Added on November 19, 2018  Sara Swanson

Guide to 2018 Christmas in the Village

Manchester Christmas in the Village 2018

Schedule of Events

Thursday, November 29th

6:30 pm
Resident Outdoor Decorating Contest Judging –
Decorations will be judged in the categories of best “Twas’ the Night before Christmas/Victorian” theme, most Clark Griswold/over the top, and most Manchester spirit. A master, interactive map will be available week of the event, posted on the Christmas in the Village Facebook page. Winners will be announced at Tree Lighting Ceremony

Friday, November 30th

4:30 pm
Business Storefront Decorating Contest Judging
Winners will be announced at Tree Lighting Ceremony

5:45 pm
Christmas Parade Float Judging
American Legion parking lot/Kirk Park area
Parade entry forms must be submitted by November 21st. Parade Contest WINNERS will be announced at the Gazebo following the parade at the tree lighting ceremony

6 pm
Christmas Parade Line-Up
American Legion parking lot/Kirk Park area
Parade Departs at 6:30pm SHARP!!!

6:30 pm
Christmas Parade
Parade leaves from American Legion Parking Lot, heads north on Adrian, west on Main, and ends at Gazebo in Wurster Park.
There will be no candy thrown for safety reasons but plenty of lights, sounds and music. (Santa will be handing out candy and a toy after the parade.) Santa and Mrs Claus will be bringing up the rear of the parade.

7 to 7:45 pm
Caroling with the Dodworth Saxhorn Band
Art Kettle, 121 West Main Street
More than just a sing-a-long, the Dodsworth Saxhorn Band will entertain you and keep you on your toes! A joyful interaction and traditional Christmas music to boot. Fun, free experience.

7 to 9 pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Gazebo in Wurster Park
After the parade, gather in Wurster Park for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and hear the winners of the parade float contest, outdoor decorating contest, and decorated storefront contest announced, join in some caroling, warm up with some hot cocoa at a hot cocoa station. Children can wait in line to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, receive a goodie bag and have their photo taken with Santa by professional photographer Robin Scully. Photos are free and will be emailed.

7 to 9 pm
Post-parade 7th/8th grade Fun Night
Manchester High School, 20500 Dutch Drive
The Middle School PTSA will be hosting a 7th/8th grade fun night. Admission is $5, or $4 with a non-perishable item to donate to the CRC. Concessions will be provided at an additional cost.

8 to 10 pm
Yule Ball
(see Yule Ball section below)

8 pm to midnight
Christmas Karaoke
Over The Edge Sports Bar & Pizzeria, 230 East Main Street
Drop by for Christmas Karaoke. After visiting with the children, Santa and Mrs Claus plan to stop in and belt out some tunes too.

Saturday, December 1st

9 am to 3 pm
Craft Shows
(see Craft Shows & Pop Up Market section below)

9 am to 3 pm
Voting on Festival of Trees
Pedestrian Alley next to Comerica Bank, Main Street
“Vote” for your favorite tree by placing food pantry donations under the tree of your choice. Food pantry donations will go the Community Resource Center, Manchester.

9 am to 4 pm
Scavenger Hunt
Begins and ends at Two Black Sheep, 115 East Main Street
Join in a ‘Twas the Night before Christmas-themed hunt! At 9 am you will be able to pick up the clues at Two Black Sheep. You will make 14 stops total throughout Manchester. At each stop you will get a line to the famous Christmas poem! Once you’ve collected all lines to the poem, you will have until 4 pm to turn in your completed form at the Scavenger Hunt drop box in front of Two Black Sheep. Fully completed poems will be entered into a drawing for a CASH prize.

9 am to 4 pm
Manchester Area Historical Society Open House
302 East Main Street
Join the Manchester Area Historical Society at the Kingsley-Jenter House to shop for some unique holiday gifts in their brand new gift shop. Speak to historical society members about Manchester’s history or ask advice about your own historical research.

9 am to 6 pm
Pop-Up Markets
(see Craft Shows & Pop-Up Markets section below)

9 am to 10:30 am
Reindeer Trail Walk/Run SIGN IN
Wurster Park, 200 block of West Main Street

10 am to noon
Gingerbread House Class
The Shoppes of Alber Mill, 201 East Main Street
Take a crafting workshop to create and decorate a Gingerbread House (note: actually made of graham crackers) to enter into the Gingerbread House display. All ages welcome but recommended for ages 7 & up. Cost is $10 per person, which covers instruction and materials. Visit www.eventbrite.com (search “Gingerbread”) to register.

10 am to 2 pm
Scouting for Food
Parking lots of Manchester Market, 455 West Main Street and Dollar General, 510 West Main Street
Please help Cub Scout Pack 421 support Manchester Family Services this holiday season by donating canned goods, personal care and cleaning items to be used at their Annual Christmas Shop event.

11 am to 1 pm
Santa Luncheon
St. Mary Parrish Center, 110 East Madison Street
Hosted by the Kiwanis Key Club and Builder’s Club.
Participants will enjoy pizza, games, cookie decorating, music by the high school Guitar class, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and lots of Holiday Fun!! It is free, but they will accept donations to help cover costs of the activities.

11 am to 3 pm
Reindeer Trail Run/Walk
The route begins on Railroad Street/North Union Street, a dirt road that runs along the River Raisin to the Leonard Preserve entrance.
Participants will explore the mix of grassy and rugged trails in Leonard Preserve while enjoying views of River Raisin and the diverse landscape. The 5k will consist of one loop before heading back into town to the finish line where hot cocoa awaits. The 10k and 15k will follow multiple loops with more opportunities to see the birds, deer, and tracks of other small creatures along the trails through rolling hills, forests, and prairies. Organized by Manchester’s Cross Country team as a fundraiser. Please register by Nov. 25th at runsignup.com. Registration includes a Reindeer Medal, Race T-Shirt, and Hot Cocoa. Top Male and Female finishers will receive an exclusive Race Scarf. Students 18 & Under: $25, 5K: $30, 10K: $35, 15K: $40. Chipped timed.

Noon to 4 pm
Blacksmith Shop Open House and Demos,
324 East Main Street
Here’s your chance to take a look inside Manchester’s historic Blacksmith Shop and observe the art of forging metal firsthand.

Noon to 6 pm
Gingerbread House Display
The Shoppes of Alber Mill, 201 East Main Street
Come admire the creations of those who participated in the Gingerbread Class being hosted at The Shoppes of Alber Mill. Completed houses will be on display alongside the Cookie Sale in the Crafting Workshop.

1 to 8 pm
Christmas Home Tour
(see Christmas Home Tour section below)

1:30 pm
Cookie Contest judging
The Shoppes of Alber Mill, 201 East Main Street
Cookies will be judged by Santa. The  deadline to register is Wednesday November 28th. Cookies must be dropped off at Alber Mill between 9 am and 1 pm on Dec. 1. Please bake at least 2 dozen to participate in cookie sale. Winner receives a trophy. All recipes will be assembled into recipe cookbook.

1:30 to 2:30 pm
Story Time with Mrs Claus.
Exhale Yoga inside The Shoppes of Alber Mill, 118 East Main Street
Mrs Claus will be reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas! Come listen to this classic Christmas Poem.

1:30 to 6 pm
Cookie Sale
The Shoppes of Alber Mill, 201 East Main Street
Cookie Sale cookies $3 for 6 or $5 for 12 (all assorted). Part of sale will benefit a local non-profit group.

2 to 5 pm
Horse-drawn wagon rides through downtown
Loading location to be announced.
Wagon can accommodate up to four persons at a time. This activity is free.

3 pm
Manchester Area Senior Citizens Council Raffle Drawing
Emanuel Church, 324 West Main Street
Raffle drawing for donations from many merchants in the area including gift certificates, services, and items of value, it is bigger and better than ever. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Tickets will be available from the seniors at their third Annual Fundraiser at Emanuel Church from 9 am to 3 pm. They can also be purchased ahead of time at Old National Bank or Andrews Chiropractic, or by calling 517-673-7665. No need to be present to win.

3 to 4 pm
Meet & Greet with Santa
Porch of The Shoppes of Alber Mill, 201 East Main Street

3 to 6 pm
Nutcracker Open House
Dance with Hearts Studio, 117 East Main Street
Nutcracker-themed Open House including story time, dancing, crafts, and photo ops with the Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Fairy!

4 to 6 pm
PJ Movie Party
Village Room (lower level), Manchester District Library
The library is hosting a pajama party-style viewing of a favorite Christmas cartoon, How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966). Come make a Grinch Christmas craft while you watch the movie. Popcorn and refreshments will be provided. Children under 10 must be accompanied by someone 16 or older

7 to 9 pm
2018 Glow Show!
Manchester High School Auditorium, 20500 Dutch Drive
Come watch the Manchester High School Flag Corps and Drum Line perform in this long-standing Manchester High School tradition. The Glow Show showcases the flag corps’s original choreography underneath a variety of lighting effects to highlight the flags’ movements along with drum cadences. Admission is $5. Proceeds support the flag corps and marching band.

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Info Booth

The 2018 Christmas in the Village Info Booth will be located at the Shoppes of Alber Mill located at 201 East Main.

Craft Shows & Pop-Up Markets

Emanuel United Church of Christ
9 am to 3 pm
324 W. Main St.
Bake sales, craft & vendor show. Lunch will be available.

M Shaw Folk Art Home and Studio
9 am to 5 pm
610 City Rd, (parking on side streets)
Margaret Shaw Folk Art Home and Studio will feature folk art paintings and other gift giving art. Paintings are available to purchase from the porch gallery year round. Text 734-417-2385 for private viewing. See MShawFolkArt.com for more information.

Manchester United Methodist Church
9 am to 3 pm
501 Ann Arbor St,
On Saturday, Dec. 1st, the Manchester United Methodist Church, located at 501 Ann Arbor Street, will again host their annual COOKIE WALK. Several Vendors will also be selling a variety of items, including fresh Christmas wreaths, handmade wood items, handmade jewelry, handmade crocheted, knitted, embroidered and sewn gift items, lots of yummy baked goods including homemade German soft pretzels, fun and creative food items, a varied selection of craft and gift items, and Old Soulesville Manchester-made maple syrup. A Coffee Bar offering donuts, coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available during the morning hours. Be sure to check out our Forgotten Christmas Rummage Sale with proceeds going to benefit Manchester Family Service. Take a few minutes to look at the impressive artwork of Klager and Riverside Middle School kids displayed in our fellowship hall. A luncheon of sloppy joes, chips, dessert and a beverage will be served by our Youth Group.

Country Craft & Barn Open House
9 am to 3 pm
19442 Bethel Church Rd.
It will be the 24th year of the organizer holding a craft show at her home. In the past few years they’ve expanded to their new heated barn and filled it with talented artists! The show will include, homemade preserves, Christmas ornaments, centerpieces, living wreaths, painted sleds, vintage and antique items, primitive art pieces, farmhouse designs, teacher gifts, quilts, wool mittens, and a bake sale including homemade German pretzels. Popcorn, pop and water will also be available for purchase.

Sharon United Methodist Church
9 am to 3 pm
19980 W. Pleasant Lake Rd.
25+ vendors who will be displaying wheel thrown stoneware/pottery, Christmas ornaments and decorations, jewelry, quilted items, dry rubs, dip mixes, cherry pit hot/cold packs, children’s toys, cards, baked goods and much, much more. Lunch is available from 11 am to 1 pm

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
9 am to 2 pm (new hours this year!)
Freedom Township Hall, 11508 E. Pleasant Lake Rd.
St. Thomas will be holding its annual German bake sale. They will have vendors (Usborne Books, Discovery Toys, Party Lite) as well as a luncheon from 11 am to 2 pm that will serve bbq pork and ham and cheese pretzel bun sandwiches. Their bake sale features authentic German baked goods, homemade pretzels and doughnuts and a huge cookie walk with 20+ varieties of cookies.

Pop-Up Market at The Shoppes of Alber Mill
9 am to 6 pm
201 E Main St,
featuring handmade and made in Michigan products

Pop-Up Market at Proper Property Services
9 am to 6 pm
131 Adrian St.
featuring crafters and home based businesses

Pop-Up Market at Art Kettle
Friday during Caroling and Yule Ball, all day Saturday
121 West Main Street
An artful selection of stylish jewelry, hand-carved wooden spoons, ceramic creations, holiday cards and small artworks to brighten any home this season.

Festival of Trees

This year the festival of trees will take place in the pedestrian alley downtown next to the Comerica Building. Organizers are providing artificial trees. The trees have each been sponsored and will be decorated by the sponsor or another designated group. The trees will be decorated between Sunday November 25th and Thursday, November 29th. The trees will remain up through the Christmas season. Decorations will be removed by January 1st.

New this year, each tree is pitted against the rest in a decorating competition. On December 1st, Christmas in the Village attendees will be able to vote on which tree they like  best by placing canned goods under the tree. The canned goods will be donated to the Community Resource Center food pantry. The tree with the most canned goods will win a cash prize.

This year the trees have been sponsored by Ash Auto who will decorate their own, Linda Milkey of Charles Reinhart Co whose tree will be decorated by the Manchester Fair Queen, Manchester Eye Care Center who will decorate their own, the Lions Club whose tree will be decorated by Leos Club, Andrews Family Chiropractic who will decorate their own, Chippy Barn Mercantile who will decorate their own, Hastings Performance whose tree will be decorated by the Manchester Cub Scouts – Pack 421, Linda’s Diner who will decorate their own, Sutton Insurance Agency whose tree will be decorated by Kiwanis Key Club & Builders Club, Moxie Grafix whose tree will be decorated by Manchester Girl Scouts, and Jason Aldrich of ERA Reardon Realty who will decorate his own.

Yule Ball

Welcome the Season with historic dance demonstration, music and participation. Come Dancing at the Art Kettle with the Vintage Brass Band Dodworth Saxhorn Band! In keeping with its living history origins, the Dodworth Saxhorn Band uses only brass and percussion instruments that were built in the 1800s. Vintage dress is encouraged! There will be sweets and savories to celebrate the evening including Kouribiedes, the first-known Christmas cookie, and spiced wassail. Tickets are $18/single, $30/couple and includes delicious wassail and seasonal edibles. Two members of the Forget-Me-Not Dance Company will be in attendance to provide instruction in 19th Century Dance. Yule Ball tickets are available on eventbrite.com and for sale at River Raisin Antiques and Two Black Sheep.

The Art Kettle is a fitting setting for the Yule Ball as it is housed in the historic Fargo House, built circa 1834. James Harvey Fargo and wife Elizabeth, and his brother Stephen Fargo, took over development of the Village of Manchester after John Gilbert sold out his properties. James served as the first supervisor of Manchester Township, and the two brothers ran the Manchester Mill as well as the Fargo and Fargo General Store beginning in 1833.

The Manchester Area Historical Society will loan two large historic Manchester event posters for display, one on the 1875 Manchester Masquerade Ball at Goodyear Hall, and the other the 1901 Macabees Celebration. This event is generously sponsored by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Arts Alliance, and Manchester Area Historical Society and Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce.

Christmas Home Tour

In conjunction with the 2018 Manchester Christmas in the Village, Manchester’s Christmas Home Tour will take place on Saturday, December 1st, 1-8 pm. This year’s Christmas Home Tour will feature homes on Pleasant Lake in Freedom Township. These six beautiful lake homes, each with its own unique style, will be available for touring: Tom & Jodie Anderson, Jeanne & Jef Spencer, Claudia & Don Whitsitt, Patricia Redies, Carol Westfall & Lon Nordeen, and Brenda & Richard Buss. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door and net proceeds go toward Christmas decorations for downtown Manchester. Tickets are available in Manchester at The Flower Garden, Manchester Pharmacy, Kellie’s, Andrews Family Chiropractic, Linda’s Diner, River Raisin Antiques, Fredonia Grocery in Freedom Township, or by calling 734-255-1498.

Visit with Santa

In addition to the opportunity to visit with Santa and have a photo with Santa after the parade on Friday, Nov. 30 at the gazebo in Wurster Park, and have lunch with Santa on Saturday December 1 from 11 to 1 at the St. Mary Parish Center, Santa will be on the porch of Alber Mill from 3 to 4 pm later that day. If you miss out on seeing Santa during Christmas in the Village, he will be stationed on the Alber Mill porch for visits on Saturday December 8th, 15th and 22nd from 11 am to 1 pm. The Santa House has been retired …for now … but Manchester’s special delivery Santa Mailbox will be located on the porch at the Alber Mill. Again this year, children may write to Santa and will receive a letter back if a return address is provided. Letters must be received by December 20 to assure Santa has time to answer your child before setting off on his journey Christmas Eve.

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Organizers and Sponsors

Christmas in the Village is organized and hosted by the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber board member and Christmas in the Village organizer Jennifer Wojtowicz stated, “This is an event that really brings Manchester’s business community together; so much so that for the second year in a row it has been the driving factor behind bringing new members to join the chamber! And, the success of last year’s Christmas in the Village is a testament to that excitement that has been brought back to our business community, just by taking a look at that lengthy sponsor list!”

Organizers of the event include Jennifer Wojtowicz, Deborah Alber, Linda Stevens, Tammy Melcher, Kim Strickland, Ashley Ecklics, Sue LaRocque, Jacob Mann, Steve Alber, Aileen Rohwer, and Diana Parr.

2018 Christmas in the Village sponsors include Two Black Sheep Restaurant, Andrews Family Chiropractic, Donnellon Insurance Agency Inc, Chippy Barn Mercantile, James Buono Excavating, Linda’s Diner, Kellie’s, LaRock Dental, Sutton Agency, Moxie Grafix, LLC, River Raisin Antiques, Jerry Fenby Jr/Snap-On Tools, Hastings Performance, Lobbestael Landscaping, Old National Bank, Melcher Brothers, Village Hair Forum, Proper Property Services, Inc., Alber Excavating – Steve Alber, The Shoppes of Alber Mill, Schrader Outdoor Services, LLC, Jason Aldrich, Realtor – ERA Reardon Realty, The Village Tap, Manchester Marathon Gas Station, Manchester Lions Club, Manchester Eye Care Center, Danielle Cassetta Realtor – Integrity Real Estate KW Ann Arbor, Ash Auto, Linda Milkey, Realtor at the Charles Reinhart Co., Over The Edge Sports Bar & Pizzeria, and Martinrea BCA.