’Tis the season to be jolly, and Midtown is the place to be. The neighborhood’s 41st annual Noel Night invites the public to enjoy holiday cheer on Saturday, Dec. 7, at more than 70 venues — including Wayne State, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Detroit Historical Museum — entirely free of charge. 

Activities will include holiday shopping; horse-drawn carriage rides; family craft activities; and performances by over 200 area music, theatre, and dance groups. The evening's festivities will culminate with a community sing-along on Woodward Avenue led by the Salvation Army Band — a long-standing Noel Night tradition.

At Wayne State, Old Main will be the site of several performances, as well as a cookie decorating demonstration and the Edmondson/Underwood drawing and photography exhibit at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery. At the Art Department Gallery, a winter art market will feature limited edition and one-of-a-kind items from current students. The WSU Alumni Association will present a special discounted price for the Bonstelle Theatre's 7 p.m. production of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, by Michele L. Vacca.

Wayne State’s College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts is also co-sponsoring The Reindeer Run with TechTown Detroit. The Midtown-wide scavenger hunt begins at 4:30 p.m. 

A free shuttle service will be offered between participating venues. For more information on some of WSU’s Noel Night events, visit http://www.cfpca.wayne.edu/news.php?id=12584 or contact Midtown Detroit, Inc. at 313-420-6000.