20 things to do in Detroit this weekend (Nov. 17-19)

By on Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 10:05 am

The holiday season is approaching and Detroit is ready to kick it off with tree lighting events and gift markets. If you’re not ready to think about Christmas yet though, there’s also open mics, fun parties, and other cool activities to attend in the area this weekend. 

If you're looking for even more to do every day of the week, visit the Metro Times events calendar, which is free to use if you have something planned that you’d like to advertise to Metro Times readers.
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Light Up Beacon Park When: Nov. 17 from 4-9 p.m. Where: Beacon Park What: A children’s tree lighting Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership and local families Why: A smaller tree lighting with ornaments decorated by local children. Opportunities to meet Santa and live reindeer, plus take a ride on the Polar Express.
Courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Light Up Beacon Park

When: Nov. 17 from 4-9 p.m.
Where: Beacon Park
What: A children’s tree lighting
Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership and local families
Why: A smaller tree lighting with ornaments decorated by local children. Opportunities to meet Santa and live reindeer, plus take a ride on the Polar Express.

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Merry & Bright: 20 Years of Holiday Lights When: Nov. 17 from 4-9 p.m. Where: Campus Martius What: A tree lighting Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership Why: To kick off the holiday season and celebrate 20 years of Detroit’s Campus Martius tree lighting.
Courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Merry & Bright: 20 Years of Holiday Lights

When: Nov. 17 from 4-9 p.m.
Where: Campus Martius
What: A tree lighting
Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership
Why: To kick off the holiday season and celebrate 20 years of Detroit’s Campus Martius tree lighting.

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Royal Oak Market: Art Fair Edition When: Nov. 17 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Where: Royal Oak Farmers Market What: An art market Who: Around 60 artists Why: A free, fun, and festive art market to purchase holiday gifts or view work from local artists.
Facebook, Royal Oak Farmer's Market

Royal Oak Market: Art Fair Edition

When: Nov. 17 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Where: Royal Oak Farmers Market
What: An art market
Who: Around 60 artists
Why: A free, fun, and festive art market to purchase holiday gifts or view work from local artists.

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The Greatest Show On Earth When: Nov. 17-19 Where: Little Caesars Arena What: A circus Who: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Why: The company is returning with a bang for the first time since 2017 — without circus animals.
Courtesy photo

The Greatest Show On Earth

When: Nov. 17-19
Where: Little Caesars Arena
What: A circus
Who: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Why: The company is returning with a bang for the first time since 2017 — without circus animals.

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Groundcover News Open Mic When: Nov. 17 from 6-8 p.m. Where: The cafe at Argus Farm Stop on Liberty St., Ann Arbor What: An open mic Who: Groundcover News and community members Why: To honor Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week by providing a platform for underrepresented people in the community to share their personal stories, writing, and poetry.
Instagram, @groundcovernews

Groundcover News Open Mic

When: Nov. 17 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: The cafe at Argus Farm Stop on Liberty St., Ann Arbor
What: An open mic
Who: Groundcover News and community members
Why: To honor Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week by providing a platform for underrepresented people in the community to share their personal stories, writing, and poetry.

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The Market Over On Oakland When: Nov. 17 from 6-10 p.m. Where: Red Door Gallery What: A local art market Who: Local artists, designers, and vintage curators Why: Start your holiday shopping and support local vendors.
Uploaded by Bree McCormack

The Market Over On Oakland

When: Nov. 17 from 6-10 p.m.
Where: Red Door Gallery
What: A local art market
Who: Local artists, designers, and vintage curators
Why: Start your holiday shopping and support local vendors.

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Open Mic Night When: Nov. 17 from 6-11 p.m. Where: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation What: Singing, comedy, spoken word, rap Who: Fantazma Market and Cafe Why: Cash prizes and building community.
Instagram, @fantazmamarketandcafe

Open Mic Night

When: Nov. 17 from 6-11 p.m.
Where: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
What: Singing, comedy, spoken word, rap
Who: Fantazma Market and Cafe
Why: Cash prizes and building community.

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Whiskey in the Winter presented by Metro Times When: Nov. 17 from 6:30-10 p.m. Where: Detroit Shipping Company What: Food and drink sampling Who: Metro Times Why: A vendor marketplace, live music, drinks, food, and a good time.
Dontae Rockymore

Whiskey in the Winter presented by Metro Times

When: Nov. 17 from 6:30-10 p.m.
Where: Detroit Shipping Company
What: Food and drink sampling
Who: Metro Times
Why: A vendor marketplace, live music, drinks, food, and a good time.

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Detroit Electronic Quarterly When: Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. Where: Spot Lite What: An evening of music Who: Waajeed, Jon Dixon, and Vince Patricola Why: A soul-fueling night of Motor City rhythm.
Viola Klocko

Detroit Electronic Quarterly

When: Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.
Where: Spot Lite
What: An evening of music
Who: Waajeed, Jon Dixon, and Vince Patricola
Why: A soul-fueling night of Motor City rhythm.

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Hector Oaks When: Nov. 17 at 10 p.m. Where: Big Pink What: A techno music night Who: DJ Hector Oaks Why: For the techno lovers.
Courtesy photo

Hector Oaks

When: Nov. 17 at 10 p.m.
Where: Big Pink
What: A techno music night
Who: DJ Hector Oaks
Why: For the techno lovers.

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Collage Studio for Writers When: Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m Where: The Carhartt Workshop What: A community event for writers Who: Nourish Why: For writers of any genre and experience level to explore the written word through visual media.
Instagram, @nourish____

Collage Studio for Writers

When: Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m
Where: The Carhartt Workshop
What: A community event for writers
Who: Nourish
Why: For writers of any genre and experience level to explore the written word through visual media.

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Christmas Greeting Card Workshop When: Nov. 18 from noon-1:30 p.m. Where: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation What: A holiday workshop Who: Local small business Vesey Lane Goods Why: Materials provided with ticket purchase for Christmas cards. Light refreshments are also available.
Facebook, Fantazma Market & Cafe

Christmas Greeting Card Workshop

When: Nov. 18 from noon-1:30 p.m.
Where: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
What: A holiday workshop
Who: Local small business Vesey Lane Goods
Why: Materials provided with ticket purchase for Christmas cards. Light refreshments are also available.

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Palestine: Communities of Resistance When: Nov. 18 from 12 -3 p.m. Where: UM-D University Center - Kochoff Hall C, Dearborn What: A community space Who: Palestinian Youth Movement Why: For all ages to learn and reflect on resistance through art, history, and discussion.
Viola Klocko

Palestine: Communities of Resistance

When: Nov. 18 from 12 -3 p.m.
Where: UM-D University Center - Kochoff Hall C, Dearborn
What: A community space
Who: Palestinian Youth Movement
Why: For all ages to learn and reflect on resistance through art, history, and discussion.

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Santa Skate Party When: Nov. 18 from noon-4 p.m. Where: Campus Martius What: A family-friendly party Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership Why: Children can write letters to Santa and skate to holiday music spun by DJ Invisible.
Courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Santa Skate Party

When: Nov. 18 from noon-4 p.m.
Where: Campus Martius
What: A family-friendly party
Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership
Why: Children can write letters to Santa and skate to holiday music spun by DJ Invisible.

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Redford Classic Cartoon Festival When: Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Where: Redford Theatre What: A kids cartoon festival Who: Hosted by Jane Fleischer Why: Two different family programs for a Fleischer Studios tribute.
Facebook, Redford Theatre

Redford Classic Cartoon Festival

When: Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Where: Redford Theatre
What: A kids cartoon festival
Who: Hosted by Jane Fleischer
Why: Two different family programs for a Fleischer Studios tribute.

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Ugly Holiday Sweater Party When: Nov. 18 from 6-11 p.m. Where: Campus Martius What: A family-friendly party Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership Why: Dress up in ugly sweaters and have fun ice skating.
Courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Ugly Holiday Sweater Party

When: Nov. 18 from 6-11 p.m.
Where: Campus Martius
What: A family-friendly party
Who: Downtown Detroit Partnership
Why: Dress up in ugly sweaters and have fun ice skating.

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ISSA Party When: Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. Where: Spot Lite What: A fun dance night Who: DJs JADALAREIGN, Julion De’Angelo, Andrea Ghita, and Aboudi Issa Why: It’s the party’s one year anniversary.
Viola Klocko

ISSA Party

When: Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.
Where: Spot Lite
What: A fun dance night
Who: DJs JADALAREIGN, Julion De’Angelo, Andrea Ghita, and Aboudi Issa
Why: It’s the party’s one year anniversary.

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Pink Party When: Nov. 18 from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Where: Big Pink What: A 21+ dance party Who: DJ K Dirty and DJ Killa Squid Why: Hip Hop and R&B all night.
@sxrreal

Pink Party

When: Nov. 18 from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Where: Big Pink
What: A 21+ dance party
Who: DJ K Dirty and DJ Killa Squid
Why: Hip Hop and R&B all night.

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Frozen Skate Party When: Nov. 19 from noon-4 p.m. Where: Campus Martius What: A skate party Who: Local families Why: Meet the cast from Disney’s Frozen and have a chance to win tickets to Broadway in Detroit’s winter Frozen shows.
Courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Frozen Skate Party

When: Nov. 19 from noon-4 p.m.
Where: Campus Martius
What: A skate party
Who: Local families
Why: Meet the cast from Disney’s Frozen and have a chance to win tickets to Broadway in Detroit’s winter Frozen shows.

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Kota the Friend presents: Flowers For My Friends Tour When: Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Where: Saint Andrew’s Hall What: A live concert Who: Kota the Friend Why: A stop on the artist’s current tour.
Instagram, @kotathefriend

Kota the Friend presents: Flowers For My Friends Tour

When: Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
Where: Saint Andrew’s Hall
What: A live concert
Who: Kota the Friend
Why: A stop on the artist’s current tour.

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