If you are looking ahead to December and beyond, check out the Yearly Calendar of Events for Metro Detroit.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus
When: 11/7/12 through 11/11/12
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus presents Fully Charged, a show that features dancing elephants, galloping stallions, acrobats in Twins Turbines of Steel and a human arrow.
Zombie Movie Night
When: 11/13/12 (Tuesday) at 7:30 PM
Where: Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak
As the name implies, Zombie Movie Night is a celebration of all things zombie. Films include shorts, animations, documentaries and music videos by local filmmakers.
Hunting Season
When: 11/15/12 through 11/30/12 (deer/regular firearm)Where: Statewide
Deer season (regular firearm) runs from November 15th to 30th in Michigan. If you hunt with bow and arrow or your game is crow, bear or squirrel, your hunting season may fall differently. The state keeps a list of 2012/2013 hunting seasons and bag limits.
Wayne County Lightfest
When: 11/15/12 through 12/31/12
Where: Hines Drive and Merriman, Westland
The Wayne County park celebrates the holidays with an annual Lightfest consisting of over four miles of displays and approximately a million lights. Admission is by car and at minimum $5. There are also several Lightfest events at Merriman Hollow Area in 2011, including an 8K Fun Run/Walk on November 13th and a "Bike through the Lights" on November 14th. The Opening Night Celebration, which includes live entertainment and fireworks, starts at 6 PM on Thursday, November 15th.
Campus Martius Ice Skating & Christmas Wonderfest
When: Beginning on 11/16/12
Where: Woodward Avenue, Downtown Detroit
The Park at Campus Martius was designed to be the central square of Detroit. During the winter months, the park keeps people coming by offering a venue for ice skating, and the nearby cafe offers hot chocolate to keep Detroiters warm and toasty. The rink opens officially after the Tree-Lighting Ceremony on November 16th.
New for 2012: The Christmas Wonderfest, a Christmas marketplace with international shopping, music, and carnival rides. The festival will be open for tree-lighting weekend, November 16-18, and for parade weekend, November 22-25.
Detroit Thanksgiving Guide
When: Thanksgiving falls on 11/22/12
Where: Throughout the Metro-Detroit area
Thanksgiving is not all about the turkey. Thanksgiving is also about Lions football, America's Thanksgiving Parade, turkey trots and Black-Friday sales. Need a place to keep track of it all? Check out the Detroit Thanksgiving Guide for 2012.
Turkey Trot
When: 11/22/12, Thanksgiving Day, with events starting at 7 AM
Where: Various starting locations in downtown Detroit
The 30th Annual Turkey Trot is Michigan’s largest 10K run. In addition to the 10K and 5K runs, there is a costume contest, mashed potato mile, and 5K walk. The contest start will be done in waves named after Santa's reindeer. Many of the 10,000 participants who run the challenging city course through downtown Detroit do so in costume. In the past, costumes have ranged from super heroes to Christmas characters.
Fantasy of Lights Parade
When: 11/23/12, 7 PM
Where: Along Grand River Avenue through Howell's Historic Disctrict
The 29th annual parade features lighted floats, Santa and marching bands. And that's not all, there is also a Fantasy 5K Run at 6 PM, one of the Detroit area's best.
Dickens Festival
When: Saturdays from 11/23/12 through 12/9/12
Where: Village of Holly
Holly utilizes its Victorian architecture to great effect in its 33rd annual Dickens Festival. The Dickens Festival Tree Lighting takes place on November 23rd, and the Festival takes place on Weekends from November 24th through December 9th, 2012. The schedule of events includes characters from Dickens' novels, music from the Festival Singers, and crafts.Notes: the Run Like the Dickens race and Holiday Parade takes place on 12/8/12.
Cider Mills
When: September through Thanksgiving Weekend
Where: Throughout the Metro-Detroit area and beyond
The Metro-Detroit area is rife with cider mills. In fact, fresh cider, apple pies and piping-hot donuts mark the beginning of fall in the area. Of course the hayrides, pumpkin picking and petting farms will help you work off the extra calories.
Detroit Institute of Arts
When: Throughout the year
Where: Detroit Institute of Arts, downtown
Arts Alive!: After six and one-half years of renovations, the New Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) opened its doors in 2007 to show off its new design and galleries. The DIA is always brimming with events, including films, exhibits and music.
Shows and Concerts
When: Throughout the next couple of months
Where: Detroit-area theaters
At any given time, Detroit hosts a variety of shows and concerts, including music concerts, Broadway plays, comedians, rodeos and circuses.











