Santa, accompanied by his live reindeer, will be on hand to celebrate the annual Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 12 to 14, 18 to 23 and 26 to 27 during special programs and activities ranging from musical entertainment to cooking demonstrations and ice skating.
Voted a Top Holiday Event by USA Today and Reader’s Digest, Holiday Nights conclude each evening with fireworks and sing-alongs.
Guests follow a lantern-lit path while observing costumed presenters, festively decorated homes and shops, and skilled artisans at work.
Also on the agenda are opportunities to shop for Christmas trees and greens, ride a 1913 carousel or hop aboard a Model-T or horse-drawn wagon.
Admission costs $22, adults, and $16, youths. Children 4 and younger are free. Discounts are offered to Henry Ford members.
Special dining packages available as part of the celebration are Dinner at the Eagle Tavern — a recreated 1850s stagecoach stop — and Supper with Santa at A Taste of History Restaurant.
The dinner menu at the tavern includes squash soup, beef rib, roast chicken, cranberry relish, vegetables and carrot cake. Seatings are at 5 and 8 p.m. The cost of $77 (youths, $71, and children 2 through 4, $55) includes admission to Holiday Nights.
Supper with Santa is a casual buffet-style meal offering an opportunity to make a table decoration and chat with St. Nick as he visits each table. Supper is served from 4:45 to 6:30 p.m.
On the menu are turkey and all the trimmings, ham, chicken fingers, berry cobbler and cookies. Admission to Holiday Nights is included in the charge of $48.50, adults; $34, youths; and $14.50 children 4 and younger. Infants are free.
For additional information about Holiday Nights and the dining packages, call 313-982-6001.
Taylor events are scheduled
Tickets are available for two special events in Taylor this weekend: Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13, and Reindeer Days, Dec. 13 and 14.
The Lakes of Taylor Golf Course, 255505 Northline, will host the breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon with a menu of eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, fruit, yogurt, bagels, cereal and beverages. Face-painting and story-telling will be on the program.
The cost is $9, with no charge for children under 3. Admission will be with ticket only, as seating is limited. Tickets are available at the Lakes of Taylor Pro Shop. For more information, call 734-287-2100.
Reindeer Days, with live reindeer, are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heritage Park Petting Farm, 12803 Pardee. Admission will cost $3 ($4 for non-residents), with children under a year old free.
Santa’s Magic Forest, at the Heritage Park Activities Building, will continue to accept visitors from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. Admission costs $3, with no charge for children under 3. Pictures with Santa are available for $7.
600 gather at preview event
More than 600 guests Christmas-shopped for a cause Nov. 22 at the 30th anniversary Festival of Trees Preview Party, a benefit for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation.
Spectacularly decorated trees, from towering to table-top, along with wreaths, gingerbread houses and scores of gift items were on display.
Among Downriver floor-tree designers were Robin Cornell of the Lincoln Park Middle School Student Council. Contributing table trees were Nancy Smith of the Taylor Garden Club, and Carole Stafiej, Carol Stephenson, Carole Alber and Andrea Stefiej of the Trenton Branch, Women’s National Farm & Garden Association.
Wreaths were designed by members of the Grosse Ile Garden Club and the Trenton Branch of the Women’s National Farm & Garden group.
Food stations offered hors d’oeuvres, pastas, salads and chef-carved turkey and beef. A separate room overflowed with an amazing array of desserts.
Coming up . . .
Dec. 14 — Performance by legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; 7:30 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena; tickets are $55 to $355; to charge tickets by phone, call 800-745-3000 or go to Ticketmaster locations or www.Ticketmaster.com.