MSU Tollgate Farm presents Holiday Lights on the Farm

Mike Mathis, Michigan State University Extension -

Enjoy a fun-filled evening gazing at beautiful, lighted holiday displays.

Graphic for Holiday Lights at the Farm

Celebrate the holidays with a cruise at the MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center in Novi. From the comfort of their cars, guests will enjoy holiday light displays built by volunteers and businesses. Add to the fun by pre-purchasing a cookie and cocoa to-go box for your cruise. All proceeds will support educational programming. 

  • $10 per car registration fee.
  • Dates & Time: Dec. 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night.
  • Pre-registration is required, and the registration fee is non-refundable.
  • In the event of bad weather, the MSU Tollgate Farm team will assess our ability to successfully execute the event. If we cancel, a full refund will be provided.

Click here to register!

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Important COVID-19 Guidelines and Requirements

  • Wear a mask when checking in (even when just rolling down your car window to talk with an attendant). 
  • Restrooms will not be available.
  • All passengers must remain in their cars.
  • Pre-registration is required.
  • Registration is non-refundable.
  • In the event of hazardous weather conditions, and MSU Tollgate Farm cancels the event, registration fees will be refunded.

Individual and Family Decorators Needed

We welcome individuals, families, and volunteers to select a display location at the farm to decorate in a theme of their choosing. This opportunity is FREE to participate in. Decorators will provide all their own decorations, lawn decorations, lights, artificial or live cut trees, extension cords, and any other supplies on their own. They will also be responsible for setting up and taking down their display in the designated timeframe. We ask all interested parties to complete an application, so we have more information about your potential display. In your application, you will select your preferred decoration location on the farm by viewing the photos in the image gallery at the bottom of the event website. All participants must comply with the MSU Community Compact when on site for decorating and cleanup. Questions can be directed to Mike Mathis, MSU Tollgate Farm director at mathismi@msu.edu.

Click Here to Complete the Decorator Application

Important Dates

  • Dec. 6 will be the last day decorator applications will be accepted.
  • Set-up of decorations will take place by appointment on Dec. 12, 13, 14, and 16.
  • Displays will be open for viewing by car on Dec. 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.
  • Cleanup of displays will take place by appointment on Dec. 22, 23, 24, and 27.

Optional Supply Packages:

  • $25 – MSU Tollgate Farm provides extension cords and power strips.
  • $75 – MSU Tollgate provides one 6ft.- 8ft. Christmas tree, Christmas tree stand, extension cords, and power strips.
  • Request a custom decoration package. Costs will vary based upon items and supplies needed.

Nonprofit and Business Sponsors and Decorators Needed

We welcome businesses, community organizations, nonprofits, and government organizations to select a display location at the farm to decorate in a theme of their choosing. Decorators will provide all their own decorations, lawn decorations, lights, artificial or live cut trees, extension cords, and any other supplies on their own. They will also be responsible for setting up and taking down their display in the designated timeframe. We ask all interested parties to complete an application so we have more information about your potential display. In your application, you will select your preferred decoration location on the farm by viewing the photos in the image gallery at the bottom of the event website. All participants must comply with the MSU Community Compact when on site for decorating and cleanup. Questions can be directed to Mike Mathis, MSU Tollgate Farm - Director at mathismi@msu.edu.

Click Here to Complete the Decorator and Sponsor Application

Business and Nonprofit Decorator/Sponsor Packages

  • Free - Nonprofit and Community Organization Decorator - Community organizations will be able to place their own signage and advertising within their display.
  • $100 - Business Sponsor and Decorator - The $100 fee will support MSU Tollgate Farm’s operation of the event and allow for the organization to place their own signage within the display.
  • $500 Major Display Sponsor - The $500 fee will support the farm’s efforts with assisting in setting up of a significantly larger display, support the general operation of the event, allow for the organization to place their own signage within the display, and the sponsor will be included in the event marketing efforts.
  • $1,000 Lead Event Sponsor - The $1,000 fee will support the farm’s efforts with assisting in setting up of a significantly larger display, support the general operation of the event, allow for the organization to place their own signage within the display, and the sponsor will be included as the lead sponsor in all event marketing.

Optional Supply Packages

  • $25 – MSU Tollgate provides extension cords and power strips.
  • $75 – MSU Tollgate provides one 6ft.- 8ft. Christmas tree, Christmas tree stand, extension cords, and power strips.
  • Request a custom decoration package. Costs will vary based upon items and supplies needed.

Important Dates

  • Dec. 6 will be the last day decorator applications will be accepted.
  • Set-up of decorations will take place by appointment on Dec. 12, 13, 14, and 15.
  • Displays will be open for viewing by car on Dec. 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.
  • Cleanup of displays will take place by appointment on Dec. 22, 23, 24, and 27.

Holiday Decoration Donations Needed

The farm needs new and gently used holiday decorations for our Holiday Lights on the Farm. Please consider purchasing or rummaging through your old decorations and donating them to the farm. We are especially in need of:

  • Working holiday lights
  • Extension cords
  • Power strips
  • Lawn decorations
  • Artificial or live-cut trees
  • Generators - either borrowed or donated
  • Cash donations are also welcome!

Contact Mike Mathis at mathismi@msu.edu to organize a donation drop-off or to provide a cash donation.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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