for adults; $15 for ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger. Order tickets online.
Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Carriage rides, holiday strolls: 5 things to do in Detroit
