Wonderland Lantern Stroll
Canterbury Village
2359 Joslyn Ct.
Lake Orion, Mich.
April 18, 2025
I love all things colorful and whimsical, so when I learned of the limited-time Wonderland Lantern Stroll at Canterbury Village, I knew I had to check it out. With my 4-year-old niece and the rest of the family in tow, off we went down the rabbit hole.
Located in Lake Orion, about 30 minutes from Detroit, Canterbury Village is a charming, family-friendly medieval village full of shops and restaurants, plus themed activities and events that rotate with the seasons. During weekends from now until May 18, the village is bringing "Alice in Wonderland" to life with a walk-through light display of giant, story-themed lanterns, which did not disappoint.
Upon entering the village, you’re greeted by a live, costumed Alice in front of a larger-than-life lit-up cupcake that set the scene for the evening. Walking by a life-sized Queen of Hearts display, you head into a dazzling tunnel with purple flowers hanging from the top to guide you on your way.
As you continue along the winding path, you meander through a series of giant lanterns that bring scenes from the classic children’s book to life, surrounded by colored lights that cover the trees and fences. Teapots, roses, hearts, flowers, flamingoes, keys, clocks – they're all there, plus an army of playing-card soldiers and an interactive, light-up “log” path that changes color every time you jump.
In between, live characters including the Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter and the Queen and King of Hearts offer a little sass and madness – plus photo ops – to passersby.
A highlight of the evening was a mini-Mad Hatter tea party we discovered at the village’s All Natural Hippie shop. For $6 each, we were given a key to a tiny second-floor room where Alice herself served us a selection of teas, plus a tea sandwich and macaron cookie – all delicious – surrounded by flowers, playing cards and teapots with the film playing in the background. The passion berry tea, in particular, was great; I bought a package from the shop to take home. The whole experience took less than a half hour, a perfect amount of time for a short rest without having to rush to see everything in the village.
While I don’t generally enjoy kids’ activities, I found the village and light displays delightful and was impressed with the acting and interactions with the live characters and the overall attention to detail. The Nutcracker Suite playing in the background was a little odd for April, but hey, I guess we’re all a little topsy turvy in Wonderland.
My niece also had a good time, though was a little overstimulated at times. Her 5-month-old brother – who was supposed to be sleeping in his stroller – was also captivated, wide-eyed and enchanted as he took in the sights.
The stroll is open weekend evenings from 7-10 p.m., but the light show really comes to life after 8 p.m. when the sun goes down and you can see the lanterns in their full glory. We spent a leisurely 90-minutes or so at the village, taking in the lights, meeting the characters and perusing the shops, plus our mini tea party. For those who want to make a longer evening of the experience, the village offers a few sit-down restaurants, lots of shops and a carousel in the middle for a little extra fun. General admission tickets are $19.99, kids 2 and under are free.
The Wonderland Lantern Stroll was delightful, and while it’s targeted to children, it’s a ton of fun for anyone who enjoys a little glitter and whimsy in life.
