Christmas Comes to the Village Friday November 15th and Saturday November 16th

Santa is coming to Manchester. Mr. Kringle will be the centerpiece of the annual Christmas Parade, which runs from Wurster Park to the Old Mill. The parade starts at 10 am Saturday morning, November 16th, and it will culminate with Santa's arrival. Santa will greet the town, receive a key to the city, and hold court as all of the children tell him what they would like for the holidays.

Though the parade is always the highlight, festivities actually start the evening before. On Friday, the 15th of November, there will be a holiday sale at Freedom Township Hall from 8 am to 4 pm. Santa will be there as well, for photos and conversation. At 1pm on Friday, Margaret Shaw will have a Folk Art Show at 610 City Road. The show will run until 4pm on Friday night, and be open again on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Shaw's work, made from reclaimed materials, is regularly featured at Wild Acorn on Main Street.

Also on Friday, Unforgettable Photos will be hosting a women-only reception for their home-vendor show from 6 pm to 9 pm. The reception will include refreshments and give women the opportunity to shop their favorite home-vendors and fill out a wish list. The vendor show will be open to the public Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Then, from 1 pm to 3pm, Men and Children only will be allowed in, so they can take advantage of the wish list filled out by the special woman in their life. Gift shopping made easy!

More gifts will be available at the Wild Acorn, on Main Street. On Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, Dee Miles' regular inventory will be supplemented with new art, Christmas ornaments, hand made cards, and special treats to eat!

While Friday offers some early treats, Saturday will be the day packed with the most fun. The day starts when Kellie's on Adrian Street opens at 7 am for breakfast including homemade quiche and pumpkin rolls. At Emanuel United Church of Christ on West Main, from 9 am to 4 pm, there will be the traditional holiday sale. German Pretzels and baked goods are a perennial favorites, along with crafts, gifts and luncheon items. There will be FREE sleigh rides leaving from and returning to the church parking lot.

Also on Main Street starting at 9 am, Manchester Pharmacy will be open until 3 pm with an Open House and Holiday Sale. Special prices and perks will come to early shoppers. Across the street, at 117 Main Street (the former home of Unforgettable Photos), Manchester's own art club will be hosting an art sale featuring decorative art, wearable art, Christmas ornaments and hand made cards. The art sale will run from 10 am until 4 pm. The bygone art of letterpress printing will be demonstrated all day by printing historian Fritz Swanson (me!). And and just down the street from both is Worth Repeating, at the Old Mill who will have Christmas decorations and ornaments for sale in addition to their regular selection of clothing, shoes, books, jewelry, puzzles, craft supplies, stuffed animals, antiques and collectibles.

After meeting the children and greeting the village at the conclusion of the parade, Santa will be having lunch from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Saint Mary's Parish Center at 110 East Madison. There will be games, prizes, pizza and Pictures with Santa!

Beyond downtown, there are sales galore at local churches. The Manchester Methodist Church on M-52 will have baked goods, German pretzels, a cookie walk, wreaths, Avon and more from 9 am to 3 pm. They are trying something new this year, an “Instant Christmas Pageant: just add kids!” Parents will be able to drop off their kids off at 10:30am and return two hours later to enjoy the show. Contact Deacon Tina Zimmerman at 734-417-3117 for more information.

Sharon United Methodist Church at 19980 Pleasant Lake Road will be open from 9 am to 3 pm with what is likely the largest craft show in the area. Honey, beeswax products, scroll saw work, wheel thrown pottery, blankets, placemats, hand-spun yarn, needle felted ornaments, quilted items, greeting cards, dry rubs, children's clothes, and so much more. Lunch will be available as well at 11 am.

The Country Craft & Barn Open House on 19442 Bethel Church Road will be running from 9 am to 4 pm. Crafts, antiques, quilts, wool mittens, and other home items will be for sale. Food will include homemade pretzels and popcorn.

And finally, at Wacker Oil on M-52, Christmas North of the Village will feature American Girl doll clothing, baked goods, textiles, silver jewelry, Avon, and much more!

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by Fritz Swanson

Fritz Swanson has written for The Believer, the Christian Science Monitor, Print Magazine, McSweeney's, Esopus, LSA Magazine, and The Mid-American Review. He serves as a trustee on the Manchester District Library Board. He's the designer and publisher of The Manchester Mirror.

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