Frankenmuth Christmas Experience: Group Itinerary

Start your trip in Michigan’s Little Bavaria with a step-on guide tour of Frankenmuth. (Allow 1 hour).

To enhance your step-on guided tour, add a stop at St. Lorenz Church, founded in 1845. This historical site features one-of-a-kind stained glass windows that tell the story of Frankenmuth and the decorations are sure to add a little Christmas cheer to the tour! (Allow 30 minutes - 1 hour)

Now, fill up on a tasty lunch at Slo' Bones BBQ Smokehaus, Poblano’s Mexican Grill & Cantina, Wang’s Bistro, or daVinci’s Italian Restaurant, before preparing for an afternoon full of adventure. (Allow 1.5 hours)

Continue on to Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. Browse the more than 50,000 gifts, trims, and decor, visit the Program Center for an educational video of the store's history, and walk across the parking lot to Silent Night Memorial Chapel. (Allow at least 2 hours).

Keep those shopping shoes on and head downtown. Main Street is full of shops, boutiques, and one-of-a-kind stores that are the perfect place to cross off some of the people on your Christmas shopping list. (Allow 1.5 hours)

After shopping, gather your group around the table for a family-style feast. At the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, you can experience the flavors of the holiday season and World Famous Chicken. (Allow 2 hours)

Finish up day one by rocking around the Christmas tree. The 7 minute music and light show on the beautiful 40ft tree in downtown Frankenmuth is a crowd-favorite. (Allow 15 minutes)

Begin Day two with a guided tour of Frankenmuth Woolen Mill and add on the Make-Your-Own Dryer Ball experience for a homemade Christmas gift that you can keep or share with a loved one. (Allow 1-1.5 hours)

Then head over to the Bavarian Inn Restaurant for a little more history - this time your group will be learning about the history of the pretzel! The hands-on pretzel rolling class is a group favorite. (Allow 30 minutes)

Next up is shopping and lunch time! At the River Place Shops, you’ll find over 30 stores - perfect for more Christmas shopping or souvenir shopping for yourself. (Allow 2-2.5 hours here for shopping and lunch on your own at one of the many tasty restaurants)

Next, head to St. Julian Winery to taste some of the finest Michigan-made wines. This is the perfect place to pick up a bottle or two for any upcoming holiday festivities! (Allow 45 minutes)

Tour a little more history at the Frankenmuth Historical Museum. Call ahead for a guided tour and add a hands-on Christmas activity after the tour is done. (Allow 30 minutes-1.5 hours, dependent on tour and activity)

Enjoy a delicious dinner and riverfront views at the Frankenmuth Brewery. (Allow 1.5 hours)

Wrap up night number two with a Christmas light tour through Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Begin by heading to Christmas Lane and the Bronner’s Silent Night Memorial Chapel. Then, take your group on the driving light tour beginning at the south end of town. Maps with the route can be picked up at the Visitor Center. (Allow 1.5 hours)

Start your last day with a stop at the Frankenmuth Clock & German Gift Company. Keep track of time this holiday season with one of the special Christmas clocks they have! (Allow 45 minutes)

Journey through Grandpa Tiny’s Farm, or should we say, Santa’s Reindeer Farm. At Christmas time, this historic working farm transforms into a winter wonderland experience where you can meet two of Santa’s reindeer. (Allow 1-1.5 hours)

If your schedule allows, there are many more holiday-inspired group activities that can be added to make day three even more festive! Prior to your trip, Contact the CVB Sales team for additional Christmas events and activities that can be added to your itinerary.

From the moment your group arrives in Frankenmuth, the magic of Christmas can be seen in the lights, tasted in the food, and felt in the air. It is a trip that is sure to make memories that last a lifetime.