HOLIDAY FUN IN THE CITY
Parade, cookie crawl, Santa coming to downtown
The parade features floats from The Parade Company and local businesses. Among the dozens of organizations set to join the parade this year are the Royal Oak High School Marching Band, Detroit School of Arts Marching Band, Royal Oak fire and police departments, Oakland County Sheriff and the Redford Unicycle Group.
More than 50 different organizations are slated to take part in a lighted parade in downtown Royal Oak along with related holiday events Saturday lasting into the night.
A Winter Market in a heated tent will be set up with live entertainment, and a popular cookie crawl will be part of the festivities, along with a visit from Santa, live reindeer, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
In previous years, the holiday Royal Oak Jingle celebration was set up along Washington Avenue and typically draws over 10,000 people in addition to a couple thousand marching or riding in the parade.
But this season’s activities from noon to 10 p.m. are to be anchored by the Winter Market in the Centennial Commons park at Williams and Third streets.
“Everything will be on Third Street between Troy and Main streets,” said Julie Law of 360 Event Production, which organizes Saturday’s activities. “There will be food trucks, vendors and free crafts for kids.”
Crafters, live music and a bar will be inside the Winter Market tent, which will open at noon. Visitors can also play outdoor games, enjoy s’mores stations and other treats.
One of the biggest attractions, Law said, is the Cookie Crawl from 1-6 p.m.
“The cookie crawl sells out early and we encourage people to buy tickets in advance online at rojingle.com,” Law said. “We get over 600 participants and have 15,000 cookies.”
Guests for the cookie crawl buy
a $30 pass in advance, receive a tin and a map to local retailers to collect freshly baked cookies from Give Thanks Bakery, Holiday Market, Pronto!, Sarah’s Sweets, and others.
More than 20 retailers downtown will be handing out the freshly baked cookies from the local bakeries.
The Holiday Light Parade, hosted by Genisys
Credit Union, rolls along Main Street between Lincoln Avenue and 11 Mile Road, starting at 7 p.m.
The parade features floats from The Parade Company and local businesses. Among the dozens of organizations set to join the parade this year are the Royal Oak High School Marching Band, Detroit School of Arts Marching Band, Royal Oak fire and police departments, Oakland County Sheriff and the Redford Unicycle Group.
“Anyone in the parade has to be illuminated,” Law said, adding that includes Girl Scouts, unicyclers and floats alike. “There are thousands that participate in the parade in addition to those who come to watch it.”
Mayor Michael Fournier will welcome Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and present them with a key to the city.
Santa, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer will be available for free photos inside the heated tent at Centennial Commons from 8-10
p.m.
Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available to take riders around the downtown, starting at Third Street east of Main and traveling between 11 Mile Road and Lincoln.
Tickets for the rides have to be purchased in advance at rojingle.com.
People can purchase a private carriage ride for up to six people for $45. A carriage holds up to four adults and two children. Individual tickets to ride on a bench seated wagon
are $10.
Longtime resident Judy Davids, who is the city’s community engagement specialist, has been attending Royal Oak holiday for years before she began working for the city.
“It’s my favorite holiday event in the city,” said Davids, who once rode a float in the parade. “It’s great to see everything lit up and people having a good time. You can feel all the energy and excitement.”
More information is online at rojingle.com.