Join in the festivities from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. as Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy, along with Santa Claus and Bartlett the Beaver light the Canton Holiday Tree at 6:30 p.m. at the Summit at the Park, located at 46000 Summit Parkway in Canton, MI.
Special festivities will take place both indoors and outdoors with seasonal entertainment, crafts, activities, refreshments and visits with Santa. Festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. outside the Summit on the Park, where visitors can enjoy holiday carols, watch Santa’s arrival - courtesy of the Canton Fire Department - and countdown to the official Tree Lighting at its new location outside the Summit Banquet Entrance.
New this year to the festivities, the Canton Chills Ice Carving Competition will be held outside the Summit, where individuals can vote for their favorites with donations that will benefit designated local charities. Complementing annual favorite activities include: Face painting by D&M, Caricature artists, the Holiday Marketplace, visits with Frosty the Snowman and Santa. Enjoy performances by Dancin' Feet, Spotlight of Youth, Richard Paul Interactive Children's Show, Sand Art, The Macombers and piano music at the Charlie Brown Christmas Display. There will be plenty of fun for every child young and old, and adults, too, at grottos themed as famous Christmas movies, featuring: Rudolph; Frosty; How the Grinch Stole Christmas; Charlie Brown Christmas; Elf and the Polar Express.
Additional activities for children include: crafts sponsored FLY Children's Art of Ypsilanti, and Bartlett's Kids Club with a special appearance by Bartlett the Beaver. The $3 charge per child for residents and $4 per child for non-residents covers indoor activities including: face painting, craft areas, cookie decorating, and pictures with Santa. Family-friendly games, sponsored by the Canton Goodfellows, will also be available as part of a holiday donation drive and can be played for a nominal donation. Canton’s new “Qdoba Mexican Eats” will also be onsite showcasing their unique eats in the Summit Gym by serving free Chips and Queso, Salsa, and Guacamole, while supplies last.
Shop for unique gifts and tasty treats for the holidays at the Tree Lighting Marketplace, located in the Summit Banquet Lobby. Enjoy some unique holiday finds from local vendors, including: wool gloves made with recycled sweaters, handmade snowmen, beautifully handcrafted soaps, planted succulents in decorative and festive pots, American Girl Doll inspired clothing, Girl Scout Troop ornaments, Wooly Tumblers (dryer balls made with 100% MI wool), kettle corn, varieties of Gluten Free Granola and dark chocolate granola bark. The seasonal café will feature hot chocolate, coffee and sweets. Enjoy a cookie or two as well, courtesy of the Cookie Decorating activity sponsored by Canton Leisure Services Preschool Program.
This year’s event is sponsored in part by Atchinson Ford, Goddard School, and Community Financial Credit Union. For more information about this event, or other upcoming holiday events at The Summit, visit www.cantonfun.org or call 734/394-5485.