First weekend of December

The Christmas season is upon us, and Manistee kicks off the festivities in a big way, with their 23rd Annual Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend. This popular event brings as many as 10,000 visitors to Manistee to experience the wonder of a Christmas gone by. The highlight of the parade is the Belgian draft horses that pull 30' Christmas trees down River Street.

The entire weekend is filled with wonderful activities, including the Gingerbread House contest, Festival of Trees, and guided tours of Babcock House, a grand lumberman's mansion. Manistee is a great place to pick up those gifts for everyone on your list, and downtown restaurants welcome you into their cozy establishments for a delicious meal. As the snow flies, enjoy the carolers, decked out in period dresses, coats, and top hats. It's certainly the right setting to put you in a festive holiday mood. **Downtown Manistee offers holiday shopping...Ladies Night is Wednesday, December 14 and Men's Night is Wednesday, December 21. Food, drinks, specials & fun!**

2011 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, December 1
*A Century of Christmas at Home, 10am-5pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater. Featuring decorations, traditions, toys, and trains depicting Christmas from the 1860s through the 1980s. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students.
*Victorian Dessert Concert, 7pm, Faith Covenant Church. The Manistee Choral Society, outfitted in elegant Victorian dress, present Christmas and seasonal music.

Friday, December 2
*Victorian Gingerbread House Contest, 10am-7pm, Assembly of God Church.
*A Century of Christmas at Home, 10am-5pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater.
*Festival of Trees, 1pm-8pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater Ballroom. Bid on a variety of Christmas trees, wreaths, and other Christmas items.
*Sleighbell Chocolate Shoppe, 3pm-8pm, 318 River Street. Over 50 varieties of homemade chocolate treats like truffles, hot cocoa, fudge, and more.
*2nd Annual Downtown Soup Cook-Off, 4pm-7pm, various downtown restaurants.
*Open House with Holiday Refreshments, 6pm-8pm, Manistee County Historical Museum.
*Annual Guardian Angels Bell Tower Concert, 7pm. Christmas selections will be hand played on the 1910 Meneeley Chime at 371 Fifth Ave.
*The People's Palette-A Member Show, 6pm-8:30pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater. Honoring all artists who are members of the Manistee Art Institute.
*A Christmas Carol, 7:30pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater.

Saturday, December 3
*Sleighbell Craft Show & Bazaar, 9am-4pm, Manistee High School.
*Chickadee Christmas at Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary, 10am-2pm.
*Victorian Gingerbread House Contest, 10am-3pm, Assembly of God Church.
*A Century of Christmas at Home, 10am-8pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater.
*Historic River Street Open House, 10am-8pm, downtown.
*Jingle Bell Jog, 10am, through Manistee streets.
*Lumberjack Lunch, 11am-2pm, First Congregational Church. Enjoy beef stew, biscuits, apple surprise and beverages. $8 per person, $5 for children 10 and under.
*Guided Tours of the Ramsdell Theater, the Babcock House, and the Manistee Fire House, 1pm-4pm.
*Horse Drawn Surrey Rides, noon-4pm, downtown Manistee. Free.
*Festival of Trees, 1pm-8pm.
*Sleighbell Chocolate Shop, noon-7pm.
*The People's Palette, 1pm-5pm & 7pm-9pm.
*Santa's Arrival, 2pm-4pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater.
*Meet the Dog Sled Team, 2:30pm-5pm, corner of River and Division streets.
*Manistee Community Band Concert, 4pm, in front of Vogue Theater.
*Black Horse Farms Percherons, 4pm, corner of River and Division streets. See the beautiful and powerful Percheron draft horses up close.
*Hot Drinks and Cool Treats, 4pm-8pm, Senior Center...before, during and after the parade.
*Kiwanis Kops & Roasted Chestnuts, 4:30pm, downtown Manistee.
*Victorian Sleighbell Parade, 5:30pm, downtown Manistee.
*After Parade Tree Lighting Ceremony, end of parade route.
*Warm up After the Parade, 6pm-7:30pm, Manistee United Methodist Church. Featuring sloppy joes, bbq pulled pork, hot dogs, chips, desserts, hot cocoa and coffee. Adults $8, kids ages 5-10 $4.
*Guided Tours of the Babcock House, 7pm-9pm. Tour this 1880 mansion by gaslight.
*Jingle Bell Jam, 7pm, Manistee Eagles. Featuring live music by five bands: Awesome Distraction, Marty Yaple & Friends, Triple Shot, Junk Monkey and Rock Supply.
*Santa's Headquarters, 7:30pm, across from Historic Ramsdell Theater.
*A Christmas Carol, 7:30pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater.

Sunday, December 4
*St. Joseph Parish Men's Club Breakfast, 8:30am-1:30pm, St. Joseph Parish Center. Enjoy pancakes, french toast, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, hash browns, toast, juice, milk and coffee. Adults $5, children ages 6-12 $3.
*Victorian Church Service, 10am, First Congregational Church.
*Festival of Trees, 10am-2pm.
*A Century of Christmas at Home, 10am-5pm.
*The People's Palette, 1pm-5pm.
*Santa's Headquarters, 2pm-5pm.
*A Christmas Carol, 2pm, Historic Ramsdell Theater.
*A Service of Lessons and Carols, 3pm, Trinity Lutheran Church.