Midtown Detroit Businesses Launch Merry Midtown Amid Noel Night Hiatus

UPDATE: Midtown Detroit businesses are stepping up to fill the festive void left by the traditional Noel Night, which is taking a year-long break. The inaugural Merry Midtown celebration is set for December 6, running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will feature over 50 local stores, restaurants, and cultural institutions.

This new holiday event aims to maintain the vibrant holiday spirit that typically attracts thousands of visitors to Midtown each December. With Noel Night on pause until 2026, community members are eager to ensure the local economy stays buoyant during the festive season.

Felicia Patrick, owner of Flo Boutique, reflects on the significance of Noel Night: “It’s fun. Gift giving, people shopping, dancing, networking—it’s one of the biggest economic nights, yes,” she stated. The decision to pause Noel Night was made by Midtown Detroit Inc., with chair Ned Staebler emphasizing the need to realign the event for all stakeholders involved, including retailers and cultural institutions.

In a rapid response to the news of Noel Night’s hiatus, Andy Linn, co-founder of City Bird, collaborated with other businesses to create Merry Midtown. “It was only about three weeks ago but immediately we were texting and emailing and had a meeting together after a couple days,” Linn shared. This quick mobilization reflects the community’s determination to keep holiday traditions alive.

Merry Midtown promises to capture the essence of Noel Night with festive activities, including a visit from Santa, live music, DJs, and numerous pop-up markets showcasing Midtown’s unique retail landscape. Alyson Jones Turner from Source Booksellers expressed her enthusiasm: “Our offerings are very different. We have people that make products, businesses that just opened.”

As Midtown Detroit Inc. works on refining Noel Night for its return in 2026, Staebler praised the initiative, stating, “Small businesses are the heart of Midtown, really like they are the heart of Detroit and the heart of Michigan.”

With Merry Midtown, the community is ready to celebrate the holidays and support local businesses, ensuring the tradition of gathering and joy continues, even in the absence of Noel Night.

Stay tuned for more updates as this beloved neighborhood celebration unfolds!