By Sue Moore
A 25-year holiday tradition in Schoolcraft that was the brainchild of Norma Tackett will continue this year without its maven who passed away in November. The merchants and churches have regrouped to continue the event in her honor. Norma and her husband Carl Tackett opened their antiques and old coin shop on Grand Avenue and conceived of the Christmas Walk that has become a hallmark of the season for their town.
The Christmas Walk opens on Friday evening December 5 at 5 p.m. with all the participating stores welcoming guests who can browse, munch on refreshments and drinks, and meet their friends and neighbors who frequent the lovely antique stores on Grand Street. They will stay open until 9 p.m. and start all over again at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, December 6th until mid-afternoon.
The Schoolcraft United Methodist Church on Grand Street has activities going on with a Sloppy Joe and Pie Supper from 5-7, a bake sale, craft sale, silent auction, white elephant sale, and a gospel music quartet entertaining at 6 p.m. All of the proceeds benefit charities and people in need. They will open again on Saturday with a soup and pie luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a cookie walk, and continuation of the bake sale, crafts, silent auction, and white elephant sale.
The Presbyterian Church, although not situated on Grand Street, will set up shop in the Brian DeVries law office just south of Bud’s Bar from 6-9 p.m. with arts and crafts, gift cards, and raffle tickets for sale. They will reopen on Saturday at Westminster Hall on Cedar Street from 9-4 p.m., showcasing the many raffle prizes that will be drawn at 1 p.m. They will continue with the bake sale, white elephant sale, clothing boutique, and provide lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Norma’s Antiques will open at 10 a.m. with her faithful staff and husband Carl to greet guests during the day. They will have a band playing upstairs for entertainment amid the great array of antiques. There are four other antique stores that will be open both Friday and Saturday according to Mike Gilpin who has volunteered to help organize the participation of stores including his store, Annie’s Thrifts-N-Gifts, as well as Abby’s Shop, the Antique Mall, and Loving Ewe.
The Salted Cupcake’s owner Korina Thompson, will attempt to keep up with the requests for her sumptuous offerings of specialty cupcakes while celebrating her first year anniversary—she opened the doors for the Christmas Walk in 2013. Kalamazoo County State Bank offers its front door space to Project Graduation sales. Both Marjo’s West and Bud’s Bar will to open for food and drink.