GLENLORE TRAILS AURORA WINTER WONDERLAND

Michigan’s largest immersive and illuminated forest experience, Glenlore Trails, known for being an over-the-top Fall/Halloween walk-thru nighttime forest experiences for guest of all ages, is continuing on for a few more weeks with a refreshed Winter/Holiday experience. This year’s Winter/Holiday experience theme is “Aurora” and it and will run through December 29th.

To help spread some holiday cheer, this Geek Daddy has a family four pack for the Glenlore Trails: Aurora experience to giveaway. Just complete the Rafflecopter entries before 11:59 pm on December 12, 2024 for a chance to enjoy this Winter Wonderland for FREE with your family. Must be a Michigan resident over 18 years old to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The one-mile forest trail of Aurora will blend technology with nature creating a magical hands-on adventure throughout the forest. Visitors will encounter touch-sensitive light installations, motion-triggered displays, enchanted holiday sounds, interactive games, and a special twist – magic wands that let you unlock hidden surprises along the trail. “Aurora” commonly known as the northern lights or southern lights, is a natural light display in the Earth’s sky, and that is the experience that will captivate guests under a shimmering sky of brilliant lights, as they venture into the forest of Glenlore Trails. 

Aurora is unique one-of-a-kind Holiday Winter Wonderland experience, exclusively at Glenlore Trails in Commerce Township. This incredible experience includes: 

•  One-Mile one-of-a-kind complete forest transformation Winter / Holiday Themed Walk Through the Forest;
•  Festive Lights and LED Displays;
•  Enchanting Holiday Sounds & Songs;
•  Interactive Experiences; 
•  Interactive Games; 
•  Santa’s Mailbox will be placed at ticket check-in for children to bring their letters to Santa for a special delivery to the North Pole. 

For more information about this event, head over to glenloretrails.com. Merry Christmas! 

CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

We jump started the holiday season with a visit to the Troy Historical Village's CELEBRATION OF LIGHT exhibit. This museum in Troy, Michigan preserves buildings that were in use within the community from the 1800s - 1920s laid out around a town square letting people step back into time to experience what life was like when the suburban city was instead a rural farming community. The village includes a log cabin, black smith shop, mercantile building, church with parsonage, one room school house and a Civil War era home. All lit up with holiday flair after dark this time of year.

Due to the pandemic my kids have been doing virtual learning from home so far this school year. This outing made for a nice home schooling field trip. We learned a lesson on the origination of candles in celebrating birthdays during our stop at the Troy Historic Village's school house. An interesting topic for my twins whose birthday is during the holiday season between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Each of the buildings along a designated socially-distanced path provide interesting tidbits about how light is incorporated into secular and religious celebrations as nights get darker and the year end approaches. Learn about how civilization mastered light and expanded beyond a practical need to also provide spiritual and symbolic significance. In addition to some colorful displays visitors can also learn interesting trivia making a visit to the Troy Historical Village both an entertaining and educational experience.

Viewing the Village in a different light by visiting after dark, this event embraces the rich diversity of the city's population providing a chance for neighbors to take a look at different perspectives from a variety of cultural groups that call Troy home. Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Christian traditions are reflected in displays that share the ways light is used in their faith and cultures in daily observances and annual celebrations.

Head over to troyhistoricvillage.org for more information about this CELEBRATION OF LIGHT. The Troy Historic Village is located at 60 W. Wattles Road in Troy, Michigan. With so many holiday activities cancelled this is a nice way to spend a festive evening. I've always though history is fun and events like this are a nice way to showcase that attitude and enjoy some holiday cheer.