Saugatuck-Douglas, MI – Quaint Country Inns, shopkeepers, art galleries,
theatres and restaurants throughout the Saugatuck-Douglas area are
collaborating to create the most spectacular activity-filled Holiday Season in
decades!
Decorators are working frantically to embellish the streets, buildings, parks and waterways with holiday lights and Christmas-themed decorations that will transform the twin communities into a winter Festival of Lights – a place where adults are sure to rekindle nostalgic memories of Christmases past and children, bedazzled by the spectacle, will measure all future holiday experiences.
Scores of civic organizations, Bed and Breakfast Inns,
theatres and churches are sponsoring special events and activities for visitors
beginning November 23rd, 2007, and ending January 1, 2008.
First on tap are the business association’s Festive
Fridays beginning November 23rd, 2007, and ending December 21, 2007,
where shops will remain open until 9:00 PM and serve refreshments; followed by
the Saugatuck and Douglas Holiday Shopping Preview and Santa Treasure Hunt down
Candy Cane Lane on November 16 and November 17th respectively.
The official Christmas Season Kick-off will take place on November 23 at 6:30 PM in Wicks Park with the Sparkle Holiday Lighting Ceremony, the arrival of Santa Claus, community caroling and the coordinated illumination of all the Christmas lights throughout town. In tandem with the official launch there will be a variety of open houses and pre-holidays sales by many area galleries and retailers.
The Highpoint of Holiday Festivities will take place
on Saturday, December 1, 2007, beginning with the Annual Christmas Parade in
downtown Saugatuck at 1 PM, horse and carriage rides throughout the town 12
noon to 9:00 PM, the Winter Green Market at The Saugatuck Center for the Arts
10 AM to 3:00 PM with community caroling 11:30 AM-12:30 PM and The Holland
Chorale “Dickens Quartet” from 1:00-3:00 PM all at the same location. Fenn
Valley Vineyards will hold its annual Nouveau Fest with wine cellar tasting
tours from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Fennville. The Convention and Visitors Bureau
will launch its First Annual Light Sculpture Contest in Coghlin Park in
Saugatuck and Beery Field in Douglas at 7:00 PM. The Red Barn Playhouse will
cap off the evening featuring the humorous Michael Holmes in his rendition of
“Judy’s Old-Fashioned Christmas” at 8:00 PM, December 1st followed
by the Dunes Resort’s Annual Toys for Kids Benefit at 9:30 PM – bring a
toy for admission. Michael Holmes repeats “Judy’s Old-Fashioned Christmas” at
The Red Barn on Sunday, December 2nd, at 7:00 PM
Throughout the month of December various Country Inns and Bed and Breakfasts will be sponsoring delightful Holiday-Themed Weekends and Progressive Candle Lit Dinner Tours of Inns. Area churches also sponsor events such as bake sales, craft bazaars and holiday concerts. For details on these presentations phone the Saugatuck-Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau at (269) 857-1701.
The Saugatuck Area Business Association will also be
offering horse-drawn carriage rides from noon to 9 PM Saturdays and noon to 5
PM on Sundays starting December 1 through December 16 for only $1.00 per
passenger.
On Thursday, December 20 at 7:30 PM The Red Barn will
sponsor a free program for the community and visitors by offering “A Musical
Crèche”, the Nativity Story as told in an hourlong compilation of music by the
Great Masters, including Berlioz, Gabrieli, Bach, Beethoven and Ravel. This
inspiring program and refreshments will be provided free of charge.
In its 21st
year Scrooge & Company will present its annual community production of
Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol, at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club on Hoffman and Butler
Streets. Performances take place during the second two weekends in December
– the 7th through 9th and again the 14th
through 16th – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 7 PM
with Saturday matinées at 2 PM. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in
advance by phoning (269) 857-1701.
Many restaurants, bars, pubs and organizations usher in the
New Year with festive celebrations. For detailed information call the
Saugatuck-Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau at (269) 857‑1701.
The grand finale to the Christmas Season and a hearty welcome to the New Year will take place over the Saugatuck-Douglas Harbor at midnight on New Year’s Eve with a fireworks display sponsored by the Saugatuck Fireworks Committee.
For further information
contact the Saugatuck-Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau at (269) 857-1701
or log onto www.saugatuck.com
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