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Community Corner

Weekend Planner: It's All About the Parades

It's a busy three days with the Kris Kringle Market, Santa at the museum, the Orion Area Lighted Parade and the Hometown Christmas Parade.

The weekend is here! All week we have helped you count down to the weekend. Here is a recap:


  • Where/When: The parade begins at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads. It travels south through downtown Rochester to Third Street.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Why go: The popular Christmas parade is celebrating 60 years with a fitting theme: "Six Decades of Christmas Joy." The parade is one of the largest in the state and features floats, bands, dancers — and Santa.

Find out what's happening in Oakland Township-Lake Orionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Where/When: The parade begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Blanche Sims Elementary School in Lake Orion. It travels south, west and then north up Broadway through downtown Lake Orion.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Why go: The is touted as one of the only nighttime lighted parades in Michigan, and it certainly is magical to see dozens of floats from several nearby communities, including Oakland Township, covered in Christmas lights and decorations. Parade entries include civic organizations, dance studios, scouting troops, local dignitaries, marching bands, school groups and, of course, Santa.

  • Where/When: The streets of downtown Rochester, today from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday from 12-9 p.m.
  • Cost: Free to browse.
  • Why go: The Kris Kringle Market is back: this European style open-air market will feature fresh greens & wreaths, handcrafted gifts and specialty foods and entertainment.

Find out what's happening in Oakland Township-Lake Orionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Where/When: , Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Tickets: Available at the event.
  • Cost: $4 for museum members; $7 for nonmembers. Adults are free with a paid child.
  • Why go: Start your visit at the Dairy Barn and check in to await the wagon that will take you to the farmhouse to talk with Santa and Mrs. Claus. After your visit with Santa, you will enjoy cookies freshly baked in the 1930s oven. The wagon will transport you back to the Dairy Barn to view the museum's holiday exhibit on the Rochester Christmas Parade.

  • Where/When: , today, Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.
  • Tickets: Available for purchase at the door.
  • Cost: Adults $20, OU Staff $12, OU students $5, children 17 and under $5, children 2 and under are free.
  • Why go: Meadow Brook Hall will host its 40th annual Holiday Walk. You can take a self-guided tour around this beautifully decorated estate. Knole Cottage will also be available to tour, which is new this year. Kids can decorate a cookie in the Courtyard Room.

And because we know that you like options, here are a few more:

  • , Saturday at 10 a.m.
  • , , today and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • , , Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
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