By Sue Moore
Winter weather swooped into the villages to herald the Christmas season and the many activities planned for residents of the Vicksburg and Schoolcraft area.
They include a Schoolcraft tradition – this year, the 28th annual Antiques Walk. It’s scheduled for Friday, December 2, from 6-9 p.m. in the village center. Saturday will continue the festivities with the antique shops open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The two churches will provide hearty food for walkers up and down Grand Street (U.S. 131). And the Ladies Library will hold a food and crafts sale in its building on Hayward Street.
The Christmas Walk idea and making it a reality were a gift to the village by Norma Tackett and her husband Carl. They moved to Schoolcraft in 1987 and opened an antiques store that appealed to shoppers for miles around. The Walk continued 25 years under her direction until her death in 2014. It’s being led this year by Beth Pulsipher of the Schoolcraft Antiques Mall.
The schedule of shops, churches and the library:
Schoolcraft Antiques Mall, 209 N. Grand, will have 10-50 percent off on all store items.
Kalamazoo County State Bank, 223 N. Grand, will challenge visitors to guess the amount of money in its Christmas Present Jar. They will have donuts and hot cider to those who stop by.
Grand Antique Gallery, 231 N. Grand. This new antiques store in Schoolcraft is owned by Susan Cooley. She will be opening in the former location of Norma’s Antiques.
Loving Ewe, 235 N. Grand, has antiques, rugs and lots more specialty items on display.
Abby’s Antiques, 232 N. Grand, features estate jewelry, shabby chic items and other furnishings for the home.
Nana D’s Attic, 403 N. Grand, will showcase a variety of fun collectibles.
First Presbyterian Church, at DeVries Law office, 132 N. Grand, will showcase craft items, baked goods, face painting, raffle tickets on Friday night. Saturday, it will feature pasties and chicken’n’ biscuits in the church’s Westminster Hall on Cass Street from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Schoolcraft United Methodist Church at 342 N. Grand will have homemade sloppy joes and pie for supper on Friday evening from 6-9 p.m. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, church workers will offer a soup luncheon. On both days they will have a bake sale, white elephant sale, crafts and a silent auction.
The Ladies Library, 163 N. Hayward Street next to the post office, will have crafts and refreshments plus a tour of the historic building during the Friday and Saturday event hours.
The Vendor Event during the Christmas Walk is planned for the Ken Krum Center at 505 E. Clay Street on Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be over 30 local vendors and crafters together in one location.