The first deadline of Birmingham's holiday season falls at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. Downtown will still have its fall look, and the 41-foot tree in Shain Park is more than a month away from being lit. Two online sign-up sheets from the Birmingham Shopping District open that morning, and between them they decide how much of the season a family can plan ahead.
The tree lighting doesn't happen until Dec. 4. By then, the appointment slots and Santa Walk spots that opened on Nov. 1 will already be spoken for.
Sunday, Nov. 1, at 8 a.m.
Two registrations open at the same minute:
- The Birmingham Santa Walk. It runs Saturday, Nov. 28, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. You need to register to take part, and registration opens Nov. 1 at 8 a.m.
- Santa House appointments. Santa House is free. It needs an appointment for certain days and times and keeps "plenty of opportunities for walk-ups" on the rest. Appointment registration opens Nov. 1 at 8 a.m. too.
The walk-up option matters. Missing the Nov. 1 window does not mean missing Santa. It means spending part of a visit in line. If you want a fixed time slot, the scheduling happens that Sunday morning.
Nov. 28 Is Where Both Sign-Ups Lead
The Santa Walk starts the downtown season. It is a short stroll through downtown with stops at local shops, and it ends at Santa House in Shain Park. Walkers are invited to stay afterward for a visit with Santa and the horse-drawn carriage rides.
That same Saturday is Small Business Saturday, which starts downtown at 9:30 a.m. The Birmingham Shopping District lists incentives for shopping locally, the Local Gems Sweepstakes, free parking in five municipal garages, carriage rides and Santa visits. According to the Santa Walk listing, parking in the municipal garages is free all day.
The timing is tight. The walk wraps up at 10:30 a.m., but Santa House doesn't open until noon that day and stays open until 4 p.m. Carriage rides run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If your family registered for the walk, you have roughly an hour and a half between the last stop and Santa's door. Free garage parking makes it easy to fill that gap with downtown shopping, and the shops have changed a fair amount since last December.
Sunday, Nov. 29, repeats the Shain Park schedule with longer Santa hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and carriage rides again from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Storefronts Between the Stops
Most of this year's retail turnover is on West Maple. Four addresses within a few blocks of each other have new tenants or are getting them.
| Address | Business | Status heading into the holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 157 W. Maple | Portland Leather | Open in the former Revive space |
| 214 W. Maple | Design Within Reach | Showroom open since June, per DBusiness |
| 243 W. Maple | Cherry Republic | Listed as "Coming Soon" for fall 2026, hours TBA |
| 284 W. Maple | J.Jill | Announced for this fall in the former Moosejaw space |
Downtown Publications reported on Sept. 30 that construction was underway at the J.Jill site, with no specific opening date. Cherry Republic is moving into the former Detroit Guitar space. Its own Birmingham page says the store will bring "a taste of Northern Michigan" downtown. Both are announced openings, not confirmed ones. Before you plan a gift stop at either, check that the doors are open.
East Maple has a newcomer of its own. Shoppe Cozette opened at 266 E. Maple, carrying fashion, home goods, vintage finds and clean beauty products.
On Old Woodward, the newer names are on the south end. Rag & Bone opened its first standalone Michigan store on S. Old Woodward, selling apparel, footwear and accessories. Vuori is at 100 S. Old Woodward. Its store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. On the north side, Downtown Publications reported that Greyson Clothiers planned to open in October at 205 N. Old Woodward, the former Cristions Fine Linens & Downs location.
Lunch Between Appointments
A Santa House slot sets the time you need to be in Shain Park, and lunch has to fit around it. Some of the newer places are built for a quick meal.
Old World Pizzeria at 600 N. Old Woodward serves 20-inch New York-style pies and hot slices at the counter, open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The shop says that for now it takes no phone orders, no delivery and no online ordering, because "the line has been bigger than we planned for." On a Santa Walk Saturday, build some time for that line into your plans.
For a sit-down meal, Besos at 239 N. Old Woodward is a plant-forward restaurant. The Detroit Free Press reported it officially open in late May after a soft opening of nearly a month. e Fiori pairs a restaurant with a floral retail concept, and the Free Press reported its June opening date. It is at 115 Willits. A florist inside a restaurant is a natural stop in December.
A bagel option may arrive near the Hamilton Row end of downtown. In September, The Detroit News listed a Bev's Bagels location at 283 Hamilton Row as due to open soon.
Dec. 4 to 6 Puts Everything in Shain Park at Once
The Birmingham Winter Markt runs in and around Shain Park at Henrietta and Martin streets. It goes on rain, snow or shine, with local artists and vendors, European food, ice sculptures, live entertainment, a Kinderhaus children's activity area and warming stations. The hours differ a lot from day to day:
| Day | Market hours | Santa House | Also scheduled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Dec. 4 | 4 to 9 p.m. | 6:45 to 8 p.m. | Tree lighting at 6 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Snow Queen and Frozen Princess, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; carriage rides, 3 to 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Carriage rides, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
On Friday, Santa House is open for only 75 minutes, starting 45 minutes after the tree lighting. The tree lighting brings Santa, live caroling and a 41-foot tree with more than 40,000 LED lights. On Saturday, Santa House is open 10 hours, the longest stretch on the 2026 calendar, and the Snow Queen and Frozen Princess appearances run the same afternoon. If your child wants to see the princesses, Saturday covers both. If the tree lighting is what you're there for, plan a quick Friday visit with Santa or come back for a quieter one later.
The Winter Markt lists ice sculptures among its attractions, but it does not list a skating rink. In Birmingham, skating happens at the City's outdoor rink at Barnum Park, near Pierce and George. The City says it depends on the weather and opens only once the ice is safe.
Two More Weekends and Christmas Eve After the Markt
After the market packs up, Santa House stays open for two more weekends and on Christmas Eve. Every one of those days has free carriage rides that begin and end in the park.
- Dec. 12 and 13: Santa House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Dec. 19: Santa House from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., carriage rides from 3 to 7 p.m. That's the only evening carriage window after the Winter Markt.
- Dec. 20: Santa House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 24: Santa House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Some of those 10 days have appointment slots, and the open hours are listed by date. Look at the full schedule before you pick a time on Nov. 1. On a quiet Sunday in mid-December, walking up may work fine. On the Saturday of the Winter Markt, a reserved time could save an afternoon. The Birmingham Shopping District posts updates on its Facebook and Instagram accounts.
If you are thinking about listing your home after the holidays, an early-season walk past the new West Maple storefronts can double as homework, and so can a few minutes with our free valuation tool. The Siciliano Group keeps up with downtown Birmingham's calendar all year, and we're happy to share what a home on your street could bring this spring. Get your instant home valuation.
