Looking for some ways to get into the holiday spirit? Now that Thanksgiving break and the holiday season have officially arrived, here are some ideas to help you enjoy this time of year.

Shake n’ Bake

A popular way to celebrate the holidays involves utilizing the kitchen and baking some delicious treats for family and friends. During the month of December, many people enjoy either decorating holiday cookies, making peppermint bark, or building their very own gingerbread house. All that’s needed is ingredients for a treat, a kitchen to use, and some friends to bake with. These little activities can often put people in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Classics

As the nights get longer and the days get colder, many people begin to enjoy spending their time sitting by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and binge watching all of the Christmas classics. Bringing back movies such as “Elf,” “The Polar Express,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Santa Clause” or “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” may help emphasize the spirit of the holidays during this time of year.

The Big Bright Light Show

Every year, Downtown Rochester holds The Big Bright Light Show, hosting a festival called Lagniappe on the first day of the show where the city turns on the lights for the first time of the season. After that, Downtown Rochester keeps the lights on every night from 5 p.m. to midnight up until January 6. That way, anyone walking around downtown are able to take pictures, listen to the Christmas music and enjoy the spirit of Christmas overall!

Holiday Shopping

With the season of savings approaching, now is the perfect time to shop for loved ones and wrap up the gifts for Christmas. While people are out shopping, they can treat themselves to that new apple watch, a brand new pair of shoes or they can restock their closet with new items of clothing. Many stores also host sales for not only Black Friday, but as well as the weeks leading up to Christmas; some stores even have after-Christmas sales. With holiday lights, decorations and the floods of other shoppers, shopping around this time of year will really put anyone in the holiday spirit.

Sledding into the Season

There are several places within short driving distance to enjoy sledding, regardless of age. Many people enjoy sledding at Borden, Bloomer or Camp Ticonderoga, where they have hills of various sizes to slide down. All someone would need is snow gear to keep warm, any type of sled to slide down on, and people to enjoy the day with. To further relish in the winter day, someone can pour a cup of hot cocoa while taking in the winter months of Michigan and the beautiful scenery of snow.

Skating n’ Stuff

Along with sledding, there are other activities, such as ice skating, that allow people to enjoy the winter weather in Michigan. There are many ponds and indoor facilities located all around Southeast Michigan where visitors are able to pick up a pair of skates and enjoy a few hours on the ice. The Onyx Ice Arena usually hosts public skates during the winter that are open to anyone. However, to get more into the holiday spirit, take a trip down to Detroit to visit Campus Martius, where skaters can utilize their public ice while being surrounded by lights, music and holiday cheer.