November to January
Christmas in Frankenmuth 2026
Michigan's Little Bavaria goes all in on Christmas. The season kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, with an outdoor ice rink, a free musical tree show and lights all over town. Here's what's on and how to plan around it.
Key dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 17 to Feb 28 | Frankenmuth Ice Rink opens for the season · Zehnder Park, 784 S. Main St. |
| Nov 24 to Dec 24 | Letters to Santa mailboxes, with a postcard back · Visitor Center and Main Street shops |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Christmas Experience Kickoff: skating, free cookies and cocoa, Santa, the tree lighting and a drone show · Visitor Center, 635 S. Main St. |
| Nov 28 to Jan 11 | Musical tree show on the 40-foot tree, free · Visitor Center |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Breakfast with Santa at Zehnder's (tickets) · 730 S. Main St. |
| Dec 5 and Dec 12 | Lunch with Santa at Zehnder's Splash Village (tickets) · Splash Village |
| Through Dec 27 | Free town shuttle, Fridays to Sundays (not Dec 25) · 15 stops around town |
Dates are from the organizers' own pages as of October 2026. Check before you go.
What to do
The musical tree show
A 40-foot tree at the Visitor Center lights up to music for about seven minutes. Shows run daily at 11:30 a.m., then 2:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
The outdoor ice rink
At Zehnder Park on Main Street. In November and December it's open Mon to Thu 4 to 9 p.m., Fri and Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sun 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Skate rental is $3. Cards only, no cash, and weather can change the hours.
Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland
From October to December it's open Mon to Thu 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri to 8 p.m., Sat to 9 p.m. and Sun noon to 6 p.m. It's closed Thanksgiving and Christmas and closes at 4 p.m. on Dec 24 and Dec 31.
Bronner's Christmas Lane
A half-mile drive with more than 100,000 lights, lit every night from dusk to midnight.
Letters to Santa
Drop a letter in a "Santa Letter Only" mailbox at the Visitor Center, Toyberg (618 S. Main St.) or the Bavarian Inn Castle Shops (713 S. Main St.), and kids get a postcard back.
Skip the parking hunt
The free Frankenmuth shuttle loops 15 stops, including the Visitor Center, Zehnder Park and Christmas Lane, about every 20 minutes from noon to 8 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays through Dec 27.
Coming soon
The CVB hasn't posted this year's details yet for the Stop & Snap photo challenge, the self-guided driving light tour or the ChristKindlMarkt. We'll add them here as soon as they're announced. Meanwhile, see hunts and passes and the full events calendar.
Tips for a Christmas visit
- Go on a weekday if you can. December weekends, especially kickoff weekend, are the busiest days of the year.
- Eat early or book ahead for a chicken dinner on weekends.
- Plan your ride home if you're enjoying a hot toddy downtown. Here's how.
Event details come from frankenmuth.org, bronners.com and zehnders.com as of October 2026, and organizers can change them. Frankenmuth Local is independent and isn't affiliated with any organizer or business listed.