50th Annual Noel Night

What is Noel Night?

Noel Night is a free open house of the Midtown Detroit and Cultural Center districts that celebrates diverse holiday traditions amid the state’s premier arts and cultural institutions, historic churches, galleries, and a growing circle of small businesses.

A Festive Celebration of Community, Culture, and Holiday Cheer 

Join us for the 50th Anniversary of Noel Night, an annual Detroit holiday tradition that brings the community together for a magical evening of celebration and cultural expression. Held in Midtown Detroit, Noel Night transforms the neighborhood into a winter wonderland, with local venues, businesses, and cultural institutions—including the Charles H. Wright Museum—opening their doors to the public for a festive, fun, and entertaining night.  

At the Wright Museum, experience the season's spirit with a unique blend of holiday traditions and African American cultural heritage (including Santa and Mrs. Claus). The evening features live music, dance performances, storytelling, and family-friendly activities that fill the museum with warmth and joy. Guests can also explore the museum's exhibitions, enjoy art demonstrations, and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts from local artisans in our marketplace.  

Highlights of Noel Night:

The perfect backdrop for an evening out, Noel Night packed with performances and other holiday experiences with family and friends. Noel Night features:

• Live music performances and other interactive holiday experiences
• Holiday shopping at local businesses and pop-up winter marketplaces
• Make-and-take activities for families
• Visits with Santa throughout the Noel Night footprint
• Lots of restaurants and bars to visit
• Food trucks and hot beverage stands
• Free shuttle bus service

See the Schedule

 Photographs below by Nadir Ali.

Book Reading and Signing with Award-Winning Author, Jean Alicia Elster

Join Us

On Saturday, December 7, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, Jean Alicia Elster will be reading from her historical fiction trilogy (Who’s Jim Hines?, The Colored Car, and How It Happens), followed by a Q&A session and book signing. 

Jean Alicia Elster

A former attorney and a 2017 Kresge Artist Fellow in Literary Arts, Jean Alicia Elster is the author of the young adult novel How It Happens (Wayne State University Press, September 2021) which received a 2021 Foreword INDIES Silver Award for Young Adult Fiction, a 2022 Midwest Book Silver Award—Young Adult Fiction, and the 2022 Bronze Medal in Young Adult Fiction by the Independent Publisher Book Awards. She is also the author of Who’s Jim Hines? and The Colored Car, both for ages 8 and older (Wayne State University Press). They were selected as Michigan Notable Books in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Her other books include the “Joe Joe in the City” series (Judson Press): I’ll Do the Right Thing, I’ll Fly My Own Plane, I Have a Dream, Too!, and Just Call Me Joe Joe.  Her essays have appeared in national publications including Ms., World Vision, Christian Science Sentinel and Black Child. Elster has been awarded three residencies at the internationally acclaimed Ragdale Foundation.