DETROIT – Noel Night, the popular holiday event held in Detroit’s Midtown, has been canceled for 2025, and organizers say they will use the one-year break to “re-imagine the event’s future.”
Midtown Detroit, Inc. announced the pause for the event in a release on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.
“This pause allows us to take a step back and design a holiday event that builds upon its culturally vibrancy through arts and music, and is more sustainable for the future,” said Melanie Markowicz, Executive Director of Midtown Detroit Inc. “This has long been one of Detroit’s most inclusive and accessible community traditions, attracting tens of thousands of residents and visitors each year. We want to ensure future events build on that history and continue to provide meaningful benefits for our local businesses and cultural institutions.”
Since 1973, Noel Night has attracted tens of thousands of people to explore the district’s shops, restaurants, and cultural sites, serving as a beloved tradition that welcomes new visitors to local businesses and institutions. Organizing this event requires months of planning, fundraising, and close cooperation with community partners amid ongoing challenges in the nonprofit sector and evolving needs in Midtown, according to Midtown Detroit, Inc.
The organization said local business owners "expressed appreciation for the decision" and recognized that the pause will help make the event stronger.
“Noel Night has always been one of the most exciting nights of the year for Midtown, but we understand and support the decision to pause this year so the event can be refreshed,” said Ned Staebler, Chair of the Board of Directors for Midtown Detroit, Inc. and Vice President of Economic Development at Wayne State University. “Taking this time ensures that when it returns, it will bring even more of the energy, visitors, and community spirit that make it such a special night for local businesses.”
According to the release, Midtown Detroit, Inc. will continue to work with local partners to promote programming and keep the area active during the holiday season.