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© GatherGrounds Resorts
Christmas in July
Christmas in July at Walnut Hills: Santa, Parades and Decorated Sites
One Saturday each July, Walnut Hills turns into a summer Christmas village: decorated campsites, a Christmas golf cart parade, ornament crafts and a social with Santa. This year’s date is on the Walnut Hills events page.
One Saturdayin July
Santa sociallate afternoon, Pavilion 2
Golf cart paradeChristmas-themed
Site decoratingoptional, with prizes
What a typical Christmas in July Saturday looks like
Here’s how last season’s Christmas in July played out.
Deck out your site
Site decorating is optional, but a lot of campers go for it, and there are prizes for the best site. String lights, inflatables, a tree on the picnic table, wrapped boxes, candy canes on the awning: anything goes. Many families decorate on Friday night so the site is ready when the judging starts Saturday.
Morning crafts and tie-dye
Kids make a Christmas ornament at the craft table, and there’s a Christmas tie-dye session too. Shirts are sold at the camp store. Ornaments made in July end up on a lot of family trees in December, which is half the fun.
12:30 PM: Christmas golf cart parade
Decorated golf carts loop through the campground in the early afternoon. Tinsel, bows, Santa hats and the occasional reindeer are all fair game. Rentals are available at the store, and your own electric cart needs a cart pass and proof of insurance. If you’re not driving, find a spot along the route and wave.
4 to 6 PM: Christmas social with Santa
Santa visits Pavilion 2 for a Christmas social. Families bring a dessert to share, so the tables fill up with cookies, bars and pies. Kids get time with Santa, so bring your phone for photos. It’s one of the most relaxed, friendly events of the summer.
Evening and the rest of the day
Evening entertainment follows the social; last season included Christmas “Name That Tune.” Between events, it’s still July: the Wibit, the sandy beach on the spring-fed lake and a float on the Shiawassee River are all part of the day.
Book early for a July weekend
July weekends are the heart of the season and most of them fill, so book early. Rates are dynamic and change with the date and the site type; choose your dates on the Walnut Hills rates page to see your price. Staying a weeknight or two before the weekend adds the free camper days at the Wibit, Tuesday through Thursday.
Decorating tips
- Use outdoor-rated lights and cords, and keep cords off walkways.
- Pack decorations that handle wind; summer storms do roll through.
- Plan to have your site finished before the judging on Saturday.
- Keep things on your own site and off the road so carts and bikes can pass.
Many of the same ideas work for our fall contests; see campsite decorating ideas that win. For more summer ideas with kids, see camping activities for kids at Walnut Hills.
Getting to Walnut Hills
Walnut Hills sits just outside Durand, off I-69. It’s about 40 minutes from Flint, about 50 minutes from Lansing and about an hour and 45 minutes from Detroit, so you can leave after work on Friday and still have the fire going before dark. There’s no office check-in: your license plate opens the gate, and if you’re arriving after hours, call the store to pre-check in.
Questions
When is Christmas in July at Walnut Hills?
It’s one Saturday in July. Check the Walnut Hills events page for this year’s date.
Do I have to decorate my site?
No, decorating is optional. There are prizes for the best sites if you’d like to join in.
What should we bring to the Santa social?
A dessert to share. Bring a phone or camera for photos with Santa.
Can we join the golf cart parade without our own cart?
Yes. Golf cart rentals are available at the camp store, so you can rent one and decorate it.
Can friends visit for the day?
Yes. Visitors register at the store, pay the day-visit rate and leave by 10:30 PM on weekends.
Ready to book?
Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page.
Walnut Hills Family Campground · 7685 Lehring Road, Durand, MI 48429 · (989) 634-9782
