The Best Christmas Lights in Traverse City, Michigan: From A Local Who Lives Here!

Ready for some holiday fun? Discover the best Christmas lights in Traverse City. Whether you are looking for a magical stroll through festive neighborhood streets, a drive-through light display that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your car, or a spectacular light show synced to music, the streets in and around Traverse City will surely add a sparkle to your holiday season!

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Christmas Lights In Traverse City

In the month of December, the neighborhoods and streets of Traverse City undergo a magical transformation as the warm glow of Christmas lights captivate locals and visitors alike.

Our Christmas tour begins in the central neighborhoods of Traverse City, continues out the west side of town and then returns to the East side. At some point in your evening, be sure to head for the gorgeous lights in the downtown area. You’ll find plenty of great bars and restaurants to stop in and warm up at. And there are lots of charming shops if you still have some gift buying to do!

Don’t miss the towering downtown Christmas tree, which stands in the middle of Cass Street at the Front Street intersection.

Happy Touring!

Traverse City Central Neighborhoods

Festive Alleys

Begin your holiday tour at Christmas Alley: a Must-Do stop to get into the festive spirit. This collective community effort will definitely inspire your tidings of comfort and joy!

Lights are strung overhead and along rooftops. Reindeer prance in the yards, while Nutcrackers stand guard. There might even be a Santa sighting.

Garages will be open and residents offer food, drinks, and friendly greetings. Follow the sound of a ringing bell to make a donation to the Salvation Army Red Kettle program.

As Christmas nears, the alley will be brimming with pedestrians, dog walkers, bicyclists and a stream of cars slowly cruising from west to east. Christmas Alley is located between10th and 11th Streets, bordered by Locust and Pine.

Additional light displays can be found in the alley between 8th and 9th Streets, bordered bordered by Oak and Maple.

Christmas Tree at Division and Eighth

As you turn onto Division, take a moment to marvel at the towering tree on the corner of Eighth Street. This may likely be a drive-by view, but pull over on Eighth Street if you decide you want a photo op.

Christmas Tree at The Grand Traverse Commons

After your stroll through Christmas Alley, head across Division Street to the 11th street entrance of Grand Traverse Commons. The magnificent Christmas tree in the center of the traffic circle casts a warm glow over the historic buildings of the old State Hospital.

There are a number of bars and restaurants on the grounds of the Commons and in the lower level of the Mercado. It’s a perfect spot to take a break if you’re ready for refreshments!

Spectacular 6th Street

Exit the Grand Traverse Commons by turning left on Elmwood. Turn right on 7th street in order to take advantage of the traffic light at 7th and Division. Turn left at the light, then make a quick right onto 6th Street.

Strolling along Sixth Street is a highlight of the Christmas season in Traverse City. Located between Union and Division Streets, you’ll find beautiful Victorian homes decked out in their Christmas finery.

With so many Sixth Street homes participating in decorating for the holidays, it’s definitely worth walking the neighborhood sidewalks during the day. And of course, make a return trip after dark to enjoy the twinkling lights.

When you’re ready to move on, circle back to 7th Street to once again take advantage of the traffic light. Make a right on Division and make your way to Spruce Street.

Sparkling Spruce Street

Spruce Street definitely will immerse you in a winter wonderland. The entire block comes alive with a magical glow. Over 33,000 lights are wrapped around the trees along the sidewalk!

Wayne Hill

As you make your way to the West side of town, take a drive up Wayne Hill. You’ll see Christmas lights along the way, but nothing beats the spectacular view from the top of the hill. It’s a thrill to see Traverse City all lit up with Grand Traverse Bay as a backdrop.

Traverse City’s West Side

Heritage Estates Neighborhood

Back in 2020, the residents of the Heritage Estates subdivision held a “Light the Night” neighborhood decorating contest. People donated money in order to vote for their favorite displays with the proceeds given to the Cherryland Humane Society.

That year, a majority of the homes were lit up with an abundance of lights, decorations and inflatable lawn characters. The neighborhood’s festive spirit continues to thrive each December, making Heritage Estates a highlight of the Christmas light season.

The Heritage Estates subdivision is located off Zimmerman Road in Garfield township.

Moomers Ice Cream Shop

After cruising through Heritage Estates, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump over to Moomers Ice Cream Shop. While not actually a showcase of Christmas lights, Moomers definitely earns a spot on your Christmas tour.

Moomers features more than 160 flavors of premium ice cream are made right at the store. And the Christmas season is the time to enjoy some ice cream flavors that are not available any other time of year.

My hands-down favorite? Peppermint Stick: a creamy ice cream loaded with chunks of peppermint candy. David loves the Gingerbread: cinnamon ice cream with chunks of soft gingerbread mixed in. Other holiday favorites include rum raisin, egg nog, and hot cocoa.

Moomers sells gingerbread decorating kits that you can use to create a masterpiece right in the store. Or you can purchase a take-home kit to decorate at home.

You can choose from Gingerbread boys or girls, and gingerbread houses. Our personal favorite? A gingerbread sleigh pulled by (of course) a gingerbread cow! Included in the gingerbread kit was a muffin tin filled with assorted candies and a bag of royal icing to be used as glue.

The $35 price for decorating a gingerbread house or $25 for a gingerbread boy or girl at Moomers includes an hour of work time and a personalized ornament to take home. Prices are $25 and $15 for a take home kit.

Reservations are required for gingerbread house decorating on-site at Moomers. Call 231-941-4122 to reserve your spot between November 24th and December 24th.

Find Moomers at  7263 N Long Lake Rd in Traverse City. Head over to the Moomer’s web site to check out holiday events and preorder your gingerbread decorating kit.

9061 Kimberly Lane

A hugely popular Christmas Light Show has been held at 9061 Kimberly Lane for a number of years. This spectacualr residential display is located just a few miles down the road from Moomers. It features over 15,000 dancing lights that are synched to music.

The Christmas Light shore was cancelled in 2022. Check the Christmas on Kimberly Lane Facebook page to find out if the lights will be on in 2023.

East Side Traverse City

Woodmere and Carver

As your make your way from the central neighborhoods to Traverse City’s East side, it’s worth taking a small detour down Woodmere Street to the corner of Culver. No place shines brighter with holiday spirit!

This small house is completely immersed in Christmas lights. Not only that, the displays change from year to year.

(We’ve often wondered how such a small house can store so many decorations!)

Washington and Webster Streets

There are a number of beautiful homes around Washington and Webster Streets that light up the night during the Christmas season. The absolute best time to go is Christmas Eve, when home owners line the sidewalks with luminarias. We love to park our car and walk around for a few blocks to fully experience the Christmas Eve magic.

Railroad and State Streets

Next, head to the corner of Railroad Street and State Street. There you’ll discover a standout home with dancing lights that are synced to music. Tune your radio to 99.9 FM and enjoy the show!

Lights Gone Wild!

New in 2023, Lights Gone Wild is a holiday drive-through light show located in the Keith J Charters Traverse City State Park. The picnic tables and fire pits of summer are wondrously transformed into a shimmering tribute to the creatures who once resided in Traverse City’s Clinch Park Zoo.

Clinch Park Zoo was an iconic wildlife sanctuary that had been a cherished destination for both locals and visitors alike. Nestled in the heart of the community, the zoo had been home to a diverse array of animals, including elk, bobcats, bears, and wolves. The zoo’s last resident, an otter named Squirt, departed in 2006.

Though the gates of Clinch Park Zoo have closed, the enduring spirit of the wildlife sanctuary lives on at Lights Gone Wild!

Drivers are asked to enter from the northbound lanes of U.S. 31 in order to avoid traffic backups from southbound vehicles attempting to turn left into the park. Drivers are also asked to drive with only parking lights on at the beginning of the display and slowly follow the string of white lights.

Add to the festive air by tuning your radio to Lite 96.3 Petoskey/Traverse City Michigan for nonstop Christmas carols.

You can buy Lights Gone Wild Tickets online for $11.50 per car in November and $16.75 for December. Tickets at the gate cost $15 per car for November dates, and $20 in December. Please note that tickets at the gate can only be purchased with cash.

You also need a Michigan Recreation Passport in order to enter, as event is held in a State Park. Envelopes are available at the entrance, and you are asked to self register at your leisure and mail in later to the State of Michigan.

The Light Show is open from 5:00 – 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday. Hours extend to 10:00 Fridays and Saturdays. The lights are on every single day of the month during December, except for Christmas day. Head to Lights Gone Wild at 1132 US-31, Traverse City, Michigan.

Lights Gone Wild signed up volunteers from local groups and Nonprofits to help run the nightly shows. Each volunteer will generate $12 an hour for their choice of group organization, or church.

Four Mile And Oak Drive

This extravagant walk-through display will surely get you into the Christmas spirit and delight your kids. Located at on Oak Drive, just off of US 31 at the base of Four Mile Road, this incredible winter wonderland features all of the season’s favorite characters, including elves, snowmen, angels, and of course Santa and his reindeer.

Just a tip: we turned off of US 31 at Four Mile Road, and parked in the strip mall on the corner on the right hand side. The Spark’s parking area gets filled up quickly, and both sides of their street were lined were cars. It got a bit sketchy with the cars driving by and pulling in and out. For us, it was worth some extra steps to avoid the parking congestion.

Hammond And Five Mile Christmas Light Show

Next, head to the intersection of Hammond Road and Five Mile. As darkness falls, the façade of this house comes alive with a Christmas Light show that is synchronized to music. Twinkling candy canes dance in the yard beneath a shimmering tree.

Pull off onto the shoulder of the road, turn off your headlights and turn your radio on to 99.5 FM. Watch and enjoy from the warm comfort of your car!

The light show runs from 6:00pm to 10:00pm on weekdays and 6:00pm to 11:00pm Fridays and Saturdays.

Christmas Gnomes in Williamsburg

And just for fun, if you’re heading out towards Williamsburg in the daylight, it’s worth your time to cruise down Bates Road. In between Hawley and Yuba Roads, you’ll spot 4 ten-foot tall arborvitae trees all decked out in their Christmas finery!

And there you have it: a magical journey through the best Christmas lights in Traverse City for you and your family to enjoy. May your holidays be merry and bright!

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