For everyone attending next week’s 23rd Annual Detroit Tree Lighting, presented by DTE Foundation and produced by the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), I have a request: Take a moment to look around. I hope you see what I see.
I see people of all ages and backgrounds coming together around a beloved Detroit tradition. I see small businesses welcoming new customers. And I see Campus Martius Park, our city’s premier gathering place, continuing to do what it has done for years: bring people together and help shape the experience of Downtown Detroit.
Yes, the Tree Lighting is the kickoff to the holiday season, but it is also a celebration of our city’s spirit, culture, and traditions, and the beginning of weeks of activity that bring people Downtown again and again. From skating at The Rink at Campus Martius Park presented by Lexus to taking in the holiday lights, dining at local restaurants, and exploring seasonal attractions, these experiences create connections, support local businesses, and deliver a meaningful economic boost to Downtown.
Last year, more than 120,000 people attended the celebration. More than 94% came from Michigan, while out-of-state visitors represented 28 states and the District of Columbia. For some, it was a familiar family tradition. For others, it was their first opportunity to experience Downtown Detroit during the holidays. Either way, the event gave thousands of people another reason to make Downtown part of their lives.
And they didn’t just come for the tree. Last year’s visitors spent an average of 2.5 hours Downtown, exploring well beyond the stage and Campus Martius Park’s centerpiece. The event generated more than $4 million in estimated direct spending that night alone, averaging $35 per visitor. That translates into real business for Downtown restaurants and bars, shops, and locally owned food trucks.
The Tree Lighting also puts Detroit in front of audiences far beyond Campus Martius Park. Last year’s event generated 1,194 media mentions, with an estimated audience of 197 million, including 20 mentions in national media. That’s an extraordinary amount of exposure for one evening, offering people who may never have attended a glimpse of Downtown as a destination worth experiencing.
And increasingly, people are traveling farther to be part of it. In 2025, 6.58% of visitors traveled more than 50 miles to attend, up from 5.47% the previous year. The DDP estimates approximately $814,000 in hotel spending associated with event visitors, demonstrating that the celebration can generate benefits well beyond an evening out, including overnight stays and additional activity throughout the region.
Perhaps most importantly, the impact doesn’t end when the music stops. Visitor patterns showed activity extending to restaurants, hotels, and other Downtown destinations. Across the full Downtown area, visits increased 3.12% compared with the previous year’s event period. These findings point to something bigger than a successful event: an opportunity to introduce people to places, businesses, and experiences that give them reasons to return throughout the year.
Those are some of the things I think about as our team at the Downtown Detroit Partnership prepares for this year’s celebration. The lights, performances, and arrival of Santa are what bring people together that evening. But the connections they make and the places they discover are what give the experience a longer life. Perhaps someone discovers a new favorite restaurant, finds a reason to come back with family, or starts to see Downtown differently—as a place to live, work, and play.
That’s how one night can help build lasting connections to a city.
So when Santa arrives and the tree lights up, enjoy the moment. Then take another look around. The families making memories, the businesses welcoming new customers, and the thousands of people experiencing Downtown together are all part of something bigger. The celebration may last one evening, but its impact carries on well beyond the holidays.
And none of it would be possible without the generous sponsors and partners who help bring this tradition to life. Please join us in thanking them below.
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is grateful for the support of its presenting sponsors Bank of America, DTE Foundation, DTE Beacon Park Foundation, Lexus and Rocket Companies, as well as the following additional sponsors: 313 Presents, Amazon, Andiamo, Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Bosch, Broadway in Detroit, Bubba’s 33, Budweiser Fabiano Brothers, Carhartt, Chandon, Corewell Health, Cronus Communications, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Lions, The Detroit News, Detroit People Mover, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Zoo, Diversified Members Credit Union, EY, FASTSIGNS, Faygo, Fifth Third Bank, Forte Belanger, Gilbert Family Foundation, Go Great Lakes Bay, GW Home, The Henry Ford, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Live Nation, McDonald’s, McKeen and Associates, Merit, Metro Parent, MGM Grand Detroit, Michigan Humane, Michigan Lottery, Michigan Reconnect, Motown Museum, One Magnify, Premier Pet Supply, RAM Construction Services, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Trent Creative, WDIV Local 4, William Davidson Foundation and Xfinity.
David oversees more than 23 acres of internationally recognized public space, including Campus Martius Park. He also directs DDP’s placemaking efforts, earned revenue initiatives, marketing and communications, and major collaborations and events.
David partners with cities, developers, and organizations to design, manage, and program unique venues and spaces, driving long-term community and economic value. His focus is strategic place management, public-private partnerships, high-profile projects, and building districts through the arts and entertainment.
