By Linda Lane
Celebrating 30 years, Schoolcraft’s Annual Christmas Walk through the village will be from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.
“It’s a great tradition, started by Norma Tackett out of her love for our town to encourage people to visit the area, said Deb Christiansen. “It’s our special celebration of Christmas. It gives the town something to dress up for, because we’ve got company coming!” Tackett was the original owner of Norma’s Antiques, formerly in Schoolcraft.
Kelly Bergland and Deb Christiansen teamed up together again to coordinate the annual Christmas Walk. Both have made substantial donations to organize and publicize the event for the community.
“After Norma Tackett passed away several years ago, people wanted it to go on, and Deb and I jumped in to help with it. I found some old fliers in the archives of the Schoolcraft Ladies Library when Norma started the Annual Christmas Walk. This was really her baby,” Bergland said. “One of Norma’s fliers read, ‘All of us in Schoolcraft want you to take a Christmas Walk. You are cordially invited to browse, eat, drink and talk. We hope that this will get your Christmas spirit on its way and you’ll want to visit us another day.’”
“It’s a heartfelt endeavor on our part. It’s a community building experience. This village – they’re our friends. We really believe in the outcome of what we’re doing; it’s about getting people to work together,” Bergland said.
An annual highlight with children, Santa will be in town for photos at The Beauty Bar on Grand Street, with pictures being taken by Reflections Modern Photography from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, December 8. Cost for the photo is $10 and includes a goodie bag. Kids can also decorate cookies with the Girl Scouts from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. that Saturday at the Schoolcraft Library. A craft and cookie sale with refreshments and a tour of the historic Schoolcraft Ladies Library will be held Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Festivities at the Schoolcraft United Methodist Church will include a sloppy Joe and pie supper Friday, December 7 from 5-6:30 p.m. with the “Forgot to Shave Quartet” and other musicians playing that evening. The next day will offer a homemade soup luncheon and cookie walk from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The church will also have a bake sale, white elephant sale, craft sale and a silent auction on Friday and Saturday.
The First Presbyterian Church will offer craft items, baked goods and raffle tickets on Friday evening at the DeVries Law offices. They will also host a “pasties and chicken ’n biscuits” on Saturday at their Westminster Hall from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. There will also be clothing boutiques, attic treasures, crafts, a bake sale and a raffle.
This year, a “Christmas Vendor & Craft Event” will be hosted Friday evening and Saturday at the American Legion on Clay Street with a chili supper on Friday evening.
Bryce Cooley will sketch live caricatures at the Grand Antique Gallery, and other area shops will be celebrating the event including Schoolcraft Antique Mall, Nana D’s Attic, Abby’s Shop, the Kalamazoo County State Bank and the Schoolcraft Lions Club.
For the latest information on the Christmas Walk, visit the interactive map at pureschoolcraft.org.