Special Events

The Parks and Recreation Department hosts a wide variety of special events each year. Check below to see some of our current offerings!

SPECIAL EVENTS


Night of Lights 2023 FlyerNight of lights

Presented by MASCO, Night of Lights is back at Greenmead Historical Park 5-8 p.m. Fridays-Sundays Dec. 1-2, 8-10 and 15-17! Enjoy the night with visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, crafts, musical performances, street hockey, cornhole, and more. Check in with the calendar and see what is going on because you don’t want to miss this! For more information, visit LivoniaNightOfLights.com.









LUNCH WITH SANTA (sold out)Santa Hat Woman (JPEG)

Come join us for a photo with Santa, lunch, crafts, and story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Senior Center 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9!

Pre-registration is required and space is limited. The cost per resident is $9 and $13 for non-residents. This event is best suited for ages 2 and older. Register here (Sold out)





HE'S A MEAN ONE Hes a Mean One (PNG) Opens in new window

Join us for a fun afternoon of mischief and hijinks to enhance your holiday spirit! Our new He’s A Mean One event debuts 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Civic Park Senior Center. We are talking about family team games, silly gifts, refreshments, and photos with the Mean One himself!

This event is best suited for ages 10 and older for activities however all ages are welcome. The cost for residents is $9 and for non-residents $13. Register here.








Light Up Livonia GraphicLIGHT UP LIVONIA

It's that time of year again! The Light Up Livonia Holidays Lights Contest is back for 2023!! Register at LightUpLivonia.org. Be prepared to upload a picture of your home! Registration is open from Monday, Nov. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 10.

NEW THIS YEAR - PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD voted on by the community! Other awards include Mayor's Choice, Clark Griswold Award, Winter Wonderland and North Pole Award Judging will run Dec. 12-17. Make sure your lights are on! The People's Choice voting will close on Monday, Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. Mayor Brosnan, Santa Claus and Livonia Fire & Rescue will visit the winners to deliver the awards on Tuesday, Dec. 19.



Santas Workshop CallingSANTA'S WORKSHOP CALLING (sold out)

Santa’s Workshop Calling is 6-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 11-12! Santa and his elves will make special calls to children ages 2-10 in Livonia. Time allows for only a limited number of calls, so register early! 

Pre-registration is required for this free event so register LivoniaParks.org. (This event was sold out by Dec. 8.)









holiday workshop (1)Holiday workshop

The Kirksey Recreation Center is hosting a Holiday Workshop 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec 16, and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20! This workshop is designed to help ages 5-12 choose from several projects. Come make one or all of the gifts for family and friends.

The cost is $20 per member, $23 per resident, and $30 per non-resident. Register here.









Livonia AIR holiday workshop (1)HOLIDAY PARTY

If you are looking for something festive to do, attend the Livonia AIR (Adaptive Inclusive Recreation) Holiday Party 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Civic Park Senior Center! There will be crafts, games, and snacks. All you have to do is bring the holiday cheer and festive attire.

The cost for residents is $10 and non-residents are $15. Register here.










Add a headingROCKIN' REINDEER (sold out)

Are you ready to make a festive holiday squishable friend? Then be at the Kirksey Recreation Center 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. Join us for some holiday music, listen to the story “Santa’s Lost Reindeer” by Rachel Hiltz, stuff your own reindeer squishie to take home, and enjoy holiday-themed arts, crafts, and games!

The cost for members is $22, residents are $25, and non-residents are $33. This event is best suited for ages 4-10. Advance registration required. (This event is now sold out.)








storHolidays! Stories, Snacks and Crafts Flyeries, snacks, and crafts (sold out)

Join us 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, in Greenmead Historical Park's Newburg School on the kids' day off from school for a fun holiday-themed Stories, Snacks and Crafts! We will read three stories, do a few crafts, and end with a delicious snack.

Advance registration is required for $10/child resident, $12/child non-resident. This program is best for children ages 4-10, and all children in attendance must register (sold out).










FESTIVE FOREST and Deck the Rec2023-12-1 Deck the Rec n Festive Forest Voting Flyer

Show what you've got and help us create a Festive Forest by decorating a self-provided tree at Greenmead for hundreds of patrons to enjoy during the eight evenings of Night of Lights and throughout the holiday season.

The Kirksey Recreation Center is hosting the Deck the Rec event all December! The public will choose one winner. 

Vote here for your favorite decorated tree by Dec. 27!







2023-9-27to12-27 Book ClubREC CENTER READERS BOOK CLUB

Join the Kirksey Rec Center Readers Book Club 7 p.m. one Wednesday per month at the Kirksey Recreation Center to discuss the book of the month. You can find the books at Livonia Public Libraries.

Dec. 27 - "Last Christmas in Paris" by Hazel Gaynor/Heather Webb

This event is free to members, $3 for Livonia residents and $5 for non-residents. Register here.








New YeaNYE Partyr's Eve pARTY

The Kirksey Recreation Center is hosting the New Year’s Party for 2024! You don’t want to miss it, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 31  just before the ball drops later that evening. There will be family fun carnival-themed games, crafts, swimming, bounce houses, climbing wall, candy bar bingo, balloon drop, and more. The cost for members is $9, residents are $12, and non-residents are $18. Ages 2 and older must register at LivoniaParks.org.








HISTORY LECTURE SERIEs2024-1-30 to 5-6 2024 HLS Winter

Greenmead Historical Park’s History Lecture Series, takes place at the Alexander Blue House and is free to attend. No registration required.

  • Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.
    MICHIGAN’S QUEST FOR STATEHOOD
    Presented by Roger Rosentreter
    Did you know Michigan was admitted to the Union on Jan. 26, 1837? Our path to statehood was slowed by the a skirmish with Ohio known as the Toledo War. Come join us as we hear about the drama that led up to Michigan becoming the 26th state in the Union.
     
                          • Monday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
                            FRANCES HARPER INN

                            Presented by Karren Yurgalite
                            The Frances Harper Inn was the first rooming house for Black women in Detroit. The inn opened in 1915 and was operated by the Christian Industrial Club. Come learn more about the significance of this place in Detroit and its recent placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

                            Monday, Mar. 25 at 2 p.m.
                            DESEGREGATING BOBLO BOATS:  THE STORY OF SARAH E. RAY

                            Presented by Aaron Schillinger
                            Many Detroiters fondly remember Boblo Island, yet few remember that the amusement park and its ferries were once segregated. Hear the story of Sarah Elizabeth Ray, who filed a criminal complaint that paved the way for Brown v. Board of Education.

                            Thursday, Apr. 16 at 2 p.m. 
                            FAMOUS FIRSTS: THE HISTORY OF THE PACKARD PROVING GROUNDS 

                            Presented by Roger Luksik
                            The Packard Proving Grounds are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places for a reason – world records were accomplished there. Vintage and current images, will be used to share the history of the proving grounds from opening day in June 1928 until its closing in 1956.  

                            Monday, May. 6 at 6 p.m.
                            PROHIBITION’S PROVING GROUND

                            Presented by Joseph Boggs
                            In the 1910s, many Toledo-Detroit-Windsor corridor residents on wheels for the first time, just as a wave of prohibitionist sentiment swept the area. Dry laws soon took effect and rumrunners fully utilized the area’s robust automobile culture to exploit weaknesses in prohibition legislation and enforcement.