By: Andy Kozlowski | Madison-Park News | Published November 15, 2023
MADISON HEIGHTS — Hot cocoa, cookies, Christmas caroling and more await at this year’s Madison Heights Holiday Tree Lighting.
The free event will take place from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27. As per tradition, the festivities will take place near the gazebo in front of Madison Heights City Hall, 300 W. 13 Mile Road.
The main event is set for 6:30 p.m., when Santa Claus himself will arrive to receive an official key to the city from Mayor Roslyn Grafstein. The man in red will then help flip the switch on the city’s light display. Everyone in attendance will be able to enjoy free cookies and hot cocoa while singing along to Christmas carols by the Lamphere High Jazz Band.
There are also activities like the Wheel of Fun by the Madison Heights Community Coalition, free balloons from Tootsie and Happy the Clown, and making “reindeer food” with the Joyful Jungle Learning Center. Following the event, community members can head into City Hall for that night’s council meeting, where the city will accept a Consumers Energy grant to build a new amphitheater at Civic Center Park, or head into the Breckenridge Room at the library for photos with Santa Claus.
The Holiday Tree Lighting will also be where the mayor will announce this year’s awards for notable businesses and volunteers, recognizing those who made a difference in 2023.
“It really is a great time,” said Madison Heights City Councilman Sean Fleming. “I think it’s so fun with all of the activities and treats, and to just spend time with people. The weather might be warmer this year, but either way it will be a good time.”
Grafstein said the volunteer awards are the start of what she hopes will be a new tradition.
“This is a great community event that attracts residents of all ages to come out to celebrate the start of the winter holiday season,” Grafstein said in an email. “There is nothing like listening to the local school bands, and the cheers of joy when the city lights up after our countdown.”
This year’s Holiday Tree Lighting will also be an opportunity to explore the new and improved Civic Center Plaza. The $11.4 million project — the largest capital improvement project in the history of Madison Heights — included the downsizing of City Hall, renovations at the neighboring library, and the construction of a new Active Adult Center connecting them. Construction began in July 2022, handled by Frank Rewold & Sons, with architecture services provided by Partners in Architecture.
There were also extensive renovations at Fire Station No. 2 — off campus on John R Road — as part of the same capital improvement project, costing an additional $2.8 million. The work on the fire station was completed in late summer, while the Active Adult Center wrapped up earlier this fall.
The new Active Adult Center replaced the old one at 29448 John R Road, offering more room for recreation programming and other resources. The previous building spanned 11,554 square feet, while the new one is 14,022 square feet, with additional shared space of 2,400 square feet that includes the new Breckenridge Room in the library, existing bathrooms at both ends of the building, and the executive conference meeting space at City Hall. The new location also puts the center in close proximity to the police station and Fire Station No. 1, located in the same complex.
Mark Bliss, the mayor pro tem of Madison Heights, said he has attended the tree lighting since he was a child going with his own parents.
“There’s a level of importance that I attribute to community events like these, because I think that without them, we’re just a city — just a place where you live. Events like these are where residents meet each other and have a good time free of charge. I think that’s what makes us an actual community, and has for decades,” Bliss said.
He said the tree lighting is so important to the council that the group found a way to creatively continue it through the pandemic, with a drive-through tree lighting during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“And this year, because of the new Civic Center Complex, for those who haven’t yet gone inside our newly renovated library and City Hall, it’s a great chance to experience those buildings in a new way, which is awesome,” he said. “And for those who’ve never been to our city tree lighting, well, I highly encourage them to come out. Santa is a notable guest, but it’s about so much more than giving him the key to the city. It’s about bringing people together.”