Shops & markets / Birmingham
Downtown Birmingham
Birmingham's downtown along Woodward, with nearly 300 shops, restaurants and galleries.
01 / The story of this place
Make time for these
Downtown Birmingham packs in nearly 300 businesses: boutiques, restaurants, gift shops, jewelers, salons, spas, antique dealers and art galleries. The Birmingham Shopping District (BSD) runs and promotes it under a state law signed on July 14, 1992, funded by a per-square-foot assessment on commercial property in the district. The BSD puts on the farmers market from May through October, BirminghamBURGER in October, the late-November Santa Walk and horse-drawn carriage rides in Shain Park. Downtown's two parks are Shain Park and Booth Park, where you can hop on the Rouge River trail system.
- Nearly 300 shops, restaurants and galleries
- Farmers market May through October
- BirminghamBURGER in October
- First two hours of parking free
- Free parking all day on Sundays
A closer look
Photos were taken at different times; images are resized and cropped on cards.
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¼ · Stay
Sleep right around the corner
Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-10-23
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
Events at this place
Published events automatically linked from our event guide. Times are local to the venue.
Oct 1, 2026BirminghamBURGER
Downtown Birmingham hosts BirminghamBURGER from Thursday, October 1, to Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Downtown Birmingham, Birmingham. Local chefs roll out limited-edition burgers, and you vote to crown the Best Burger in Downtown Birmingham.
Nov 28, 2026, 9:00 AMSmall Business Saturday
Downtown Birmingham hosts Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Birmingham. Holiday vibes with free horse‑drawn carriage rides in Shain Park (11 a.m.–3 p.m.), free hot chocolate from Hazel’s, free garage parking, and Santa Walk with registration.
Nov 28, 2026, 9:30 AMBirmingham Santa Walk
Downtown Birmingham hosts the annual Birmingham Santa Walk on Saturday, November 28, at 9:30 a.m., a stroll through downtown Birmingham to welcome Santa to town. It ends at the Santa House in Shain Park, where you can visit with him. Registration is required.
Nov 28, 2026, 9:30 AMSmall Business Saturday
Downtown Birmingham kicks off the holiday season on Saturday, November 28, starting at 9:30 a.m., with local shopping, free holiday activities and free parking in all five municipal structures.
Nov 28, 2026, 12:00 PMSanta House
Santa welcomes visitors at his Santa House in Shain Park in Birmingham on Saturday, November 28, from noon to 4 p.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides around the decorated park are part of the fun, and both are free.
Nov 29, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa House is open Sunday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Shain Park in Birmingham, presented by Downtown Birmingham. Visits with Santa and horse-drawn carriage rides around the decorated park are free.
Dec 4, 2026, 4:00 PMWinter Markt
Downtown Birmingham’s annual Winter Markt runs Friday–Sunday, December 4–6, in Downtown Birmingham, Birmingham. Expect local artists and vendors, European cuisine, holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment, plus free horse‑drawn carriage rides.
Dec 4, 2026, 4:00 PMWinter Markt & Tree Lighting
Downtown Birmingham hosts the Birmingham Winter Markt December 4–6 in Downtown Birmingham. Opening night Friday at 6 p.m. brings the Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa and caroling, plus European bites, ice sculptures, thousands of lights, and live entertainment all weekend.
Dec 4, 2026, 6:45 PMSanta House
Downtown Birmingham's Santa House welcomes visitors on Friday, December 4, from 6:45 to 8 p.m. in Shain Park in Birmingham. Visits with Santa and the horse-drawn carriage rides are free.
Dec 5, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa House is open Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Shain Park in Birmingham, presented by Downtown Birmingham. Visiting Santa and the horse-drawn carriage rides are free.
Dec 5, 2026, 10:00 AMWinter Markt
Downtown Birmingham’s annual Winter Markt returns on Saturday, December 5, at 10 a.m. in Birmingham. Expect European cuisine, thousands of holiday lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment, and free horse-drawn carriage rides.
Dec 6, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa welcomes visitors at his little house in Shain Park in Birmingham on Sunday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., presented by Downtown Birmingham. Santa House visits and horse-drawn carriage rides are both free.
Dec 6, 2026, 10:00 AMWinter Markt
Downtown Birmingham hosts Winter Markt on Sunday, December 6, at 10 a.m. at Downtown Birmingham in Birmingham. Expect European cuisine, ice sculptures, thousands of lights, live entertainment, and free horse-drawn carriage rides.
Dec 12, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa is at his little house in Shain Park in downtown Birmingham on Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both the visit and the horse-drawn carriage rides are free.
Dec 13, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Downtown Birmingham hosts Santa House in Shain Park in Birmingham on Sunday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also hop on a horse-drawn carriage for a short tour of the decorated park, and both the visit and the ride are free.
Dec 19, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa House in Shain Park, Birmingham, is open Saturday, December 19, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., hosted by Downtown Birmingham. Visit Santa, then take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the decorated park. Both the visit and the rides are free.
Dec 20, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa's cottage in Birmingham's Shain Park is open Sunday, December 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., hosted by Downtown Birmingham. Visit Santa and take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the decorated park, both free.
Dec 24, 2026, 10:00 AMSanta House
Santa welcomes visitors at the Santa House in Shain Park in Birmingham on Thursday, December 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop in for a visit, then hop on a horse-drawn carriage for a short ride around the decorated park. Both the visit and the rides are free.
Jan 30, 2027, 10:00 AMBRRmingham Blast
Downtown Birmingham throws a winter party on Saturday, January 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., headlined by a 300-foot zip line, the longest mobile zip line in Michigan. Downtown Birmingham organizes the free, all-ages fun.
Apr 10, 2027, 11:00 AMSpring Stroll
Downtown Birmingham hosts its Spring Stroll on Saturday, April 10, 2027, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with local retailers offering giveaways and activities for adults and kids.