Winter Wonderland at the Gilmore Car Museum
Returning for 2025, Winter Wonderland invites families to celebrate the holiday season in Hickory Corners, Michigan.
Start your Gilmore Car Museum visit with an outdoor driving tour through beautiful colors, lights, music, and dynamic decorations.
You’ll travel the museum’s winding roadways to see over 25 individually themed light displays, lighted historic barns, and decorated vintage-era car dealerships.
Then, head inside the museum for a bevy of fun, including the Festival of Trees, a visit with Santa Claus, and live holiday music on Friday & Saturday nights.
| Gilmore Car Museum 6865 W Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI 49060 |
In this article
9 Things to Do at Winter Wonderland 2025
The Gilmore Car Museum’s Winter Wonderland Holiday Experience is back – and its PACKED with activities inside and out.
This year, admission is limited per date, and tickets are date-specific to ensure a smoother, more enjoyable guest experience for everyone.
Plan ahead and get your tickets early – the most popular nights will fill up fast!
Visitor Tip: Dress for the weather. While there’s plenty to see and do inside, some of the most dazzling experiences happen outside where the! We recommend cozy layers.
1 – Go On The Great Elf Hunt
Elves can be a little mischievous, especially at the Gilmore Car Museum! Armed with clues, a map, and a lot of elf-determination, you’ll set our on a scavenger hunt to find the most elusive elves hidden throughout the museum.
It’s a holiday quest filled with surprises, laughter, and a little friendly competition.
2 – Drive Through the Lights
Tune your radio to the designated FM station and watch the lights go by as you motor along the 1-mile Drive-Through Light Tour through the museum campus.
Along the way, keep an eye out for Rudolph’s Reindeer Forest where glittering reindeer sculptures twinkle among the trees.
The drive-through light tour is included with admission.
3 – Visit Santa & Send a Letter to the North Pole
The kids can visit St. Nick for FREE inside the Gilmore Car Museum throughout the season.
Stop by the North Pole Post to write and send letters for Santa using holiday stationary, markers and crayons.
4 – Explore Garlandtown, U.S.A.
Step into the miniature holiday village of Garlandtown, U.S.A., for a “search and find” adventure.
Challenge your group to spot festive details, characters, or hidden objects within the bustling holiday village display.
5 – Experience Christmas “Through the Decades”
Take a nostalgic walk through the decades with Christmas Trees decorated according to the traditions of the time period on display – from antique tinsel trees to mid-century lights and ornaments.
Local businesses participate in the Festival of Trees by decorating one of the 40 trees on display.
Cast your vote for your favorite tree.
Give kids a glimpse of Christmas past by sharing a bit of nostalgia. Find a tree that shows what Christmas looked like when you were a child.
6 – Sip, Snack & Shop – Treats for Kids and Adults
Bring a few extra dollars, because you’ll be lining up for the gourmet hot chocolate, holiday-themed food & treats, not to mention the holiday gift shopping.
Be sure to visit the Holiday Gift Market Saturday and Sunday, December 20–21, 2025 for handmade holiday goods and gifts.
Visitor Tip: You can sip while you stroll! We recommend getting beverages close to the start of your visit.
7 – Ride Through the Lights in a Vintage Car
Let musuem staff do the driving for you! Go Dashing Through the Snow in a vintage ride!
Ride through the lights in a Ford Model A, a Checker Taxi Cab, a ’63 Cadillac convertible, or other vintage cars from the Gilmore Car Museum’s collection.
Dashing Through the Snow family rides are $5 per car (for up to four guests).
These family rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
8 – Create Your Own Holiday Ornament
Stop by the Ornament Making Station to create your own a one-of-a-kind keepsake to take home.
This hands-on activity is perfect for kids and families, offering a creative break between lights, music, and museum fun.
9 – Capture the Magic with MANY Photo Ops
From the nostalgic 1960s Christmas tree lot (complete with a vintage Shasta camper trailer) to the Giant Vintage Christmas Cards, there are endless photo ops throughout the museum.
Peek inside the workshop at Santa’s Garage as a team of elves prepare for their journey to deliver gifts to children all over the world.
Come with a fully charged phone battery – you’ll be clicking away all night.
New For 2025
Gilmore Car Museum elevates its Winter Wonderland game each year. Here are the new additions for 2025’s event:
- Princess / Character Thursdays
Meet your favorite princesses, heroes and holiday characters throughout the museum. - Fireworks Fridays
Cap off your evening with a festive fireworks show! - Fundraiser Sundays
Support local schools through themed performances and donation opportunities.
Winter Wonderland Schedule
Winter Wonderland at the Gilmore Car Museum will run Thurs – Sun throughout the holiday season, from November 29, 2025 through January 4, 2026.
WINTER WONDERLAND HOURS
Thursday through Sunday, 5 PM – 9 PM
ADDITIONAL OPEN DATE
Monday, December 22
NEW THIS YEAR
Fri, Dec 12: Character Party, an interactive event with character shows and themed fun.
Sat, Dec 20 – Sun, Dec 21: Craft Market with holiday goods and homemade gifts
Winter Wonderland Tickets
Limited admission and date-specific tickets are available for each night of Winter Wonderland 2025. Guests will hopefully experience shorter lines, easier parking, and more time to enjoy the lights and festivities.
Tickets are available to purchase both online and in person at the museum.
Visitor Tip: There is a minimal booking fee for online ticket purchases.
NOV TICKETS
• Adult (18+): $13.10
• Youth (5 – 17): $12.70
• Child (4 & under): FREE
DEC/JAN TICKETS
• Adult (18+): $23.10
• Youth (5 – 17): $14.70
• Child (4 & under): FREE
Tickets are date-specific, which is a change from past years.
Reserve your preferred date now before it sells out!
About Gilmore Car Museum
The world-renowned Gilmore Car Museum, North America’s largest auto museum with more than 400 vehicles on display, is located midway between Chicago and Detroit, just 20 minutes north of Kalamazoo, or 45 minutes south of Grand Rapids.
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to tell the history of America through the automobile.
For questions or more information, visit GilmoreCarMuseum.org, call (269) 671-5089 or email info@gilmorecarmuseum.org.
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winners!
WIN Tickets to Winter Wonderland
Enter to WIN (2) 4-packs of tickets to Winter Wonderland!
Gilmore Car Museum’s Winter Wonderland welcomes visitors with drive-through lights, festive displays and amazing food.
Prize Details:
- 2 winners will each receive (1) 4-pack of tickets to Winter Wonderland at Gilmore Car Museum
- Tickets may be used at any date/time when Winter Wonderland is open.
- Dates: Dec 5 – 30, 2024 (Thursday – Sunday) + Additional Mondays: Dec 23 and 30
- Time: 5 PM – 9 PM
FINE PRINT:
This giveaway will close on December 9, 2024, at 11 pm and the winner will be notified via email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond by email accepting the prize. No purchase necessary to enter the contest. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to kzookids.com and not to Facebook. Entrants will release Facebook from all liability. Entrants must be at least 21 years of age and reside in Michigan. Only one entry per household or IP address. Kalamazoo Kids’ liability is limited to the value of the prize.
More Christmas Light Shows in Michigan
Winter Wonderland is just one of many places in Michigan to drive through twinkling lights this holiday season. Check out our list of Best Drive-Through Light Shows in Michigan.
