Merry & Bright: The Detroit Holiday Lights Tour
Detroit's best holiday lights, warm drinks in hand, from the seat of a hand-painted bus.
Two ways to ride
Same bus, same madness. Pick your lane:
Public tour
From $49.99 per seat
Groups of 10+ save $5 on every seat
- The cheapest way aboard — pay per seat, book in minutes
- Runs on set dates — see what's coming up and grab yours
- You, your crew, and a busload of new friends
What you see at checkout is what you pay — zero surprise fees. All seats are booked online — none sold at the bus.
See dates & book seatsPrivate tour
Quoted for your group
- The bus is yours — your people only
- Your date, your time, picked up wherever you choose
- Same great route — pickup and drop-off where it works for you
Tell us what you're planning and a real person gets back to you within one business day with your quote.
Get your quoteGroups of 10+ save $5 per seat. Got 30+ people? Take the whole bus private.
What is this madness?
Climb aboard, warm up, and watch Detroit at its brightest. We roll past the city’s biggest and best holiday light displays — from the Campus Martius tree to Beacon Park to a fully decked-out Michigan Central — with a stop for warm drinks and time to shop the Downtown Detroit Holiday Market.
Wear your most elaborate ugly sweater. There are prizes. We’re not joking about the prizes.
All seats must be booked online in advance — no tickets sold at the bus.
Scenes from the tour
What to expect
Campus Martius
No holiday lights tour would be complete without a visit to the best tree to see! Of course, there's plenty more to do than getting the perfect photo for next year's holiday card. Check out the ice skaters at the Campus Martius rink. Get some of that shopping done at the Holiday Market. And enjoy a specialty beverage at the Cadillac Lodge!
Hudson's for the Holidays
Check out the giant teddy bear and reminisce about the days when shopping at this unique Detroit staple was all the craze. Maybe if you're lucky, you can even get one of those famous Santa Bears to complete your holiday season!
Dessert Oasis
There's nothing like a delicious cup of hot chocolate to get you in the mood as you cruise from lights display to lights display. If cocoa isn't your thing, Dessert Oasis has plenty of coffee and beverage options to keep you in the holiday spirit!
Beacon Park
Nothing says holiday lights quite like 125,000 LED bulbs! We'll stop at this Detroit staple, which includes a giant snow globe, polar bears, snowflakes — and plenty of chances to get that perfect Instagramable moment.
The Fisher Building
One of Detroit's most iconic and historic buildings has a well-kept secret: its magical holiday display! Check out the elegant tree in the lobby while you warm up inside. The Fisher Building is always one of Detroit's unique gems, and its transformation for the holidays is truly something to see!
Michigan Central
Take a step back in time as we head to a city staple for one of the most scenic lights displays our city has to offer! We'll take a moment to enjoy the displays of the newly renovated space while mixing in games and prizes.
…and a whole lot more!
You'll be spending some time on the warm bus, so you can expect lots of cups of warm cheer in between each destination. We'll have an ugly sweater contest, which includes you strutting your stuff! There's also a holiday bingo game throughout the tour. Plus, all of the fa-la-la-laing you can imagine down Woodward with all of your favorite holiday tunes. Putting on your own caroling show permitted — and encouraged.
What you get
- Guided bus tour of Detroit's best holiday light displays
- Warm drinks at Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters
- Shopping time at the Downtown Detroit Holiday Market
- Ugly sweater contest — prizes for the most elaborate
- Holiday bingo throughout the tour
Where to be, and when
Runs Wednesday–Sunday nights, early December through early January (we're home with our families Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Board at either pickup:
Questions people actually ask
What if I'm running late?
The bus keeps its schedule, but if you miss the first pickup you can join us at a later stop on the route.
Where do I park?
Near Cadillac Square, the Z Garage and One Detroit Lodge are your best bets.
Can we bring drinks?
No outside alcohol on this one — adult drinks are for sale at Campus Martius and the holiday market. Minimal soft drinks and snacks are fine.
Should we eat first?
Have dinner beforehand. Light snacks are fine on board — just plan to pack out your trash.
What about bad weather?
In severe weather you'll get a rain/snow-check date by email. If rescheduling is impossible, you'll get a voucher or refund.
Can someone else use my ticket?
Yes — email us before tour day and we'll update the name.
“Fun and festive. Full of Christmas spirit. All I wanted was all of my kids together for a family picture and a festive event. This was perfect!”
“We were able to see parts of Detroit that were new to us. It ignited more interest in revisiting areas of the city.”
“Sully was a great driver, and Kit was an engaging and delightful guide. The stops were well-planned Detroit highlights. Thank you for such a festive, family-friendly experience that truly lives up to its name.”
#12 of 128 Tours & Activities in Detroit
Make this tour private
Merry & Bright, run just for your group — your date, your time, picked up wherever you choose. Mike gets back to you within one business day with your quote.
Tickets are non-refundable except for extenuating circumstances — if weather grounds our buses, or a travel cancellation keeps you from getting to Detroit (proof required — a canceled flight counts), you'll get a raincheck date, a voucher, or your money back. The full rules live in our ticket terms and conditions.
And the part we're proudest of: every seat you buy gives a Detroit kid a safe, free ride to school or an after-school program. Here's how that works.