Charitable activities/Fundraisers

• Oakland County Sheriff’s annual “Coats for the Cold” Coat Drive is through Nov. 30. Donations of new or gently-used, clean coats are needed for those in need, partners and drop-off locations include Genisys Credit Union, Real Estate One and Max Broock Realtors, 1-800SelfStorage.com, Christ Church Cranbrook, and Oakland County Sheriff’s substations, www.oakgov.com/government/sheriff/community-services/domestic-safety/coats-for-the-cold.

• Thankful Hearts, a Pontiac-based nonprofit, has kicked off its annual collection drive for donations of coats and toys for area youth in need. Donations of new or gently used coats or jackets, toys, hat and gloves can be donated at Work365 Fitness in Sylvan Lake, (call 248-875-3188 for hours), or monetary donations can be mailed to: Thankful Hearts, 257 Rapid St., Pontiac 48341. For information, call the organization’s founder Ruth Montague at 248-563-3191, Monday to Friday.

• The Royal Oak Historical Society is collecting gifts in conjunction with the Royal Oak Friends for Royal Oak for their 2023 Holiday Toy Drive for children at the Judson Center in Royal Oak. Gifts can be dropped off, 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays, the gifts will be delivered Dec. 7, www.facebook.com/RoyalOakHistoricalSociety.

• Easterseals MORC is hosting its annual Cheers Gala fundraising event, 7-10 p.m. Dec. 8, at M1 Concourse Event Center in Pontiac, activities include spirits tasting, strolling dinner, casino games, silent auction, https://thecheersgala.org, $100/ticket.

• The Waterford Community Coalition is partnering with the Waterford Police Department for its annual Shop With a Hero event, to provide students in need from the Waterford School District the opportunity to shop with a police officer, firefighter, or other public safety worker for their family. Volunteers and monetary donations are needed to help support the event on Dec. 9, at Meijer, 4200 Highland Road, Waterford Twp. Those interested can sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A49ACAC28AAF85-shop1#. For information, call 947-229-7140 or email at ccwaterford.org">resource@ccwaterford.org, or visit ccwaterford.org.

• Forgotten Harvest mobile pantries will give Hope for the Holidays food boxes to community members in need, at various locations through Dec. 13. For upcoming distribution dates, visit www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food. Additional resources are at pantrynet.org or findhelp.org or call 2-1-1. Donations can be made at www.forgottenharvest.org/donate.

• Applications for Christmas assistance from The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit are open to families and senior citizens in metro Detroit in need, SAmetrodetroit.org.

Community events

• The Waterford Community Coalition announces “Bring Together ACE’s Summit” — a community event aimed at raising awareness and understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 30, Oakland Schools Conference Center, Room D, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp., featuring experts sharing information and discussions on resiliency, self-healing challenges, trauma-informed care, and actionable steps community members can take to address this critical issue. To register, contact: Debbie Wertz at 248-202-3480 or email info@ccwaterford.org.

Holiday activities

• Holiday Walk is offered 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 24-Dec. 23, most dates, self-guided indoor tour of the three main floors of historic Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, filled with magnificent holiday sights and splendid decorations, https://meadowbrookhall.org/holidays.

• Winter Wonder Lights is 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Nov. 24-Dec. 30, most nights, on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall, in Rochester on the campus of Oakland University, meadowbrookholidays.com, ticket prices vary, https://meadowbrookhall.org/holidays.

• The Great Decorate- Fostering Hope for the Holidays is Nov. 24-Dec. 31, to benefit metro Detroit-based foster teens in need. Participating downtown Birmingham businesses decorate with holiday trees and creative window displays. Cast votes for favorite display by donating any amount at www.TheGreatDecorate.com, through Dec. 31.

• Detroit Model Railroad Club Open House Shows are noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 24-26, Dec. 2-3, and Dec. 9-10 at 104 North Saginaw St. Holly, 248-634-5811, dmrrc.org, $5 gen adm., $2 for ages 5-17 and $2 for younger than 5.

• Model Railroad Exhibit and Museum Holiday Drop-In Hours are noon-3 p.m. Nov. 24-26 and select dates through Dec. 30, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, $5 for and $3 for seniors and students, rochesterhills.org/museum. Advance tickets not required.

• Santa House and Carriage Rides take place on select dates, Nov. 25-Dec. 24, at Shain Park, Birmingham, register at www.allinbirmingham.com.

• Holiday Tea in the Farmhouse is 10-11 a.m. Nov. 28, at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, featuring local stories, and artifacts and documents normally in storage, at the 1840s Van Hoosen Farmhouse decorated for Christmas, register at www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms, $15/museum members, $20, non-members, includes tea and light snack.

• DDAM Clothing will be hosting DDAM Good Holi’ Day Pop Up, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Nov. 28, at Daxton Hotel’s Parlor II, 298 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham. The shopping experience supports small businesses including DDAM and The Good Day, and Detroit artist James Kaye will have art for sale. The event includes light bites and cocktails. A portion of proceeds go toward The Great Decorate, an annual holiday decorating contest and nonprofit to raise awareness and funds to support local foster teens.

• Holiday Market is 3-7 p.m. Nov. 29, at Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp., www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks/parks-trails/farmers-market.

• Pre-sale for the official Cookie Stroll tins, priced at $35 each (limit 2 per order), can be purchased online at www.downtownrochestermi.com/store. Tins must be picked up at the DDA’s Downtown Collaboration Studio, 431 Main, Rochester, by Nov. 30, to be ready for the Cookie Stroll to collect cookies, Dec. 2.

• Rochester Garden Club to host its Gifts & Greens Market, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church at 1550 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills. The opening gala is 5-8 p.m. Nov. 30, $5 entrance fee, includes snacks. Market Days are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 2, $2 admission. Proceeds benefit community programs, RochesterGardenClub.org.

• Troy Community Chorus Winter Memories Concert is 8-9:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Troy Athens High School Auditorium, 4333 John R Road, Troy, www.troycommunitychorus.com, advance tickets are $12 adults, $10 for seniors and ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and younger.

• The Big, Bright Light Show is 5 p.m.-midnight, nightly through Jan. 21, downtown Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com/the-big-bright-light-show.

• Kris Kringle Market is 4-10 p.m. Dec. 1 and noon-10 p.m. Dec. 2, on West Fourth St. between Main and Walnut, downtown Rochester, downtownrochestermi.com.

• Birmingham Winter Markt is Dec. 1-3, at Shain Park, 270 W. Merrill St., tree lighting at 6 p.m., Dec. 1, downtown Birmingham, local artists and vendors, Santa House and carriage rides, www.allinbirmingham.com.

• Handel’s “Messiah” to be presented, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 1, and 4-6 p.m. Dec. 3, Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian, 5171 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, www.olccp.com/events, $15.

• Holly Jolly Folly Fundraiser for the Orion Lighted Christmas Parade is 6 p.m. Dec. 1, Golling Buick GMC, 1491 South Lapeer Road Orion Twp., food, music, silent auction, https://orionlightedparade.com, $60+.

• Orion Lighted Christmas Parade is 6 p.m. Dec. 2, downtown Lake Orion, https://orionlightedparade.com.

• Holiday Extravaganza is Dec. 2, downtown Pontiac. Annual Parade is at 11 a.m., Winter Fun Festival is noon-3 p.m., live ice carving competition, petting farm with animals, reindeer, Santa and Mrs. Claus meet and greet. The parade route will begin on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue at the Oakland Livingston Human and continues down Saginaw Street and ends at the Pontiac City Square (Lot 9). The Run Elf Run race is at 8 a.m., Holidayextravaganza.org.

• Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are offered 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2, at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, $7 members, $10 for nonmembers, www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms.

• Cocoa and Crafts with Santa: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 2-3, families can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, make holiday crafts, play games, drink hot cocoa, at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, $9 adv., discount to Troy Historical Society members. Register at https://www.troyhistoricvillage.org.

• Clarkston Art and Craft Show is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Clarkston High School, 6093 Flemings Lake Road, Clarkston, $4 admission, free for ages 10 and younger, keepsakecollectionshows.com.

• Salt Lutheran Church, 5475 Livernois, in Troy, will host a family-friendly Kinder Craft Night and Pasta Meal is 4-8 p.m. Dec. 3. crafts, children’s-only gift shopping for family and friends, pasta meal, bake sale, Christmas sing at 6 p.m., making cards for veterans to be delivered to the VA Hospital in Detroit. Pasta meals are $6 for ages 15+ and $3 for ages 3+, or $15 for a family of over four people. Craft prices vary from between $1-$3. Gift items are $2 and under, register at 248-879-6400 and leave email address.

Museums

• Preservation Conversations: The Story of Gettysburg is 2-3 p.m. Nov. 27, at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, www.troyhistoricvillage.org/programs/preservation-conversations-2, $7/each, free for members.

Parks/Outdoor activities

• The Rink at Royal Oak is open daily through the season, at Centennial Commons, 203 S Troy St., Royal Oak, therinkatroyaloak.com, Admission is $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends and skate rentals are $5. Tickets and skate rentals may be purchased on-site, first-come, first-served basis. Collection site for toy drive for The Bottomless Toy Chest, Dec. 8-10.

• Oakland County residents age 62 and older can apply for a free annual vehicle permit at OaklandCountyParks.com, tinyurl.com/2yu8vjtd.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Submit community events online at https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.