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DETROIT — Midtown Detroit is inviting the whole metro Detroit community to join them for one of Detroit’s biggest parties: the 49th annual Noel Night.
The annual celebration will return to Detroit’s Cultural Center and the Midtown district on Saturday, Dec. 2. More than 100 institutions, including the College for Creative Studies, Detroit Public Library, Detroit Institute of Arts, the Magic Stick, Michigan Science Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, and Wayne State University, will take part alongside the local small business community and open their doors to the public free of charge during this district-wide holiday open house.
“We are immensely proud to present the 49th annual Noel Night event in the heart of Detroit's vibrant Midtown district,” Sue Mosey, the executive director of Midtown Detroit, Inc. said in a press release. “Noel Night has become a beloved tradition that celebrates the magic of the holiday season and showcases the incredible array of small, unique businesses, restaurants, bars, and Cultural Center institutions that make our city truly exceptional. This event not only illuminates the spirit of the season but also highlights the diverse and thriving community that defines Detroit. It's a testament to the resilience, creativity, and togetherness that make our city shine. We invite everyone to join us in this festive celebration and experience the warmth and wonder of Detroit during Noel Night.”
Noel Night is free and open to the public, and produced by Midtown Detroit, Inc. Venues north of Warren Avenue in the Cultural Center will be open from 5-9 p.m., and venues south of Warren Avenue will be open from 5-10 p.m.
Activities include holiday shopping at local businesses and pop-up winter marketplaces, family make-and-take crafts, visits with Santa, food trucks and beverage stands, and performances by over 80 area music, theater, and dance groups.
Locations to visit with Santa include the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, City Bird/Nest, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Public Library, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Hannan Center, The Scarab Club, University of Michigan, and the Wayne State University Old Main Building.
Numerous participating institutions will be offering entertainment throughout the evening. A full list and their locations is available at www.noelnight.org, but some examples include folk rockers Frontier Ruckus who will perform from 7-9 p.m. at the Detroit Shipping Co., blues vocalist Thornetta Davis,who will perform at 9 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church and the Detroit Youth Choir which will perform from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Detroit Public Library.
Other unique arts activities include the Detroit Institute of Arts where visitors will be able to explore the Detroit Film Theatre, Crystal Gallery, Great Hall, and Rivera Court. A perennial favorite, the Ice Scrapers Demonstration, also will return to the DIA’s Woodward Plaza. The public can watch students from Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies transform blocks of ice into unique sculptural creations throughout the day under the tutelage of Ice Guru Randy Finch.
Woodward Avenue will remain open to traffic throughout the evening. Noel Night activities take place in Midtown Detroit — the district is bound by I-94 to the north, I-75 to the east and south, and M-10 to the west. Free shuttle service is offered between participating venues between 5-10:30 p.m. Convenient parking is available in area lots and decks. Drivers are advised to expect to pay between $7-$20 for parking during the evening.
2023 Noel Night sponsors include Midtown Detroit, Inc., the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Culture Source, the Michigan Council for Arts and Culture, and Fox 2 Detroit.
Call (313) 420-6000 or visit noelnight.org for additional information and the full event schedule.
