Details Announced for Winter Magic, Beacon Park Programming

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Quicken Loans and the Downtown Detroit Partnership have announced the lineup for the 2017 season of Winter Magic programming at the Downtown Detroit Parks.

The season begins tonight with the Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony in Campus Martius Park and inaugural Light Up Beacon Park holiday party and continues through March 2018 with various seasonal traditions and experiences. There will be a performance tonight by Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas.

“Downtown Detroit is simply magnificent this winter season,” says Robert Gregory, chief planning and public spaces officer for DPP. “The city’s historic skyline in tandem with the exquisite holiday decor, free programming, and entertainment, make it a warm and welcoming place for all to gather.

“We are proud to partner with Quicken Loans to showcase Detroit’s parks and public spaces like they’ve never been seen before. We want to ensure Detroiters are proud to call this Downtown their home.”

The Cadillac Square Lodge and holiday markets will feature a heated tent where guests can enjoy a local craft beer, food options, and seating, while a clear roof and walls provides a view of Detroit’s Christmas tree and the city’s skyline.

Nearby, shoppers will find more than a dozen Bavarian-style glass stalls with local artisans and entrepreneurs selling clothing, jewelry, yoga classes, winter products, and more.

Capitol Park, located at State at Griswold streets, will be transformed for the season and similar glass holiday market stalls will feature a mix of local small businesses and tastings from the neighborhoods Italian market, Eatori. A Christmas tree lot at the center of Capitol Park will also allow guests to select their own Michigan-grown Christmas tree, wreath, or garlands.

Other traditions like ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, and visits from Santa will return to Campus Martius Park. Visitors can also enjoy a range of food and drink options including fine dining at Parc, hot cocoa at the Artic Zone, or a seasonal menu from the Winter Fountain.

From there, those heading south along The Woodward Esplanade will travel through willow arches and holiday lights to the newly designed Spirit of Detroit Plaza. The plaza will feature fare from local food trucks and glass igloo style domes.

Beacon Park, supported by the DTE Energy Foundation and DPP, will offer holiday programming, beginning with Light Up Beacon Park tonight from 5 p.m. to midnight. The holiday party expands the Detroit Tree Lighting festivities to two separate venues with free shuttles between the two. Guests will enjoy a live show by “Queen of Blues” Thornetta Davis and a warming tent with food truck fare, coffee, hot cocoa, and alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Beacon Park will also sponsor an interactive holiday light display from Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles.

Throughout the season, Beacon Park will host silent discos on Nov. 25 and Dec. 9, the Detroit Beer and Wine Festival on Dec. 15, and two Detroit Lions tailgate parties.

More information about Winter Magic can be found here and information about Beacon Park’s events can be found here.