Northville's Hometown Holiday Weekend runs November 20 through 22 this year. The Living & Learning Enrichment Center has a hand in three of its biggest pieces. It co-runs the calmer viewing section of Friday's parade. It receives the proceeds from Saturday morning's Santa 5K. It also has makers selling at the Handmade Market inside the Northville Community Center. The Northville Chamber of Commerce lists the LLEC alongside the Chamber, the Downtown Development Authority and Northville Parks & Recreation as the groups putting the weekend together.
That affects a few practical choices: where you stand on Friday night, which race tier you sign up for, and which market you visit first.
One Block of Linden Street Runs on Different Rules
The parade steps off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 20, under the 2026 theme "Home for the Holidays." The official tree lighting follows at 8:00 p.m. in Town Square. The Chamber's page describes "thousands of parade-goers," with bands, dancers, floats and Santa.
The Chamber's 2026 Sensory Zone letter to parade participants sets aside Linden Street between West Dunlap and West Main. There, "the parade experience is calmer and more predictable." The letter says the zone is meant for people with disabilities or sensory sensitivities, veterans, families with young children, and others.
As each entry passes through that block, it is asked to:
- Turn music down or off
- Pause sirens, horns and other loud sound effects
- Switch flashing or strobing lights to steady ones, while regular lights can stay on
- Keep waving, smiling and greeting the crowd
LLEC staff and volunteers stand at both ends of the zone. At the entrance they hold signs and give the familiar hand signal for quiet. At the exit they hold up signs and give a thumbs up, so floats can bring their sound and lights back. The letter says the adjustment "lasts only a few moments."
So if you have a toddler who covers their ears at fire truck sirens, or a relative who would rather skip the strobes, Linden Street between Dunlap and Main is the block to aim for. The Chamber's letter explains why it set the zone up:
"Some families have historically stayed home from community events like this for that reason. The Sensory Zone means they can share this tradition with everyone else, and it works because parade participants like you make it happen."
Third Year, and Now Built Into the Entry Rules
The zone is no longer an experiment. In 2024, The Oakland Press reported that Northville was launching its first sensory-friendly parade zone, run with the Chamber and the Living & Learning Enrichment Center. The 2026 letter calls this its third year and says the zone "has become a valued part of how our community celebrates together."
The 2026 participant registration page shows how settled it has become. The Sensory Zone instructions appear at the top of the page, directly under the date, time, location and theme, before the parade policies. Every business, school group or club that signs up to march sees those instructions as part of the entry rules.
For anyone thinking about entering a float, the Chamber's registration deadline is November 12, and lineup instructions go out by 5 p.m. on November 16. Fees are $50 for Chamber-member businesses and $75 for non-members. Community groups pay $35 as members and $60 as non-members. Floats can be no longer than 40 feet and no wider than 10 feet. They also have to clear utility wires and the clock along the route, which the Chamber warns "may present a problem if you have a very large float."
Saturday Morning, the Race Money Goes to the Same Nonprofit
The weekend's second LLEC connection starts at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 21. The Santa 5K Run/Walk starts and finishes at the Northville Farmers Market, 550 Seven Mile. According to the race's course page, the route uses the New Riverwalk park and the paved Hines Drive path. Proceeds go to the Living and Learning Enrichment Center, which the race FAQ describes as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities.
Registration costs more the longer you wait:
| Registration window | Price | T-shirt |
|---|---|---|
| Through November 8 | $40 | Guaranteed |
| November 9 to November 20 | $45 | While supplies last |
| Race day | $50 | None |
The race page also lists a 10% discount for families of three or more and $5 off per person for teams of 10 or more. The FAQ encourages runners and walkers to add holiday touches to what they wear. Sunday, November 8 is the cutoff that matters most here. A family of four that signs up after that date pays more per person and isn't guaranteed shirts.
Then Indoors at the Community Center
The third LLEC connection is inside the Northville Community Center. Northville Parks & Recreation's Hometown Holiday Handmade Market describes its sellers as youth, seniors and makers of varying abilities from the Living & Learning Enrichment Center.
Admission is $4 if you buy ahead or $5 at the door. Each ticket includes five raffle tickets, and you can buy extra raffle tickets and food inside. The Parks & Recreation page lists hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The Chamber's weekend schedule shows a 6 p.m. close on Sunday too. Parks & Recreation runs the market, so plan around its 3 p.m. Sunday close.
Outside on Main and Center
The outdoor half of the weekend is downtown. The Hometown Holiday Greens Market sets up at Main and Center Streets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Chamber describes greens vendors, artisans, food trucks and live entertainment.
Free Santa visits run in Town Square from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Horse-and-wagon rides leave from City Hall from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday only. Saturday is the busier day. You can start with the 5K at 9, go to the Handmade Market when it opens at 10, and head downtown for wagon rides and Santa after noon. Sunday is shorter. The Greens Market and Santa visits end at 3 p.m., and the Handmade Market also closes at 3 p.m. according to Parks & Recreation.
The Dates That Come Before the Weekend
Several deadlines fall before November 20, and one Mill Race Village event runs well past it:
- Friday, November 6, 6 p.m. In-person registration for Mill Race Village's 47th Annual Children's Christmas Workshop, at 218 W. Dunlap. Mill Race says registration is in person only.
- Sunday, November 8. Last day for the $40 Santa 5K rate with a guaranteed shirt.
- Monday, November 9. Santa 5K registration rises to $45.
- Thursday, November 12. Parade entry registration closes.
- Wednesday, November 18. Mill Race Village hosts "The 27th Grievance: Indigenous Nations and the Declaration of Independence."
- Friday, November 20. Parade at 6:30 p.m., Sensory Zone on Linden Street between West Dunlap and West Main, tree lighting at 8:00 p.m. in Town Square.
- Saturday, December 5. The Children's Christmas Workshop at Mill Race Village.
The Mill Race registration night comes first and has the strictest rule, since you have to sign up in person at 218 W. Dunlap. If the workshop is on your family's list, put that Friday on the calendar now.
If you have questions about Northville beyond parade night, like which streets feel quieter, how downtown changes with the seasons, or what living near the Linden and Dunlap blocks is like day to day, I'm happy to talk them through. Reach out to Dan Fortin at Dan At Your Doorstep. Let's Connect.
