The Michigan City Snowflake Parade is returning to Franklin Street in the historic downtown.
The Annual Festival of Holiday Lights begins on the first Saturday in December 5th, 2026 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Millennium Park, Michigan City, Indiana and after the Snowflake parade is the Tree Lighting and the Festival of Lights are lit up!
Official Lighting of the Festival of Holiday Lights 4:30 P.M. Sharp!
Official Lighting of the Festival of Lights after the parade.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony for turning on the lights at 4th and Franklin Street will be held after the parade. Join Michigan City for the count down as all of the holiday light displays in Washington Park are turned on at once! You will not soon forget this breath-taking moment!
Nearly 30 acres of decorations, 40 displays, 2 miles of extension cords, and millions of bulbs are on display! Lights are on every evening from December 5th, 2026 through January 5th 2027, from 3-8pm. Park entrance is FREE during this time, however, donations are welcome.
See 18 Photos of the Lights on the PanoramaNOW Facebook Page, click here!
Thank you for supporting the Festival of Lights. The continued success of the Festival would not be possible without the generosity of many people. Some donate their time and talents, while others sponsor the various events with a monetary donation. Contact the Mayors office of Special Events at 219-873-4012 or 219-873-1400 ext. 2003.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony for turning on the lights at 4th and Franklin Street will be held at 4:30 pm. After the Festival of Lights ceremony for turning on the Festival of Lights in Washington Park the park is open. Join Michigan City for the count down as all of the holiday light displays in Washington Park are turned on at once! You will not soon forget this breath-taking moment!
The holiday lights will be turned on at 4:00 pm in Washington Park all at once; what a wonderful sight! Lights are on every evening until early January.
Read More about Christmas in Northwest Indiana:
5 Holiday Traditions
What’s on Theatre Stage this year –
Candlelight Tour in Laporte 2025
Winter Lights Drive Thru – Valparaiso Thru
Holly Days in Valparaiso Dec 5th, 2025
A Christmas Story Comes Home – Hammond Indiana
Christmas At Barker Mansion – Michigan City-
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS DRIVE THRU – Michigan City Dec 6th Thru Jan 6th
NwIndiana Christmas Tree Farms
Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
