The full Winter Wonderland experience, presented by Hagerty, includes an outdoor driving tour through beautiful colors, lights, music, and dynamic decorations, as well as a visit inside the museum for the Gilmore’s decorated Festival of Trees among hundreds of classic cars, and a visit with Santa Claus. Winter Wonderland is a partnership between the Gilmore Car Museum and Bluewater Technologies, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Guests can expect to drive their cars through the winding roadways within the museum’s picturesque campus, to be dazzled by more than 25 individual themed light displays, lighted historic barns, and decorated vintage-era car dealerships. When the drive ends, the experience continues inside the museum – with the Gilmore’s Festival of Trees displayed among hundreds of spectacular classic cars, a special Christmas Through The Decades exhibit, a visit with Santa Claus, reindeer games for the kids, and available holiday food & beverage items.

In addition to the spectacular light show, memorable Winter Wonderland sights and experiences available to guests include:

• Classic cars from the museum’s collection dramatically displayed inside Gilmore Snow Globes
• Dashing Through the Snow family rides in Ford Model Ts, a Checker Taxi Cab, a ’63 Cadillac convertible, and several other vintage cars from the collection
• Visit with Santa Claus along with photo opportunities
• A giant, one of a kind inflatable maze ending in an LED reindeer feeding wall
• A stop inside Santa’s Garage, the big man’s hot rod workshop, located inside our 1930s Shell Station
• Featured outdoor artwork exhibits from legendary automotive illustrators including Art Fitzpatrick, Van Kaufman, and Jeff Norwell
• A nostalgic 1960s fresh Christmas tree and wreath lot, complete with a vintage Shasta camper trailer
• Gourmet hot chocolate, adult drinks, holiday-themed food & sweets, and holiday gift shopping
• Live musical performances on Friday and Saturday nights
• Holiday inspired photo opportunities through the museum
• Leave your letter for Santa with the North Pole Post

Ticket Pricing:

• At Door:
  • Adult (18+) - $20
  • Youth (age 5 - 17) - $12
  • Child (age 4 and under) - FREE

• Online:
  • Adult (18+) - $17.50
  • Youth (age 5 17) - $9.50
  • Child (age 4 and under) - FREE

FAQs

• Will Winter Wonderland be closed on holidays?
  • Yes. Winter Wonderland will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.
    
    
• Do I need to wear a facemask?
  • Per the State of Michigan, as of June 22, 2021, vaccinated individuals are not required to wear facemasks. If you are not vaccinated you are asked to continue to wear a facemask. 

• Is my ticket good for a specific date?
  • Tickets are not date specific. You may use your ticket on any day between November 24th and January 9th. The Winter Wonderland event is closed on Mondays and Tuesday.

• What are the hours of operation?
  

  
  Sunday – January 2 – 5p to 9p

  Wednesday – January 5 – CLOSED

  Thursday – January 6 – CLOSED 

  Friday – January 7 – 5p to 9p

  Saturday – January 8 – 5p to 9p

  Sunday – January 9 – 5p to 9p

• Do we have to pay for parking?
  • No. Parking at the Gilmore Car Museum is always FREE.

• Will all the outer buildings be open?
  • During Winter Wonderland not all buildings will be open.
    • Open: Heritage Center, Franklin, Lincoln, Ford Model A, Cadillac, Steam Barn, Carriage House, Shell Station, Diner, Cafe
    • Closed: CCCA Museum, Pierce-Arrow, Train Depot, Campania Barn, Pedal Car Bar, Motorcycle Gallery

• Is there a time limit for my visit?
  • We encourage guests to take advantage of all Winter Wonderland has to offer until the event ends. Please know that the last admission of the day will occur one hour prior to close. 

• Will restrooms be open?
  • Handicap accessible restrooms are available in the Main Gallery.

• Will onsite restaurants be open?
  • Yes. The Cafe, Diner and bar will all be open.

• Will alcohol be available?
  • Yes. Regular alcoholic drinks - beer, wine and spirits - will be available as well as holiday themed drinks.

• Will onsite shopping be open?
  • The museum gift shop, three Bavarian Christkindlmarket stalls and a glow cart will be open during the event.

• Are wheelchairs and/or scooters available to rent?
  • Yes, a limited number of wheelchairs (free) and mobility scooters (a $25 daily rental fee) are available for those who may need assistance. Both are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please ask one of our Museum Store attendants upon your arrival for assistance.
    
    Guests are welcome to bring their own wheelchairs and scooters. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

• Does Gilmore Car Museum offer refunds or exchanges in the event of extreme weather conditions?
  • The Gilmore Car Museum does not provide refunds or exchanges on tickets once purchased. All Winter Wonderland programming will occur in all-weather conditions. The Gilmore Car Museum would cancel programming only in the case of extreme weather. Please check for updates on our social media pages or website.

• Are there walking areas outside for visitors to stroll?
  • Warm clothing and footwear are recommended, as part of the Winter Wonderland experience consists of outdoor walking areas.
  • Please be aware that Winter Wonderland includes the following:
    • Dark environments with areas of uneven terrain. Please bring a flashlight if you feel it will assist you
      in navigating the event
    • Crowds
    • Wood smoke and open flame
    • A possibility of ice and/or snow on walkways

• Do you allow strollers and wagons?
  
  • You are welcome to bring your own wagons and strollers. However, they will not be available to rent for
    this event. Keep in mind that strollers/wagons which are particularly wide may not fit through some of the site’s more narrow passageways.

• Are pets allowed?
  • Sorry, but no. Winter Wonderland is for humans only.

• Can I take pictures?
  • Photography and video recording for personal use are permitted. No tripods, monopods, or drones are allowed on the site and NO storage is available for these items. You will not be allowed to enter with these items so you must leave them in your car or at home.

• How long is the driving portion?
  • The driving-through light show is 1.5 miles long.

• Can I get a refund?
  • The Gilmore Car Museum does not provide refunds or exchanges on tickets once purchased. Tickets are not refundable, but are transferable between persons, not events. You can gift your tickets to someone you know if you can't make it.

• Can I use my membership card for admission?
  • Your membership card does not grant you access to special events. 
    

• There is a tunnel of lights on the route. Will my car fit under it?
  • The tunnel of lights is 10 feet tall and 17 feet wide, but slopes on the sides as it's an arch. Standard size vehicles will fit, no problem, but lifted vehicles may have to be measured at home first.