Southern Gateway
Muskegon
A port city for dune hikes and beach days: state parks on both sides of town, a city beach, pier lighthouses, maritime museums and a ferry to Milwaukee.
Holiday · Family · Muskegon
Muskegon Community Tree Lighting
Muskegon's annual holiday kickoff in Hackley Park, with holiday train rides, a letters to Santa station, the lighting of the community tree and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The community tree lighting in Hackley Park is how downtown Muskegon begins the holiday season. The event appears on the City of Muskegon’s events calendar under community and parks and recreation events.
The evening is aimed at families: holiday train rides, a place to write letters to Santa, the tree lighting itself and then Santa and Mrs. Claus on the main stage. Hackley Park is on West Webster Avenue in the center of downtown.
What to expect
Holiday train rides run through the late afternoon and evening, children can write to Santa at a letters station, and the tree is lit in the early evening. Afterward, Santa and Mrs. Claus greet visitors on the main stage, and food vendors are on site.
Location
Where Muskegon Community Tree Lighting happens
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks the town; check the organizer for exact venues.
About Muskegon
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Museum
Muskegon Museum of Art
Muskegon's art museum, founded in 1912 as the Hackley Art Gallery, with American and European paintings, studio glass and a newly doubled building.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Trail
Muskegon Lakeshore Trail
About 12 paved miles along Muskegon Lake from Pere Marquette Park to the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, with views of the channel and South Pier light.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Beach
Pere Marquette Park
Muskegon's big Lake Michigan beach at the channel mouth, raked daily, with volleyball, kiteboarding, the South Breakwater Light and the Lakeshore Trail.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Places to stay nearby
Hotel · Mid-range
Delta Hotels Muskegon Convention Center
On Third Street in downtown Muskegon, attached to the convention center
A downtown Muskegon hotel run under the Delta Hotels by Marriott brand, connected indoors to the city convention center.
Confirm details before booking
Hotel · Upscale
Shoreline Inn & Conference Center
On Muskegon Lake at Terrace Point in Muskegon
A 140-room hotel on Muskegon Lake with its own marina and two restaurants, which calls itself the only waterfront hotel in Muskegon.
More events in and around Muskegon
- Lakeshore Art FestivalA late-June weekend in downtown Muskegon with nearly 250 juried fine art and craft exhibitors, an artisan food market and a children's lane.
- Michigan Irish Music FestivalA September weekend of Celtic music on six stages at Heritage Landing on Muskegon Lake, with Irish dance, food and a children's area.
- Muskegon Polish FestivalA Labor Day weekend festival in downtown Muskegon's Hackley Park with Polish food, drinks, polka, live music and vendors.