Get into the Up North holiday spirit! Whether you’re looking for gifts, sips, or adventures, this ultimate 2022 guide is the perfect tool to plan your holiday season in Cadillac, Frankfort, Manistee & Ludington!
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The Ultimate 2022 Cadillac Holiday Guide
You’ll have a downright jolly time in Cadillac. Get all of your shopping done then hit the trails: 200 groomed miles for snowmobiles, 60-plus for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and 34 downhill ski runs.
Shop Local Favorites in Cadillac
Ladies, don’t miss Mäksē Boutique and Serendipity, both on Mitchell Street. Then head to Willow Market & Meats for lunch and to grab locally sourced, gourmet gifts. More fun stops: McLain Cycle & Fitness and The Sweet Shop (get a box of the signature Snow Birds—white chocolate and Georgia pecans).
Cheers to Holiday Sips in Cadillac
Clam Lake Beer Company boasts 40 craft beers on tap, plus wines and cocktails. Beyond that, the brewpub also has an extensive menu—pair a bacon cheddar apple grilled
cheese with some truffle tots for the perfect comfort meal.
Festive Adventures in Cadillac
Float along the mighty Pine River and soak in the surrounding snowy paradise during a guided winter rafting trip. Pine River Paddlesports
Center is your guide, just 30 minutes west of town.
Cadillac’s Winter Wonderland
Explore the 11-acre Waldeck Island Nature Preserve on Stone Ledge Lake. This hidden gem offers a 1.2-mile loop trail for hiking or snow-shoeing. Don’t miss the wildlife
viewing tower, where you just might spot an eagle or osprey land on the brand-new raptor nesting platform.
Holiday Events in Cadillac
Nov. 12 | Annual Band Booster Craft Show
Dec. 3 | Manton Holiday Craft Show
Dec. 8-11| German Holiday Market Around Town
Best Holiday Festivities in Frankfort
A much-loved craft brewery with a penchant for ugly Christmas sweaters, a renovated 1920s theater, fabulous eateries and fun shops—
Frankfort is downright jolly.
Shop Local in Frankfort
Lynn & Perin Mercantile is the spot to find a gourmet gift for the foodie in your life, and The Bookstore has a huge selection to peruse, from children’s books to travel. Don’t forget
a stop at the Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts, home to Mary’s Gift Gallery featuring Michigan-made works and artists.
Frankfort Sips and Bites
We love the menu at Stormcloud Brewing Company, especially since pairings are recommended for every item. Warm pretzel bites go well with a Birdwalker Blonde, while a salted caramel cookie is the perfect complement to the B. Sirius Dubbel.
Give the Gift of Frankfort
Support a local institution and give the gift of movie magic this season with a gift card to The Garden Theater. Choose your amount and order online for the perfect stocking stuffer or host
Explore Frankfort’s Winter Wonderland
Grab your snowshoes and head 10 minutes south of town to Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve. Nearly three miles of trail winding through forest and meadow will lead
you to stunning views of Lake Michigan.
Frankfort Holiday Events
Nov. 25 | Holiday Trail Celebration at Crystal Mountain
Nov. 26 | Holly Berry Art & Crafts Fair
Dec. 3 | Frankfort Community Tree Lighting Around Town
2022 Holiday Adventures in Manistee
Manistee’s Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend and nearby Bear Lake’s Sparkle in the Park event, with its thousands and thousands of lights, will fill you with cheer.
Shop Local Favorites in Manistee
Head down River Street and stop at Wellnested, a new home and lifestyle store; Port City Emporium, where 40 local artisans sell paintings, candles,
vintage décor and jewelry; and Manistee Hobbies for puzzles, model rockets, kites and kits.
Cheers in Manistee
Downtown’s North Channel Brewing Co. sits right next to the Manistee River and drawbridge. Try Manistee’s IPA or the Lighthouse Lager, both available in cans for gifting.
Holiday Activities in Manistee
Canfield House Bed & Breakfast in nearby Onekama was completely renovated under new ownership in 2021 and is now open year-round. The themed weekends are especially
fun: wine tasting with Black Star Farms Dec. 9–11, a murder mystery dinner Jan. 13–15 and a Valentine’s Day getaway Feb.
10–12.
Manistee’s Winter Wonderland
The Manistee Non-Motorized Trails Park has about 3.8 miles groomed for classic and skate skiing and 5.4 miles of groomed fat bike trail. Find updated trail condition reports
online.
Holiday Events in Manistee
Nov. 19–20 | Christmas in Onekama & Celebration of Lights
Dec. 1– 4 | Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend
Dec. 3 & 4 | A West Shore Community College Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion at Ramsdell Theatre
Holiday Activities in Ludington 2022
Ludington is a winter paradise— relax at cozy B&Bs, snowshoe along Lake Michigan dunes and find fun gifts at cheery shops downtown.
Local Ludington Shops
The Port Ludington is a newly opened collection of boutiques and eateries housed in a single marketplace. Grab lunch or dinner after browsing artisan goods; vendors include
The Port Ludington, Britter’s Twisted Whisk, Cluck Bucket, Faire Heart and HumaniTea.
Holiday Treats in Ludington
Get gifts for gourmands and holiday entertaining essentials (custom charcuterie boards!) before finding a spot at the bar for an après-shopping bevvy at
the brand-new Ludington Meat Company. Don’t let the name deceive you; you’ll find much more than meat here.
Give the Gift of Ludington
For the person who has it all, gift a weekend stay at The Lamplighter, an 1890s Victorian home turned B&B. Owners Dan and Jen Hinderer are thoughtfully updating the rooms, including the Ansel Adams Suite with its large jetted tub and garden views.
Ludington’s Ultimate Winter Wonderland
Ludington State Park is a popular spot with several miles of trails groomed for cross-country skiing and all others open to
snowshoers. The park hosts a series of events, including lantern-lit adventures.
Holiday Events in Ludington
Nov. 26 | Aglow on the Avenue Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
Dec. 1–27 | Deck the Halls: A Mason County Decorating Contest
Dec. 10–11 | Christmas at Historic White Pine Village Around Town
Give the Gift of Traverse Magazine this Year!
Northern Michigan is the greatest gift! Share it with the ones you love this holiday season. ?❄️✨ From feature stories on seasonal adventures to can’t-miss locally-inspired recipes, give the gift of Northern Michigan for under $30 with a 12-month Traverse Magazine gift subscription:
Celebrate the Holidays Up North with More 2022 Holiday Guides!
- Ultimate Suttons Bay, Glen Arbor & Leland Holiday Guide
- Traverse City Holiday Guide: Festive Events & Gift Shopping
- Elk Rapids & Bellaire Holiday Guide: Festive Events & Shopping
- Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix & Boyne City Holiday Guide
- Ultimate Holiday & Gift Guide for Gaylord, Grayling & Cheboygan
- 2022 Holiday Guide: Cadillac, Frankfort, Manistee & Ludington
Searching for More Holiday Inspiration? View our 2021 Holiday & Gift Guides:
- 2021 Suttons Bay, Glen Arbor & Leland Holiday and Gift Guide
- 2021 Ultimate Gaylord, Grayling & Cheboygan Holiday and Gift Guide
- 2021 Ultimate Elk Rapids & Bellaire Holiday and Gift Guide
- 2021 Holiday & Gift Guide: Cadillac, Frankfort, Manistee & Ludington
- 2021 Traverse City Holiday Guide: Local Gifts, Events & More
- 2021 Holiday Guide: Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix & Boyne City
