Pictured below are several Christmas in the Village activity photos with descriptions.
The Reindeer Union on strike for extra hay on Christmas Day won first place in the float competition in 2017. The lively elves pulling the decorated wagon even performed a dance routine along the parade route. Second place went to the Indian Lake Girl Scouts and third place to the Vicksburg schools transportation department.
Jingle shirts starting from the left are Kelsey Campbell, Samantha Masheris, Kendal Holladay, Rayne Petersen, Zoey Carnes, and Addison Shimer. They will have a good variety this year of tap, ballet, jazz, Hawaiian and some gymnastics performing on the stage in Oswalt Park.
Reindeer from Reindeer Farms in Alamo Township will visit the Historic Village from 4-7 p.m. for children to pet and ask questions about their travels. Kids like to know if they can really fly or why their noses aren’t glowing, the owners say. The Santa connection for reindeer is relatively recent, having first appeared in the famous poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” in 1823. Rudolph debuted in 1939, when Chicago’s Montgomery Ward stores gave kids a book featuring his story.
The Vicksburg High School choir members caroled up and down Main Street in 2017. This year they will be featured in the tent at Oswalt Park to lead community caroling after the tree lighting ceremony.
The Vicksburg schools’ transportation department loved decorating one of the buses making it into a school house wonder machine. They won third prize for their effort and then used the $100 cash to treat a family the bus drivers had identified as in need of gifts, clothing and food. From left to right, drivers in the back are Robin Elliott, Michelle Ballard, Alice Cronk, Becki Ruh, Denise Morren, Karen McKinstry, Cheri Craig, Linda Vanderstraaten and Lyndsey Harp/Puliam. These in the picture are just some of those that helped with the bus float. Three of the children in front are Jersey, Abagail and Trenton with the fourth child unidentified.
Fire trucks donned their Christmas finery with lights that enveloped the big machines. Crandell’s antique fire truck placed first, followed by Vicksburg’s own Engine #1, which was first place in the overall fire engine category.
Carol Meyer-Niedzwiecki, Vicksburg Farmers’ Market manager, was busy all day. She recruited vendors and assigned stalls for them inside at Hill’s Pharmacy building. Guests were warm enough to appreciate the large array of gift items, food from meat producers, bake goods, honey and maple syrup. New vendors at the 2018 market will be on hand with knife sharpening, soaps and lotions and wine from Lawton Ridge winery.
Two teams of pulling horses will take families for a ride from the Community Center downtown to the Historic village to see the reindeer and go inside to watch the model trains take a ride inside the Township Hall. Joe Timko and helpers including Toby Robertson will take kids and adults on a nostalgia trip with the model trains.