Holiday cheer radiates from Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak is the destination to be during the winter season with plenty of different holiday-themed events for all to enjoy.

Royal Oak kicked off the holiday season Nov. 22 at the Lighting of the Park ceremony. The event included music, ice skating at The Rink, singing from the Royal Oak Children’s Choir, hot cocoa and of course the lighting of the park, including the giant oak tree.

Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St. in Royal Oak, is where the lighting took place, and it is going to be hosting multiple activities for Royal Oak Holidays, a five-week program featuring winter festivities.

Judy Davids, community engagement specialist for the city of Royal Oak, said that this is the first year the city has lit up the oak tree near City Hall.

“We estimate the tree to be between 85 and 90 years old, and actually, a long time ago, there was a park there, and then they got rid of the park to build City Hall, and then built a new City Hall and brought the park back,” she said. “That tree is the one thing that’s consistent with the original City Hall park that existed decades ago.”

Royal Oak Holidays shines light on local businesses, and includes ice skating, carriage rides, visits with Santa Claus, The Great Elf Hunt, Cookie Crawl, and the array of holiday lights that light up the park all winter long.

The Holiday Mini Market is the spot to purchase any local business merchandise for the holiday season. From 4 to 9 p.m. every Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays Nov. 22 to Dec. 22, the Mini Market is going to be open to the public.

The Mini Market rotates through different local businesses in Royal Oak. This is the first year that Royal Oak Holidays has had the mini market, according to Davids.

Jon Witz, event coordinator of Royal Oak Holidays, said that there is potential to expand the Mini Market in the future at a Nov. 11 City Commission meeting.

“They (Mini Market participants) are just a kickoff to their presence as a potential to add more in the future and create a whole holiday village,” he said. “We have nine retailers that will open there. ... We’re excited to show those structures and see how they fit.”

One of the major attractions of the Royal Oak Holidays is The Rink, which will be open until Feb. 17. The Rink is open 11-9 p.m. Sundays, noon to 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays.

Davids said she cannot ice skate due to a previous injury but has heard all good things from people in Royal Oak about the ice skating rink.

“I’ve heard it’s actually really a great place. People enjoy it,” she said.

The captivating part of Royal Oak Holidays is the sense of community, Davids said. She mentioned that it’s almost impossible to walk downtown and not see a familiar face, comparing it to a Hallmark movie.

“It’s just good overall for the pulse of our downtown during a really important season of gathering and shopping and all of these things. And you can do it all in your backyard!” Davids said. “I think it’s more of a community pride thing, and supporting businesses here in Royal Oak, I think that’s important.”

On Dec. 14 and 15, the Grinch will be visiting Royal Oak with a packed schedule of holiday fun.

Starting 1-2 p.m. Dec. 14, there will be an opportunity to have lunch with the Grinch at Lockhart’s BBQ at 202 E. Third St. followed by skating with the Grinch 2-3 p.m. at The Rink at Centennial Commons at 221 E. Third St.

From 3 to 4 p.m., the Grinch will be giving away gifts and goodies downtown, and from 4 to 5 p.m. there will be photo opportunities with the Grinch.

From 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, the Grinch will be back at The Rink ice skating followed by giving out gifts downtown until 4 p.m. From 4 to 5 p.m., the Grinch will be doing story time and pictures at Sidetrack Bookshop’s Caboose at 220 W. Fourth St.

To finish off the weekend there will be a dinner with the Grinch 5-6 p.m. at Lily’s Seafood Grill and Brewery located at 410 S. Washington Ave.

Horse and wagon rides will be touring around downtown Royal Oak from 5 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 22. The ride will go through all the holiday lights set up in the downtown area.

Santa will be visiting from 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 22 at Centennial Commons. There will be opportunities to take photos for family holiday cards.

For more information on Royal Oak Holidays, visit royaloakholidays.com.