Charitable activities/Fundraisers
• The Royal Oak Historical Society is collecting gifts in conjunction with the Royal Oak Friends for Royal Oak for their 2023 Holiday Toy Drive for children at the Judson Center in Royal Oak. Gifts can be dropped off, 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays, the gifts will be delivered Dec. 7, www.facebook.com/RoyalOakHistoricalSociety.
• Angie’s Toy Chest United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots Christmas Party is Dec. 7, Andiamo’s, 7096 East 14 Mile Road, Warren, doors at 6 p.m., www.angiestoychest.org, $65+ per person.
• Michigan Auto Law, is serving as drop-off location for Toys for Tots. New unwrapped toys can be dropped off, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday through Dec. 8 at the office at 30101 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills.
• Easterseals MORC is hosting its annual Cheers Gala fundraising event, 7-10 p.m. Dec. 8, at M1 Concourse Event Center in Pontiac, activities include spirits tasting, strolling dinner, casino games, silent auction, www.easterseals.com/MORC/get-involved/events, $100/ticket.
• The Waterford Community Coalition is partnering with the Waterford Police Department for its annual Shop With a Hero event, to provide students in need from the Waterford School District the opportunity to shop with a police officer, firefighter, or other public safety worker for their family. Volunteers and monetary donations are needed to help support the event on Dec. 9, at Meijer, 4200 Highland Road, Waterford Twp. Those interested can sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A49ACAC28AAF85-shop1#. For information, call 947-229-7140 or email at [email protected], or visit ccwaterford.org.
• Corner Shower and Laundry’s 6th Annual Cookie Walk is 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, charity fundraising bake sale to benefit Corner Shower and Laundry – a nonprofit providing free showers and laundry for those unsheltered or otherwise in need.
• Forgotten Harvest mobile pantries will give Hope for the Holidays food boxes to community members in need, at various locations through Dec. 13. For upcoming distribution dates, visit www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food. Additional resources are at pantrynet.org or findhelp.org or call 2-1-1. Donations can be made at www.forgottenharvest.org/donate.
• The Birmingham Fire Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for its annual Toys for Tots Foundation toy drive, through Dec. 21. Toys may be dropped off at Fire Station 1, at 572 South Adams Road and Fire Station 2 at 1600 West Maple Road, the Baldwin Public Library, 300 West Merrill and Birmingham City Hall, 151 Martin. For information, contact Fire Station 1 at (248) 530-1906, www.toysfortots.org.
• Applications for Christmas assistance from The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit are open to families and senior citizens in metro Detroit in need, SAmetrodetroit.org.
Community events
• Oakland County Parks and City of Southfield ask residents for input on Beech Woods Park rejuvenation plan via online survey at OaklandCountyParks.com or at Southfield’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 5, at the Southfield Municipal Campus front lawn, 26000 Evergreen Road in Southfield.
• Holiday Blood Drive is 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dec. 7, at the Bloomfield Township Senior Center Community Room A and B, 4315 Andover Road, Bloomfield Hills, for appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org, and enter sponsor code: BHRotary or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
• State Rep. Mike Harris, R-Waterford will host meetings with constituents from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 8, in the Business Center at the Clarkston Independence District Library, 6495 Clarkston Road, Clarkston. Constituents may reserve a time slot by emailing their name, home address, and contact information to Harris’ office at [email protected] or 517-373-0828.
• “Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams” is Dec. 8-23 at Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak, a part of Corewell Health. The community is invited to support pediatric patients and their families who find themselves in the hospital during the winter holidays. At 8 p.m. sharp, for 10 minutes each night, friends and neighbors of all ages will show their support by shining beams of light up to the windows of the pediatric unit. Pediatric patients return the festive glow with flashlights of their own. Attendees are asked to arrive by 7:45 p.m. to leave time for parking, and carpooling is recommended. Participants should gather on the sidewalk near the Medical Office Building. Do not bring drones or laser pointers, beaumont.org/moonbeams.
• The Southfield Police Department in collaboration with St. David’s Episcopal Church, and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners are hosting a Gun Buy Back Program, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Dec. 9, at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Road Southfield, https://bit.ly/StDavidsGB23.
• Bloomfield Community TV Studio will be hosting a “Coffee and Cookies” open house event, 3-5:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Bloomfield Community TV Studio, 4190 Dublin Road, Bloomfield Hills, email reservations to Jose Guzman at [email protected].
Holiday activities
• Tree Lighting and Kris Kringle Market is 5-9 p.m. Dec. 4, Highland Twp., tree lighting at 7 p.m., at Veterans Park and Steeple Hall area, downtown Highland. Children’s Choir at 7 p.m. followed by tree lighting and visits with Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, popcorn, hot chocolate. Downtown Highlands Annual Festival of Trees is through December, www.highlanddda.com.
• Southfield Municipal Campus Tree Lighting Ceremony is 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5, on the front lawn of the Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield. Southfield A&T High School Marching Band, visits with Santa, petting zoo, ice carving demonstrations, University High Dance Team, children’s crafts, cookies and hot chocolate, free.admission, www.cityofsouthfield.com.
• Rochester University presents “RU Ready for Christmas?”, a Sing-Along Extravaganza, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7, Rochester University, 800 W. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults, to purchase tickets online, visit https://rochesteru.edu/ru-theatre-music.
• Clarkston Holiday Lights Parade “Snowglobe Spectacular”: 6 p.m. Dec. 9, starting at Renaissance High School Community Education Building, 6558 Waldon Road, Clarkston, proceeding to Main St., ending at Calvary Lutheran Church, 6805 Bluegrass Drive, www.teamrush27.net/community/holiday-lights-parade.
• Jingle!: 6-10 p.m. Dec. 9, Pontiac Creative Art Center, 47 Williams St., Pontiac. Signature fundraising event, ugly sweater art exhibit, opening reception, live and silent auction and runway fashion show. Admission is free and all are welcome, https://pontiacarts.square.site/jingle, 248-333-7849.
• Downtown Trolley “Polar” Express is Dec. 9, Holiday Market is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 9, at Washington Square, downtown Oxford. Tickets required for trolley, https://downtownoxford.info. Trolley rides are offered 5-9 p.m. Fridays and 3-9 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 22, hours may vary, https://downtownoxford.info/downtown-trolley.
• Friendship Circle and The Shul Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration is 7:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 9, West Bloomfield Twp., https://friendshipcircle.org.
• Christmas on the Farm – annual fundraiser for Equine Escape in Goodrich is Dec. 9-10, at 5880 Brigham Road, Goodrich, 248-802-2608, $10 per person, charity fundraiser for a nonprofit that helps veterans and at-risk youth.
• Holiday Walk is offered 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Dec. 23, most dates, self-guided indoor tour of the three main floors of historic Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, filled with magnificent holiday sights and splendid decorations, https://meadowbrookhall.org/holidays.
• Santa House and Carriage Rides take place on select dates, through Dec. 24, at Shain Park, Birmingham, register at www.allinbirmingham.com.
• Winter Wonder Lights is 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., through Dec. 30, most nights, on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall, in Rochester on the campus of Oakland University, meadowbrookholidays.com, ticket prices vary, https://meadowbrookhall.org/holidays.
• The Great Decorate- Fostering Hope for the Holidays is through Dec. 31, to benefit metro Detroit-based foster teens in need. Participating downtown Birmingham businesses decorate with holiday trees and creative window displays. Cast votes for favorite display by donating any amount at www.TheGreatDecorate.com, through Dec. 31.
• The City of Rochester Hills invites the community to enjoy holiday lights at Innovation Hills Park, 2800 W. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, through Jan. 15, starting at 5 p.m. nightly, extended hours on Mondays to Thursdays, closing at 7 p.m., and Fridays to Sundays, closing at 8 p.m. through December (excluding Christmas and New Year’s Eve).
• The Big, Bright Light Show is 5 p.m.-midnight, nightly through Jan. 21, downtown Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com/the-big-bright-light-show.
Library events
• Holiday Book Sale is Dec. 7-9, Friends Members Only sale is 5-7 p.m. Dec. 6, memberships available at the door, White Lake Township Library, 11005 Elizabeth Lake Road, White Lake Twp., whitelakelibrary.org.
Museums/Model railroad exhibits
• Detroit Model Railroad Club Open House Shows are noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 3, and Dec. 9-10 at 104 North Saginaw St. Holly, 248-634-5811, dmrrc.org, $5 gen adm., $2 for ages 5-17 and $2 for younger than 5.
• Model Railroad Exhibit and Museum Holiday Drop-In Hours are noon-3 p.m. select dates through Dec. 30, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, $5 for and $3 for seniors and students, rochesterhills.org/museum. Advance tickets not required.
Parks/Outdoor activities
• The Rink at Royal Oak is open daily through the season, at Centennial Commons, 203 S Troy St., Royal Oak, therinkatroyaloak.com, Admission is $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends and skate rentals are $5. Tickets and skate rentals may be purchased on-site, first-come, first-served basis. Collection site for toy drive for The Bottomless Toy Chest, Dec. 8-10.
• Platform tennis open house is noon-2 p.m. Dec. 10 at Waterford Oaks County Park, 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford Twp. Instruction will be provided by the Waterford Paddle Club, for questions, call Oakland County Parks at 248-858-0916, OaklandCountyParks.com.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply.
Shows/Expos
• Annual Potters Market: Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, 248-398-6846, www.thepottersmarket.com.
• Clarkston Art and Craft Show is Dec. 2, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Clarkston High School, 6093 Flemings Lake Road, Clarkston, $4 admission, free for ages 10 and younger, keepsakecollectionshows.com.
• Handmade for the Holidays Market artist’s gift market is Tuesday through Saturday through Dec. 20, 205 W. Livingston Road, Highland Twp., huronvalleyarts.org.
• Annual Novi Pet Expo is Dec. 8-10, at the Suburban Collection, Novi, presented by Pet Supplies Plus!, https://bit.ly/40a2iAm, featuring entertainment, cutest dog contest, tricks contest, and sports team spirit dogs. Admission is $14 (ages 12 and up), children 4-11 years of age are $10, and children 3 and under-free. “Bounce House Mania” requires additional wristband purchase of $5 per child (ages 2-11), $3 off general admission with a donation of pet food or supplies. Blood drive is 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 8, www.novipetexpo.com.
Support resources
• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions.
• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center. Pressing 1 after dialing 988 will connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.
Submit community events online at https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.