It’s Christmas All Year Round in This Festive Michigan Town

Arriving in Frankenmuth, Michigan, you may feel as if you have stepped into the pages of a storybook or been magically transported to a German village. Christmas is in the air, no matter what time of year you visit. Located 90 minutes north of Detroit, the small city of 5,000 people receives 3 million visitors each year for its festive atmosphere. Featuring an authentic German heritage, the world’s largest Christmas store, and a roster of holiday traditions, Frankenmuth is one of the best Christmas towns in Michigan.

Many Christmas traditions are based on German customs, so it is no surprise that a town with Bavarian roots is strongly associated with Christmas. Known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth was founded in 1845 by missionaries from Germany’s Franconian region. Much of Frankenmuth’s Alpine architecture resembles that of the miniature Christmas villages displayed in homes in December. It is even said to look like a gingerbread village. Visitors can shop at timber-framed buildings on Main Street, stroll across the romantic Holz-Brücke, “wooden bridge,” and stay at the Bavarian Inn, complete with a glockenspiel tower featuring a carillon and figurines imported from Germany. Visit St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, built in 1880, to see church bells imported from the city’s first settlers and attend a monthly service in German.

The Christmas spirit is alive and well every month of the year at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. Founded in 1945, Bronner's has grown to become the world’s largest Christmas store. The massive attraction features more than 50,000 festive items across a salesroom that is nearly the size of two football fields. Compare 150 styles of nutcrackers, browse 500 different nativity scene styles, and admire 350 Christmas tree displays for holiday inspiration. Don’t miss the Silent Night Memorial Chapel, a replica of the Austrian chapel where “Silent Night” was first sung. After you shop, take a scenic drive down the half-mile Christmas Lane illuminated with more than 100,000 holiday lights. Even Ebenezer Scrooge could not resist the holiday spirit at Bronner’s.

While Frankenmuth boasts Christmas cheer all year, it really shines during the holidays. The Christmas Experience Kickoff includes ice skating, free cookies and hot cocoa, a visit from Santa Claus, the Christmas tree lighting, and a drone show. Drop off your letters to Santa at designated mailboxes and expect a postcard back to confirm they made it to the North Pole. Visit the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree and be dazzled by its 23,000 lights dancing to a festive musical soundtrack. Explore the magical lights around town with a self-guided driving tour of Little Bavaria. 

With charming German architecture, the world’s largest Christmas store, and a welcoming atmosphere all year long, Frankenmuth is one of the best places in Michigan. Visit in December for maximum holiday cheer or enjoy Christmas all year round in Frankenmuth. Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.