Saugatuck and Douglas Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

Saugatuck and Douglas pack their holiday events into Thanksgiving weekend and the first weekends of December. This page covers the events we could confirm on the Saugatuck/Douglas visitor bureau’s event pages and its 2026 holiday list, read on October 30, 2026. Where a 2026 detail is not published, we say so. Shortlist cottages and homes on Saugatuck rentals, then book on the property site. For winter weather, see Saugatuck weather by month.

Quick answer

Saugatuck’s Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday, November 27, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wicks Park. Douglas Light Night is Saturday, November 28, at 6 p.m. at Beery Field. The Saugatuck Whootville Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to noon, and A Christmas Carol has eight performances December 11–20 at the Saugatuck Women’s Club. We did not find a dated 2026 New Year’s Eve event on these pages.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, 2026.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027.

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Saugatuck tree lighting: the bureau’s tree lighting page lists Friday, November 27, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wicks Park gazebo, 502 Water Street.
Douglas Light Night: the Light Night page lists Saturday, November 28, 2026. Downtown Douglas marks Small Business Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., and the tree lighting is at 6 p.m. at Beery Field, 8 Center Street, with Santa, carols and hot chocolate.
Holiday Cookie Tour: the bureau’s 2026 holiday list lists November 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. Inns and lodgings each serve a holiday cookie, with the recipe.
Art Club Holiday Market: the same list puts it on November 27 at the Saugatuck Women’s Club.

December 5: parade, Winterfest and the pub crawl

The bureau’s holiday list puts the Saugatuck Whootville Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11 a.m. to noon. After it, Winterfest at the Felt Estate runs from 1 to 3 p.m., with Santa and Mrs. Claus and more than 60 decorated trees, and the list calls it free for children. The 7th Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl is the same day from noon to 5:30 p.m., starting at Wicks Park Bar & Grille, with profits going to local families. Fennville, nearby, has a holiday parade and tree lighting on December 4 at 6 p.m.

A Christmas Carol and holiday lights

A Christmas Carol: the list says 2026 is the community production’s 40th year, with eight performances December 11–20 at the Saugatuck Women’s Club. Check the event listing for exact show times.
Felt Estate: lights and decorated trees during December, with self-guided and themed tours.
Crane Orchards: a drive-through light show, Wednesday through Sunday in December.

What to confirm before you pay

The minimum stay and cancellation terms for your holiday nights.
Whether the cottage is open and heated in winter, since some lakeshore rentals close for the season.
Snow and ice: whether the driveway and steps are cleared, and who does it.
House rules and occupancy: Saugatuck rental tips. For what to bring, see the winter packing list.

If one feature matters for a holiday stay, start with this Saugatuck and Douglas page, which lists only rentals whose own listing title or website mentions that feature: Saugatuck and Douglas rentals with a hot tub (11). Confirm the feature and the holiday minimum stay with the owner or manager in writing before you pay.

FAQ

When is the Saugatuck tree lighting in 2026?

Friday, November 27, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wicks Park gazebo. Douglas lights its tree the next evening at 6 p.m. at Beery Field.

When is the Saugatuck Christmas parade?

Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11 a.m. to noon, per the visitor bureau’s 2026 holiday list.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

Start browsing stays

Sources

Saugatuck/Douglas Visitors Bureau — Saugatuck Christmas Tree Lighting (read October 30, 2026)
Saugatuck/Douglas Visitors Bureau — Small Business Saturday & Douglas Light Night (read October 30, 2026)
Saugatuck/Douglas Visitors Bureau — Art Coast Holiday Bucket List 2026 (read October 30, 2026)

Things to do · Winter packing · Rental tips · Family cottages and cabins · Christmas week lake weekends