Here’s your chance to get in the holiday spirit, enjoy great food and learn a little about Christmas in Mexico,
The fourth annual Southwest Holiday Fest is Saturday, December 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the heart of Detroit’s Mexicantown neighborhood.
The family friendly festival is packed with fun winter-themed activities.
You can see it all in the Bagley/Vernor Corridor between 16th and 25th Streets while sipping hot chocolate or traditional Mexican Christmas fruit punch. Be sure to explore the neighborhood’s one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, bars, and cultural institutions. Each participating venue has something different to offer.
Horse and wagon rides will depart from Detroit Farm and Garden starting a 3:30 p.m. You can also pick up your Christmas tree while you’re there.
Your kids can visit with Santa at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC). Get some s’mores and hot chocolate while waiting for the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
At 6 p.m. head on down to Xochi’s Gift Shop, which will lead a Posada. A posada is the re-enactment of the pilgrimage to Bethlehem by Mary and Joseph in search of a room. The celebration begins with a procession with participants holding candles and singing Christmas carols.
Be sure and check out the pop up vendors selling gifts in time for the holidays at the Michigan Welcome Center in the Plaza del Norte, Repair the World, FREC and the Vista Partnership / St. Anthony church.
If you still have energy left there are dance parties, mariachi bands, craft-making, live performances, dining, a visiting portrait artist, and more round at St. Anthony, FREC, Honey Bee Market, Matrix Theatre Company, and other participating destinations.
Don’t worry about getting lost while you’re there. During the festival, volunteer ambassadors will be there to hand out maps of activities and assist attendees with wayfinding.
“Attending Southwest Holiday Fest is one of the most fun things you can do this holiday season,” says Molly McMahon, development and communications manager, Matrix Theatre Company, and festival co-founder. “The atmosphere that permeates the festival is heartwarming and celebratory, and it really captures the joy of the season. This event is entirely driven by its sponsoring businesses and organizations, and we are all proud and excited to once again show off our corner of the city to local residents and visitors alike.”
This year, there are no live performances at the Matrix. The theater is doing a photo booth with props instead.
All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise specified by individual locations.
