DEARBORN –
Sharia Law in Dearborn?  Not according to a list that ranks the best Christmas cities in the state. 

Onlyinyourstate.com, a website used to find attractions and events in various states, has ranked Dearborn as the No. 1 Christmas Town in Michigan.

Proclaiming Dearborn as the best place to be during the holiday season, the website lists
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village’s “Holiday Nights in Greenfield
Village” as the most joyous Christmas festivity in the state.

Dearborn’s ranking on the list might come as a surprise to those with the widely misconstrued belief that the city’s 40 percent Muslim population enforces ‘Sharia Law’ across town.

In recent years, protestors from all over the country have come to the city and attempted to disrupt mosques, public schools and festivals in opposition to the imaginary law. 

In October, Fox News aired a segment on ‘The O’Reilly Factor’ that continued to fuel the label. O’Reilly later apologized for misrepresenting the city after heavy criticism.

The other cities in the state to make the list are: No. 2, Rochester; No. 3, Traverse City; No. 4, Mackinac Island; No. 5, Holland; No. 6, Christmas; No. 7, Grand Rapids;  No. 8, Frankenmuth; No. 9, Detroit.

But none of those cities could match Dearborn’s joyous festivities. 

During
the holiday season, Greenfield Village’s attraction features a lantern-lit adventure
through a snow globe filled with skating, fireworks and live music. 

The
event includes Santa and live reindeer, carolers, dramatic performances, decorated homes and shops, holiday cooking
and dining, Model-T rides and other activities through Dec. 23.

USA Today also ranked “”Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village” as
one of “the ten great places to take the grandchildren.”

Tickets cost $24 for customers 13 and up and $18 for ages 5-12.
Children 4 and under get in for free. Discounted prices are available to museum
members. To view event dates and times and to purchase tickets visit www.thehenryford.org.

Dearborn
continues to practice many other Christmas traditions outside of Greenfield Village’s spectacle as well, including a nativity scene at the old City Hall located on
Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road.

The City’s
annual Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony and Sing Along at the Ford Community
and Performing Arts Center will also be held this year from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on
Monday, Dec. 7.

The free event
will give guests an opportunity to enjoy live music, performances by local
school choirs and bands, a Christmas sing-along and a visit with Santa Claus.

The Dearborn
Historical Museum is also hosting a free Victorian Christmas open house event
from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Museum’s Commandant’s Quarters, 21950 Michigan Ave.

The
Dearborn City Beautiful Commission will also host its annual “Dearborn Aglow”
holiday home contest from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 through Monday, December
14.

Commissioners
will be scouting the neighborhoods in search for the most festive and
impressive Christmas holiday light and decoration displays. 

Residents can nominate their home or submit a
neighbors’ homes for consideration until 5 p.m. Thursday, December 10. Call
943-2415 or email citybeautiful@ci.dearborn.mi.us for more information.