Guide to 2024 Christmas in the Village

by Sara Swanson

Keep up to date on any last-minute additions or changes at https://www.facebook.com/manchestermichristmas.

Friday, December 6, 2024

Free Christmas Card Making
When: 7am–1pm and 4pm–8pm
Where: Millie’s Coffeehouse, 227 E Main St
Description: Make Christmas cards for free. There will also be a donation box for collecting warm weather items for veterans (hats, socks, gloves, scarfs, and blankets).

Second Annual Animal Shelter Drive
When: 9am–5pm
Where: Edward Jones, 118 East Main St
Description: Pet supplies, food, litter, treats, and more. Questions about whether something is okay to donate? Call Tammy at (734) 786-8277.

Margaret Shaw Artist Open House
When: 11am–7pm
Where: 610 City Rd
Description: Opportunity to view and purchase M Shaw Folk Art for holiday gift giving and collecting, including whimsical folk art paintings; rag-woven small items like pot holders, shoulder pockets, cell phone pockets, coin purses, and wall art; paper cut cards; and hand-painted pear gourds.

Cherry Creek Cellars Wine Tasting
When: 5pm–7pm
Where: Frank’s Place, 104 East Main

Grinchmas Lighted Parade
When: 6:30pm (participants gather and line up at 6pm)
Where: The parade starts at the Emanuel Church parking lot, 324 W Main St, and runs along Main Street, turning onto Adrian Street, and ending in front of the Manchester Mill, 201 E Main St
Description: A lighted parade to kick off Christmas in the Village 2024. No candy will be thrown during this nighttime parade for safety reasons. Santa will be bringing up the rear.

Tree Lighting, Visit with Santa, and Hot Chocolate
When: 7:15pm
Where: Manchester Mill porch, 201 E Main St
Description: After the parade Mayor Vaillencourt will light a tree then Santa will visit with the children. There will be free hot chocolate provided by SRSLY Manchester.

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Free Christmas Card Making
When: 8am–2pm and 4pm–9pm
Where: Millie’s Coffeehouse, 227 E Main St
Description: Make Christmas cards for free.

Zion Lutheran Church’s Breakfast with Santa
When: 8:30am or 10:30am
Where: 3050 S Fletcher Rd
Description: Breakfast and photos with Santa. Horse-pulled wagon rides. Two seatings available. $5/person or $20/family. Reservations required. Link in Facebook event or scan QR code found in upcoming events section of this paper.

Craft/Vendor Shows and Open Houses

• Emanuel United Church of Christ Craft Show and Lunch
  When: 9am–2pm
  Where: 324 W Main St
  Description: Local vendors will sell crafts, products, and baked goods. There will be doughnuts for sale in the morning made by The Fusilier Family Farms and lunch for sale at lunch time.
• Manchester United Methodist Church Craft Show, Cookie Walk, Forgotten Christmas Rummage Sale, and Lunch
  When: 9am–2pm
  Where: 501 Ann Arbor St
  Description: In addition to the craft show, the church will be hosting a cookie walk, lunch, and MUMC United Methodist Women’s Forgotten Christmas Rummage Sale featuring gently used Christmas items.
• St Thomas Lutheran Church German Bake Sale, Cookie Walk, and Lunch
  When: 9am–2pm
  Where: Freedom Township Hall, 11508 E Pleasant Lake Rd
  Description: Annual bake sale and luncheon. Featuring a cookie walk, fresh-baked pretzels, lebkuchen and springerle, as well as many other baked goods. Our luncheon meal consists of ham and cheese pretzel bun or sloppy joe, two sides, chips, drink, and dessert. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!! Gluten-free items baked in a gluten-free kitchen!!
• Sharon United Methodist Church Craft Show and Lunch
  When: 9am–3pm
  Where: Sharon United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 19980 Pleasant Lake Rd
  Description: Craft show and lunch for sale.
• Country Craft Barn Open House
  When: 9am–3pm
  Where: 19442 Bethel Church Rd
  Description: 30th Annual Craft Show. Items include, German pretzels, cookies, brownies, lebkuchens, cinnamon rolls, jams, jellies, pickled veggies, living wreaths and grave blankets, centerpieces, ornaments, serving trays, signs, vintage items, wool mittens, cosmetics, and more! You won’t be disappointed. Cash or check.
• Manchester Area Historical Society Museum Open House & Craft Show
  When: 10am–2pm
  Where: Kingsley-Jenter House, 302 E Main St
  Description: The first floor will host a craft/vendor show. The museum will be open on the second floor, along with the gift shop featuring a variety of locally produced items.
• Blacksmith Shop Open House and Craft Sale
  When: 10am–4pm
  Where: 324 E Main St
  Description: Stop in the Blacksmith Shop Museum for cookies, historic crafts demonstrations, and sales. The forge will be fired up and the great spinning wheel will be spinning. All items for sale are made by volunteers and proceeds are used to sustain the programs.
• M Shaw Home Studio Open House
  Where: 610 City Rd
  When: 11am–7pm
  Description: Opportunity to view and purchase M Shaw Folk Art for holiday gift giving and collecting.

Free Christmas Card Make & Take and Letter to Santa
When: 10am–2pm
Where: Manchester District Library, 912 City Rd
Description: Supplies provided for card making. Kids can write a letter to Santa that will be answered through the mail!

Visit with Santa on the Mill Porch
When: 11am–2pm
Where: Manchester Mill porch, 201 E Main St
Description: Free. Come visit with Santa on the Mill porch. Sponsored by Worth Repeating.

Free Kids’ Craft Workshop
When: 11am–2pm
Where: Sharon Valley Bicycle Shoppe, 108 E Main St
Description: Free make-and-take crafts for kids. Sponsored by Hastings Performance.

Balloon Artist
When: Noon–2pm
Where: Manchester Mill porch, 201 E Main St
Description: Stop by and watch a balloon artist at work!

Hayrides Through Town
When: 1pm–3pm
Where: Pick-up and drop-off in front of the Manchester Mill, 201 E Main St
Description: Free, tractor-pulled wagon hayrides through town. Weather permitting.

Holidays from the Heart Charity Dance Performance
Where: Manchester Jr/Sr High School, 20500 Dutch Dr
When: 2pm
Description: Dance with Heart Studio’s holiday charity dance performance. Admittance to the performance is by donation of non-perishable food items or monetary donation, which will be donated to the Community Resource Center and Adrian’s Salvation Army.

Manchester Co-op Preschool Chili Cook-off and Auction
When: 5pm–8pm
Where: River Raisin Distillery, 480 W Main St
Description: Enjoy a variety of different chilis and bid in the live and silent auctions. 50/50 raffle also available. All proceeds benefit the Manchester Co-op Preschool. Ages 18+ only.

Downtown Business Specials

During Christmas in the Village, many downtown businesses will have extended business hours and will be offering specials, including buy a bottle of wine/get a loaf of Italian bread for $2.50 at Frank’s Place, a free gift with purchase at All Things Green, a free gift with purchase and wine sampling at Dragonfly and Birch, holiday drink specials at Millie’s Coffeehouse, free gift with purchase at River Raisin Mercantile, 15% off bikes and 20% off everything else at Sharon Valley Bike Shoppe, free Manchester beanie with 75% purchase at Steele Grafix, a pop-up shop at Jam & Suds Factory Laundromat, 25% off everything at The Sassy Peacock, 25% off select Christmas items at The Vintage Flea, and refreshments from 4pm to 8pm at Ace Hardware. In addition, many shops will have newly stocked Christmas items for sale, like poinsettia plants at the Flower Garden.

Thank you to Christmas in the Village organizers: Kathy LaHaie, Merrill Guerra, and Sue LaRocque and sponsors: The Manchester DDA, The Manchester Mill, Worth Repeating, and Hastings Performance.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.