By Sue Moore
This year, the Christmas Walk in Schoolcraft on December 6 and 7, has a new twist, extending its boundaries from Beginnings Rental Hall on the south end of Grand Street across the railroad tracks, to Pizza Hut at the north end at the corner of Lyon Street.
Guests may not want to walk all that way, according to Terry Yax, co-owner of Beginnings, so they are offering plenty of activities in their new building to attract visitors all day long and lots of free parking, he said.
Since Beginnings is a new business in Schoolcraft, Yax and his wife Laura are the owners with Nate Ambroso as the events manager. They are reaching out, offering a craft show and farmers’ market during the Christmas Walk and subsequent days. Most importantly, they will have Santa on tap to talk to children who want to list their wishes with the jolly fellow. Children can even get their picture taken with Santa for posterity, according to Yax. Santa will be seated in a specialty sleigh, all decorated out for the occasion.
This new business got its start with Terry’s love of food preparation and desire to provide an affordable site along with catering services for any type of event or function. The mobile rotisserie smoker grill they use was designed by Yax to meet the needs of the rental hall and give mobility to their catering services. This allows him to take the operation to off-site events, such as Chili in the Park and catered parties. The rental hall includes many customized services with interior and exterior spaces that can accommodate almost any size event, he said.
For the holiday season, they will extend their hours with Santa and the craft show every Tuesday and Thursday from 2 – 7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. through Monday, December 23, from 2 – 7 p.m.
Local vendors offering crafts or sweet treats include: Pam Cowgill, handmade knitted stuffed animals; TerraLee Yax, hand-decorated frames and Christmas decorations; Ashlie Ploski, Scentsy flameless candles; Kenda Schwartz, It Works body wrap; Missy Griffioen, pasties; Kurt Wiley, caramel corn; Nila’s Lotions; Stephanie Newton, “31”; Christina Oberhein, Tastefully Simple; Jessi Crabtree, Jessi Jellies; Loran Tanner, Angry Mustard; and Margaret Ayres, jewelry.
A drawing for a free rental booking is open to those who stop in, along with pulled pork sandwiches, chili, hot dogs and soft drinks for sale from the licensed kitchen in the facility.