Park near the mall entrances. They're less crowded than the department-store entrances. Use the Chicago entrance off Maple Road. The lot between Hudson's and J.C. Penney is the last to fill up. Most shoppers have other destinations during the holiday shopping season, so they won't be looking for parking there.
Deck parking is free for the first two hours.
Enter on Harvey Street, one block west of Main. Best bet is the parking lot on the west side of Lafayette, south of Eleven Mile Road. Through New Year's weekend, Royal Oak offers free parking starting at 5 p.m. Thursday and running through Sunday night. The deal applies to all meters, lots and structures.