What's new for downtown Detroit's holidays
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The Grinch pillow fights Santa at a free holiday photo station. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
Expect a new carousel ride, chip-sprinkled Coney dogs and perhaps a Grinch sighting when you join the holiday revelry in downtown Detroit this year.
Context: The annual Decked Out Detroit festivities are mostly free, produced by prominent downtown landlord Bedrock and partners. GM joined this year, after moving its global headquarters into the Hudson's building.
- Media got a first look on Thursday.
State of play: Expect activities to be clustered in two areas — around the Hudson's buildings and in Cadillac Square.
- Take a free, decorated Holiday Trolley between the two.
- Lines for indoor festivities could stretch outside, so dress warmly.
Hudson's
📷 Winter Wonders indoors at GM's showroom, Entrance One at 1232 Woodward Ave.:
- Get free photos with Santa, elves, the Grinch and "Frozen" characters — newly moved from previous years' location at the 1001 Woodward Ave. building.
- See rotating photos of the old Hudson's department store that once stood where the new building is.
- Take a selfie with dressed-up GM vehicles.
- Decorate a virtual cookie and try other activities.
🐻 Along Nick Gilbert Way, the outdoor alley between the two Hudson's buildings:
- Grab a selfie with the 16-foot, lit-up Hudson's bear (sporting a handsome new bowtie).
- Ride a free holiday carousel or mail a letter to Santa.
- Shop for nostalgic gifts inspired by Hudson's and peruse local vendors.
- A café truck called Cafe D'Troit sells hot drinks and pastries.
- Buy Detroit-inspired holiday mini-prints for 50 cents from a vending machine, courtesy of letterpress printing nonprofit Signal Return.
Cadillac Square
🛍️ Downtown Detroit Markets, next to Campus Martius:
- Shop for leather goods, candles, snack mixes, hats, olive oil, books and other goods from small businesses set up in stalls that look like mini-cabins.
- This year's list of 18 vendors includes Jodi Lynn's Emporium of Doodles, Back in the D, Indigo Culinary Co. and Boho Luxe Detroit.
🌭 At the end of the row of shops, the Cadillac Lodge is heated and filled with decor, serving drinks and snacks as a winter respite.
- Our top menu item of the year is the Cadillac Coney, a beef hot dog with Coney chili, pickled banana peppers, onions and a kettle chip crumble ($9.50).
If you go:
- Hours for Nov. 12-Dec. 13 and Dec. 26-Jan. 3: 4-8pm Wednesday-Friday, 12-8pm Saturday and 12-6pm Sunday.
- For Dec. 14-Dec. 23: 12-8pm Monday-Saturday and 12-6pm Sunday.
- Note that hours vary slightly across locations. They also differ on holidays.
Go deeper: Decked Out Detroit's website