A Traveler's Winter Wonderland

Dearest Traveler,

You are not in Kansas anymore, and there is no need to pinch yourself because if you have woken up in Frankenmuth, Michigan you are most definitely living this dream. Where character and charm meet hospitality and authenticity is where you will find the heart of Michigan’s Little Bavaria. This characterized destination reaches far beyond your bucket list expectations. Because in Frankenmuth, hope is carried through the hearts of the community, the joy of sharing light, and a love of the little things. During the Christmas season, it's the beauty of these very elements that is magnified. A snowglobe’s shake kisses this sweetheart of a town in frosted crystals of white, enveloping all with the seasonal spirit.

Reindeer, an Ice Rink, and Christmas, oh my!

Find yourself lost in the flurry of fun for the Frankenmuth Christmas Experience. The Christmas magic really begins to sparkle in mid-November when the lights illuminate the silhouettes of downtown’s Bavarian buildings.

Light Up Your Christmas Cheer

With over 175 trees wrapped in twinkling lights, your walk downtown is sure to glow. And glow it will, right on over to the center of Little Bavaria, where you will be welcomed to sing along to a 40-foot Christmas tree lit with 23,000 synchronized lights that dance throughout the sky to the sounds of Christmas bliss. Speaking of dance, the Frankenmuth Ice Rink is just the platform for you to show off your figure skating skills under the lights of the starry night. Brought to you by presenting sponsors Huntington Bank, Mike Young, and Schaefer & Bierlein. And carry on merrily with a ‘lit’ evening drive under the Palmer Gateway Arch, and down twinkling Christmas Lane to see the Silent Night Memorial Chapel, an exact replica of the chapel in Oberndorf, Austria where the hymn “Silent Night” was first sung in 1818.

Embark on an Elf Shopping Spree

A carriage ride through the heart of Little Bavaria is a great chance to scope out a new perspective and see the one-of-a-kind boutiques that house your future treasures and goodies. Feel like Santa’s little elf by shopping at River Place, downtown, or at the Frankenmuth Farmers Market’s traditional German ChristKindlMarkt, an outdoor market showcasing locally made trinkets, gifts, baked goods, and more. Surround yourself with oodles of ornaments in Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the World’s Largest Christmas Store! Remember it all with Frankenmuth’s seasonal Stop & Snap Challenge that captures your memories in the click of a pic!

Savor the Holiday Flavor

Feasting with your friends and family at the dinner table and beyond is a must. Annually serving over 250,000 pounds of locally grown squash between Zehnder’s and Bavarian Inn Restaurants, this featured seasonal veggie, might just become a holiday favorite. Right after the world-famous chicken dinners, of course! Add a cherry on top of your dining experience with the sweetest of treats from Zak & Mac’s, the Frankenmuth Fudge and Taffy Kitchens, Rau’s Country Store, and SugarHigh Bakery. Cheers it off with specialty drinks from local coffee shops, Harvest, Kaffee Haus, or N’Orlin’s Beignets & Coffee.