Birmingham Winter Markt 2026: Dates, Tree Lighting, and Family Holiday Events

The Birmingham Winter Markt returns to downtown Birmingham from Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, 2026, in and around Shain Park, and it opens on Friday night with the annual Birmingham Holiday Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. The Birmingham Shopping District hosts both events, and together they mark the official start of the holiday season in one of Oakland County's most walkable downtowns.

The market runs Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the tree lighting happens at 6 p.m. on opening night with Santa, live caroling, and the lighting of the 41-foot holiday tree at the corner of Henrietta and Martin Streets. The district's 2026 event listing describes the Winter Markt as a European-style holiday market with local artists and vendors, food, holiday lights, live entertainment, warming stations, and visits with Santa.

Beyond the market weekend, the district's 2026 holiday season programming includes the Santa House and horse-drawn carriage rides downtown, which run through the season and give young children a low-pressure way to see the decorated parts of the district. The whole setup is walkable, with the market, the tree, and the downtown shops all within a few blocks of one another, which matters for families with strollers and short legs.

For a family considering Birmingham as a place to live, a downtown that programs its own holiday season each December is a good sign of a community that keeps its public spaces active in the colder months. The district posts full details, hours, and any additions on its official events pages at downtownbirmingham.com, and that is the page to check before heading out, since event details can change as the date approaches.

Sources: Birmingham Shopping District official website (downtownbirmingham.com), Winter Markt and Holiday Tree Lighting event listings. Information verified September 17, 2026.