Post-Thanksgiving holiday celebrations are underway hereabouts in earnest. Here’s a coming week’s mini-sampler:
Saturday, Sept. 1: Ox-Bow House Winter Artist Markets, 130 Center St., downtown Douglas; and Crane’s drive-through holiday light shows at the family’s 51-year Fennville orchards, 6054 124th Ave./M-89, season runs continue. Call for times and hours.
Sunday, Dec. 2: Where to turn? Why not everywhere?
• Saugatuck’s downtown Christmas Parade, now run by Operation Hope for Allegan Youth, lines up starting 10:15 a.m. at or near Wicks Park.
Think: lit center gazebo, trees, full-size sleigh with electric deer, the Kalamazoo River and Mt. Baldhead as sunrise light ascends and dressed characters start appearing.
Many years have seen costume contests confirm prestigious, if not tongue-in-cheek awards often dependent on winner’s age or dog’s oddball outfit. Some will wear anything if it pleases.
The procession debarks from there at 11 sharp south on Water Street, east (left) a block on Mason Street, then back north before crowds lining Butler Street. Already by then a couple pubs and festive gift shops will have doors open.
The traditionally-vying women’s Peppermint (formerly -Stick) Brigade and men’s Precision Snow Shovel Drill Team are early signed up entries.
The shtick goes gals chant “Shop till we drop,” guys bring up the rear, cleaning up, lamenting. Sexist – S = exist; in Saugatuck stereotypes aren’t sweated but celebrated.
Want to take part? Go to signupgenious.com/…/10C0844A5A623A7FEC61…
Also Saturday, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts will host its outdoor Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The fourth annual Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl invite strolling carolers and others to un-mothball their most-hideous winter warmers, register for $10 each at Wicks Park Bar & Grill from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m., and perambulate visiting five elves at sister saloons, each of whom will assign them tasks.
Trek and tasks completed, plus sweaters thoroughly inspected, pilgrims will return to WPB&G, turn in cards, and await judgment on whose garments were Best Ugliest.
Raffle prizes will be given freely for consolation. To savor the moment further, guests can grab 2023 event shirts for $22 each. Ugly Sweater proceeds will go to the afore-mentioned Operation Hope.
Lakeshore Community Chorus will present “Our Holiday Wonderland” concerts at the SCA Saturday at 4 and 7 p.m.
J. Petter Galleries in Douglas will host a holiday artist market from 2 to 4 p.m.; Farmhouse Deli further south on Blue Star Highway will offer a wreath-making workshop starting at 2 p.m.; and Laketown Township’s Felt Mansion will open for holiday fun as has been detailed also in this paper.
If downtown Fennville is more your style, downtown will buzz between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. with a pancake breakfast at the fire hall, live reindeer at the library, a tree lighting, vendor market at the children’s museum, all capping with a 5:30 p.m. parade as the start-of-winter sun goes down.
Recovered yet? Everyday People Café in Douglas next day will host the first of three Monday Holly Days Bazaars offering local art, crafts, food and ???, different vendors each night, from 5 to 8 p.m.