Jackson County is a great stop for your holiday season, from the arrival of Santa alongside thousands of spectators during the lighted downtown Jackson Christmas parade, to spectacular local shopping, and the tradition of driving through millions of lights on display at Michigan International Speedway. Nite Lites accommodates any vehicle, from a personal car or SUV to a limousine or full-sized tour bus, and their gates are open every night between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. If you book ahead, you can also ride the new Nite Lites Express train bundled up next to those you love.

Mail your letter to the North Pole from the giant mailbox in downtown Jackson, or take in a holiday performance at the Potter Center, historic Michigan Theatre, or Weatherwax Hall, or warm up a special meal at an amazing restaurant throughout this cold-weather season. At Veritas, a downtown Jackson restaurant, you can get tickets to see a nationwide traveling illusionist residency show in a specialized theatre, complete with both Drinks & Deceptions!

Additionally, Jackson County’s museums host a variety of Christmas displays, from nostalgic artifacts, to performances and special open houses. Learn some of the specifics at https://experiencejackson.com/museumholiday

Book a stay for your tour group in a comfortable room in a Jackson County hotel so you can celebrate for multiple days while still enjoying a winter’s sleep. Plan to take your toboggan down the hill at Cascades Park, or snoeshoe through the trails at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center. Plan an ice fishing adventure on one of our frozen lakes, or take a bundled up stroll through the 75 Bright Walls murals throughout downtown Jackson – painted by artists from around the world over the last five years.

If you cannot make the trip at the end of the year, come back and experience Jackson County in the warmer months, with a Midwest town full of charm, great breweries and wineries, historic sites (prison tours and underground railroad tours) and great lakes and trails and a plethora of opportunities for golfing county-wide.

Find out more on the Experience Jackson app or online at www.ExperienceJackson.com/events