Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend 2022

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Food trucks a tasty addition to Sleighbell weekend

By K en GraBowsKi For the News AdvocAte

The Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend that runs this year from Dec. 1-4 is always a busy time in downtown Manistee, as thousands of people flock to the area to enjoy all the events and visit the shops.

There is so much going on that many times people are looking for an opportunity to pick up something quick to eat without leaving the general downtown area. This year doing that will be easy to accomplish as the Sleighbell Committee has put together a food court with several options; it will be located on Oak Street between River and Water streets.

Victorian Sleighbell and Old Christmas Weekend Committee member Al Frye, who is heading up the food court efforts, said the committee is expanding on what it offered last

year because it went over very well.

“We have five food trucks that are coming, and they offer a nice variety of food,” said Frye. “Two of the trucks coming this year took part last year, and they both sold out of food at that location.”

Frye said the committee plans to add some things to Oak Street area in hopes of making the experience even better for those looking to get something to eat.

“Our plans are to have some picnic tables set up so people can either eat there or they can take the food home to eat it,” he said. “We also will have a portable toilet there for people to use as well. So it will be a whole court there where you can eat if you like or carry it out.”

Frye said a lot of it will come down to getting the word out to the public to let them know where the food court is located.

The Victorian Sleighbell and Old Christmas

Weekend Committee is in the process of putting together a map to help guide people to where all the events and activities will be taking place.

“We are looking at getting 5,000 of those maps, as we plan to put it in the News Advocate and at local businesses so people can get a copy,” said Frye. “That way those coming to enjoy the activities will have a map telling them where everything is going on during the weekend and where they can find things like handicap parking, the food court, where the parade starts and so on.”

As of the end of October, food trucks that will be located in the food court are Detroit Coney Dogs of Manistee, Southern Sin-Thesis of Bear Lake, Cluck Bucket of Ludington, Thai Mango of Ludington and the Trinity Lutheran Church of Onekama Doughnut Wagon.

“The plan for Cluck

Bucket is they will be available to serve from noon until 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.,” said Frye. “The other four food trucks will be open from noon until after the parade on Saturday. So that is good as well if someone wants to pick up some dinner after the parade on their way home.”

Frye said that the food court plans are coming together nicely and the location is visible to the people on River Street, which is the center of the Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend. The Oak Street location also offers adequate room to put a little space between the trucks instead of being wedged into a smaller location.

“We are looking forward to it as all the vendors are eager to either come back or to take part in it this year,” he said.

The Victorian Sleighbell and Old Christmas Weekend food truck court was located on Oak Street between River and Water streets in 2021. It will return to that location in 2022. (File photo)

Sleighbell Parade staple also patrols events across Michigan

By JeFF ZiDe stAFF wrIter

They have become a staple of the Manistee Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend in the past couple of years.

They can be seen riding large draft horses, pulling the Christmas tree and accompanying the Manistee City Police Department and Manistee County Sheriff’s Office during the parade. They are the Clare County Sheriff’s Department mounted unit and the group has been part of the parade for about the last five years, according to Jesse Loudenslager,

the captain of the division.

Loudenslager said that the horseback-mounted deputies performed 2,500 hours of community service in 2021.

Loudenslager, who works full-time for the Clare County Sheriff’s Office, notes all other members of the mounted division are volunteers. In addition to working the Sleighbell Parade, the horseback mounted deputies work other large events such as the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day.

That is actually how the organization got involved

In addition to all Clare County events open to the public and the Manistee Sleighbell parade, the Clare County Sheriff’s department mounted unit helps out at events like the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day. (Submitted photo/Jesse Loudenslager)

A horse-drawn carriage driven by a man dressed as Santa Claus pulls a 30-foot tall christmas tree during the 2021 Manistee Victorian Sleighbell Parade. The horses are from the Clare County Sheriff Mounted unit and seated next to the man dressed as Santa, are deputies from the Clare County Sheriff mounted unit. (File photo)

with the Sleighbell parade, according to Loudenslager.

Someone involved with the parade “heard it through the grapevine” about the work the mounted division does with the Mackinac Bridge Walk and thought they would be a good addition to the Sleighbell parade, Loudenslager said.

Clare County Mounted Division’s involvement with the Sleighbell Parade is limited to crowd control and escorting the Christmas tree.

Josh Glass, Manistee police chief, said that he’s worked with the mounted division since he has been chief. The police department and the mounted division have a mutual aid agreement with the Clare County Sheriff’s Office in order to have the mounted division work the parade.

The mutual aid agreement is submitted to Manistee City Council, which has approved the agreement every year

since the division started working the parade.

Loudenslager noted that in addition to the 2,500 hours of community service, the officers train for 1,200 hours and have rigorous standards.

For the 2022 Sleighbell Parade, Loudenslager said the group would have five or six officers at the parade.

“… We only have people work who we think can handle an event of that size,” he said.

The mounted division

also works at all Clare County events that are open to the public. Loudenslager said the mounted division is entirely funded by donations.

“There is no cost to the

county for anything we do,” Loudenslager said.

In addition, Loudensburger notes the deputies are also trained in search and rescue procedures.

“(The group) is very well trained and has also been (working) in other counties,” he said.

More information about the Clare County Mounted Division can be found on its Facebook page.

The group also has a separate page for its search and rescue operations. That group can be found at facebook.com/profile. php?id=1000 70211437665.

Merry Christmas!

The Clare County Sheriff’s Department Mounted unit, a volunteer unit, which rides on horses and helps in crowd control at events like the Manistee Sleighbell parade, performed over 2,500 hours of community service in 2021. (Submitted photo/Jesse Loudenslager)

Jesse Loudenslager is the captain of the Clare County Sheriff’s Department mounted unit (Submitted photo/Jesse Loudenslager)

Pierport Pony Club provides valuable service during Sleighbell Parade

By K en Gra BowsK i For the News AdvocAte

Majestic horses are one of the things that that come to mind when anyone thinks of the Victorian Sleighbell Parade in Manistee.

From the stout Belgian Draft Horses snorting steam in the cold December air as they pull the official Sleighbell Parade Christmas tree down the length of River Street to the many others that are hitched to sleighs, wagons, carriages or just being ridden. One thing that is certain with every Victorian Sleighbell Parade is it will contain a lot of horses for the large crowds to enjoy because it is a non-motorized event.

However, anytime horses are used, the odds of their waste being deposited in the road along the parade route is a sure bet. That is why members of the Pierport Pony Club perform a vital task in following behind to clean up what is left behind with pooper scoop duties.

Pierport Pony Club leader Ginger Wisseman said the group originated in 2013 and is part of the United States Pony Club, which is a national organization. The club includes members from Manistee and Mason counties.

The group has been providing the service — the club receives a donation from the Sleighbell Committee — for the Sleighbell Parade for the past several years. Wisseman added that they have become quite a crowd favorite at the parade. She said they get plenty

of cheers when cleaning up the street after the horses pass and leave something behind.

“We have three groups that each have a decorated wheel barrow, pitch fork and a shovel and we just make sure the parade route is clean so the next group coming through don’t have to avoid all what the horses leave behind,” said Wisseman. “We have a lot of fun doing it and get together ahead of time to decorate wheel barrows and we try to dress with the theme as lumberjacks.”

Wisseman said the club is a registered nonprofit that focuses on teaching horsemanship and riding along

with a goal of creating strong use of character building using horses. They currently have about 11 members.

“We do a lot of volunteering to learn leadership, cooperation, team building and all those kinds of things,” said Wisseman. “We use horses to do those things because that is what kids enjoy.”

Wisseman said the club members come from all over the county and vary in age.

“The club is open to all ages, but the kids we have right now are age 8 to 17 years old,” she said. “We also have some adult members, but the focus for the adults is less about learning to become a good person and

more about learning about how to take care of horses and riding.”

Wisseman said the club hopes to keep up their duties into the future, and they have a good time being a part of the parade.

“I just want to thank the Sleighbell Committee for giving us the opportunity to give back to the community and for providing a shout out to our club for being a part of this fun experience,” Wisseman said.

New members are always welcome to the Pierport Pony Club; anyone interested in joining should call Wisseman for more details at 231-2337987.

In 2021, members of the Pierport Pony Club performed a valuable service during the Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend: pooper scoopers. Pictured (left to right) are Zoe Bladwin, Niki Belakowski and Mitchell Ziehm. (Submitted photo/Pierport Pony Club)

Ramsdell Theatre a hub for events during Sleighbell weekend in Manistee

By K en Gra BowsK i For the News AdvocAte

The Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend is all about celebrating Manistee’s Victorian heritage. What better place to accomplish that than at the historic Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts?

RRCA executive director Xavier Verna said the center will be hosting four programs during the Dec. 1-4 celebration that are guaranteed to offer something for everyone.

“We pride ourselves on having a little bit of something for everyone,” said Verna. “The RRCA joined the Sleighbell Committee to help in the planning process of the overall weekend as we are committed to the community experience and are glad to be a part of it.”

Festival of Trees

The Lakeside Club of Manistee County will be hosting two of those events beginning with the popular Festival of Trees in the Ramsdell ballroom. Community groups and businesses will again decorate trees that will be part of a silent auction.

The trees will be open to viewing from 1-6 p.m. on Dec. 2 and 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Dec. 3.

The pick-up time for winning bidders ia from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 4.

The funds raised from the event will be donated to benefit the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center and the Manistee Friendship Society.

1885 Comes Alive

The Lakeside Club is also holding a new event at the Ramsdell, which will offer an

opportunity to step back in time.

1885 Comes Alive: An Authentic Victorian Event will take place from 7:3010:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Ramsdell ballroom.

The Lakeside Club was formed back in 1885 by the wives and daughters of the lumber barons to support and work together to build a balanced, cultural and beautiful city in Manistee. Today the club creates events to support nonprofits in Manistee County.

“The Lakeside Club is one of the oldest organizations in the community and they will do this event in conjunction with the Festival of Trees,” said Verna.

It will be a black tie event with a Victorian theme that will feature entertainment, appetizers, a cash bar and costumes from the 1885 time period. The event will give those attending the feel of a house party from the Victorian era. A photographer also will be on hand for holiday portraits.

Tickets are $35 per person or $60 for couple; details can be found at lakesideclubmanistee.org.

Holiday rock spectacular

Following the Victorian Sleighbell Parade, at 8 p.m. on Dec. 2, the Ramsdell Theatre will come to life with the sound of music.

“We are partnering with West Shore Community College to present WSCC Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion,” said Verna. “The first show is right after the parade and we are doing a second one on Sunday at 2 p.m.”

Verna said this is a show that people will not want to miss.

“There is a presentation of a plethora of musicians onstage including the West Shore Drum Line, that I direct,” said Verna. ”It will be a night of a lot of familiar holiday show tunes.”

Verna said the show was first held last year during the holiday season.

“This is a program that took place at Radiant Church in Ludington last year and is being brought to the Ramsdell on a larger scale,” said Verna. “They are going to have more room to do more fun things, which makes it exciting.”

The show will feature the music of The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, For King and

Country, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, U2 and more.

Tickets range from $15 to $50 and are avvailable at RamsdellTheatre.org.

Art exhibit

Another component to the weekend is the Ramsdell’s gallery will be open for a “Community Art Squared Exhibition.”

“We are in the process of development now as we announced a call for artists or anybody to purchase some 6” x 6” squares of canvases and they get to paint those any way they want and then turn them in the end of the month,” said Verna in October. “We have already sold over 100 of those canvases and there is some pretty terrific work being done. We haven’t even opened the show yet and it feels like a success as the artwork will be sold as a fundraiser to support the RRCA and art gallery.”

The exhibit will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 3 and noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 in Hardy Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Ramsdell tours

Verna said people even have a chance to check out a behind the scenes look of the Ramsdell as well over the weekend.

“We are also going to be giving historic tours, so overall it’s going to be a busy weekend,” he said.

Tours of the Ramsdell Theatre will be held every 30 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m,. on Dec. 3. Cost is $5 per person; tickets are available at ramsdelltheatre.org.

The Ramsdell is located at 101 Maple St. in Manistee.

The Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor offers items for bid from trees to gift baskets, and table top items. (File photo)

Kaser named grand marshal of Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend

By K en GraBowsKi For the News AdvocAte

Former Manistee merchant and Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend committee member John Kaser has been selected as the grand marshal of the 2022 event.

Kaser who owned City Drug Store at the corner of River and Maple streets from 1984 to 2007 was active on the Sleighbell Parade and

Old Christmas Weekend committee from the very beginning. He said being named grand marshal is something he considers a very distinct honor.

“Being named grand marshal took me by complete surprise as I didn’t work on the committee for me, but I did it for the citizens of the community,” said Kaser. “It’s a great celebration of Manistee’s Victorian heritage and has blossomed into

something fantastic.”

Amanda Pinkerton, who originated the event with Jerry Smith, was an employee of Kaser’s in the drug store. Kaser said that one Saturday night she came into work with an unusual request. It is a memory that brings a good feeling to him to this day.

“It was a Saturday night with big, white fluffy snowflakes falling, and Amanda said I am leaving early as we are

having a parade,” said Kaser. “She said you have to stop traffic on Maple Street so they don’t hit us when we go across.”

Being a merchant on River Street, Kaser said he immediately saw the potential for the event to bring people to the downtown area the first week of December. He jumped in to help from that year forward as a committee member until 2016. He was amazed at how it grew over the

One of the previous editions of the Victorian Sleighbell Parade included the Budweiser Clydesdales. (File photo)

years.

“I went home that first night and said to my wife that I thought we were on to something great,” he said. “Look what it has evolved into as it has become west Michigan’s premier event for the winter.”

Kaser said that first year was what inspired him to stay with it for many years.

“I was there right on day one until I left in 2016 and was highly involved in it through being chairman of the merchants committee in getting the merchants to dress Victorian and to have the goodies in their stores. The

two best things that ever happened for the merchants downtown is the Forest Festival and Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend.”

He developed a lot of memories after being part of the Christmas event for so many years. One of Kaser’s favorites was the year the parade included the Budweiser Clydesdales.

“Prior to the parade, they made some special deliveries of beer brewed that day. I had tears in my eyes when that Budweiser hitch pulled up to my store to do that,” he said.

Another memory was when the Kiwanis Club, of which he was a member, was selling pasties from a tent in the parking lot next to his store.

“There was a real blizzard blowing that year and we had our grills set up in the Salvation Army where half the members were cooking them

and the rest were outside trying to keep the tent from blowing away,” he said.

Kaser said through the years putting the event together has been a volunteer-driven effort with people donating their time to make it a reality. That includes many people who weren’t even living here during the early years who are now key committee members.

“It’s the people who do the legwork with the blood, sweat and tears to get it organized,” he said. “The committee behind it has proliferated and grown every year. The ability to pass

the torch and keep the enthusiasm is a wonderful thing.”

Kaser pointed out the same can be said of the overall event.

“Who would have every thought we could get 60 to 70 units in a parade in winter weather with 10,000 to 15,000 people lining the streets,” he said.

Kaser will be riding in the parade in a carriage. He has invited a couple of family members to join him.

“I have an niece and nephew and a grand-nephew and possibly his sister,” he said “I really want to share this monumental honor with my family.”

Mary Sturdevant, Agent

306 W Parkdale Ave, Manistee, MI Bus: 231-723-9905 mary.sturdevant.r fqh@statefarm.com www.marysturdevant.com statefarm.com

John Kaser

Chestnut roasting is tradition for Thompson family, friends

By K en GraBowsKi For the News AdvocAte

Mike and Kendra Thompson have been celebrating an annual tradition with family and friends since 1990 ... and they’re usually joined by 10,000 to 15,000 others.

That is because the Thompsons, their family and friends have been the official chestnut roasters for the Victorian Sleighbell Parade for the past 32 years.

There are certain traditions that people attending the Sleighbell Parade look forward to every year, and one of those is the Thompson group manning their four grills along River Street roasting chestnuts for everyone.

Kendra Thompson said there are many people they only see once a year at the parade. Some who tried the chestnuts as children in the early years of the parade now are bringing their own children to try them.

“We always have had four sites, and this year we ordered 200 pounds of chestnuts from Bruce Smith of Angling Farms from Grant, Michigan, who is

a member of the Chestnut Growers of Michigan,” said Thompson. “Our grills will be by The Outpost, River Street Station, Manistee Beverage Company and in front of Dr. Gardin’s building next to Glik’s.”

Thompson said over the years they always have a different person or two join in the roasting, but it primarily has been the same group of family and friends.

“It usually is some of the same who have done it over the years like two old college friends that come up religiously to do the grill by The Outpost, then my brother and his wife do one at River Street Station,” she said. “Then there is always my sister and dad or sister and my niece and her husband have started the tradition of doing the one in

front of Gardin’s building.”

The other grill by Manistee Beverage was traditionally manned by Kendra and Mike, but she said that had to change because of her husband’s health issues.

“Mike got COVID in 2020 and when that happened they discovered he had a medical condition that required a double lung transplant,” said Thompson. “He is doing great, but he can’t be around the smoke from the grill, so me, my son, Kyle, and his girlfriend now do that one.”

Thompson said she sees it as a kind of passing of the torch to the next generation of the family.

“I think we are going to make it a tradition for them doing it and we have some great pictures of Kyle over the

years standing by the grill as a child and now to see him kind of taking over a stand is pretty cool,” she said.

She said her college friends Phil Hill and Perry Sauter have been a part of it from the early years. She added with a laugh that even though they don’t live here, they are like part of the community as many people have gotten to know them over the years.

“They were old college roommates and we all remained friends over the years, so they come up every year since right in the beginning to help,” said Thompson.

She said her dad also pitched in to help man a grill when needed.

“I have a cool picture of my dad and son roasting chestnuts together down at the parade

one year,” she said.

“It’s just a family tradition thing that we have been doing for years. We started roasting in 1990 and there have been others who were also a part of it like Jan and Bob Kenny, Roger and Karen Bruchan, Roger and Karen Asiala who all helped over the years.”

Thompson said they seldom have problems finding volunteers to roast the chestnuts.

“We always have some wanting to do it as they like interacting with the crowds,” she said.

“Every year there are some people new to the Sleighbell Parade who are always so excited about trying them.”

Thompson hopes they can continue doing it for many more years as it is a very special tradition for her family and friends.

Kendra and Mike Thompson serve chestnuts before the 2011 Victorian Sleighbell Parade in Manistee. Kendra Thompson’s firm, Kendra Thompson Architects, has sponsored the chestnut roasting since 1990. (File photo)

Mike Thompson and son and Kyle Thompson roast chestnuts in 2019. Kendra Thompson’s firm, Kendra Thompson Architects, has sponsored the chestnut roasting since 1990. (Courtesy photo)

Schedule of Events

All events are in Manistee. Schedule is subject to change. Find more details on events at manisteesleighbellparade.com/event-schedule/

Dec. 1

• 5-7 p.m. Chamber of Commerce UnTapped, Ramsdell Theatre ballroom, 101 Maple St. The Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce hosts an evening of food, drinks and good company.

Admission: $15 for members, $25 for non-members; tickets required. Info: manisteechamber.com

• 7 p.m. Manistee Choral Society’s Victorian Concert, Manistee First Congregational Church, 412 Fourth St.

Admission: $15, tickets at Goody’s Juice & Java, 343 River St. in Manistee or by calling Shirley Harden at 517-723-7536

Dec. 2

• Noon-2 p.m. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Open House, 313 Fourth St. Built in 1890, visit one of Manistee’s oldest churches. Admission: FREE. Info: stpaulsmanistee.com

• Noon-5 p.m. 6 x 6 Art Exhibition, Hardy Hall Art Gallery, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St. This exhibit features 6x6 canvases by area and regional artists and enthusiasts. Art is for sale for $20. Admission: FREE

Schedule of Events

• 1-6 p.m. Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor, ballroom, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St. View and bid on creatively decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, gift baskets and other seasonal decor designed by local holiday enthusiasts. Vote for favorite entry for “People’s Choice award with canned goods. Bring unwrapped toys for Five CAP’s Toys for Tots/ Gifts for Teens. Admission: $1 minimum donation.

• 2-4 p.m. Holiday Wine Tasting, The Ideal Kitchen, 421 River St.

• 7:30-10:30 p.m. Lakeside Club’s “1885: Come Alive,” ballroom, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St. Step back in time at this authentic Victorian Christmas gathering. Black tie with a Victorian theme required. Enjoy entertainment, Victorian appetizers, sweets and a cash bar. Admission: $35 per person; $60 per couple. Tickets at lakesideclubmanistee.org

Dec. 3

• 8-11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast, VFW Walsh Post 4499, 1211 28th St. The event is hosted by the Filer Township Fire Department Auxiliary.

• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cookie Fun for Everyone, Manistee United Methodist Church, 387 First St. Support Manistee County Habitat for Humanity and decorate Christmas cookies. Frosting, sprinkles and fun provided. Cost: $11 per dozen; $6 per half-dozen

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Craft Bazaar, Wagoner Community Center, 260 St. Mary’s Parkway Bazaar features holiday and other handmade crafts, handmade quilts and quilt racks, Christmas cookie sales and both a 50/50 raffle and a Michigan “Pudding Stone” raffle. Lunch available for purchase. Info: Kathy Yoder at 231-723-6926

• 10 a.m. 25 cent Holiday Movie, Vogue Theatre, 383 River St. Hot chocolate available from 4-5:30 p.m.

• 10 a.m. Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk, Tabernacle Church, 77 Hancock St. Advanced registration is $20 per runner, $25 on race day. Register online at runsignup.com/Race/MI/ Manistee/ManisteeJingleBellJog5K

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Scandinavian Christmas Open House, Old Kirke Museum, 304 Walnut St. Christmas trees decorated in the traditional Danish, Swedish and Norwegian manner and traditional Scandinavian cookies in the 1868 sanctuary along with a display of Christmas “Tiny Towns and Trains II” and the Madsen Lumbering Dioramas in the lower exhibit hall.

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours of the Ramsdell Theatre (every 30 minutes), 101 Maple St. Admission: $5; tickets at RamsdellTheatre.org

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Ramsdell Theatre Box Office is open, 101 Maple St.

• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 6 x 6 Art Exhibition, Hardy Hall Art Gallery, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St. This exhibit features 6x6 canvases by area and regional artists and enthusiasts. Art is for sale for $20. Admission: FREE

• 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor, ballroom, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St.

View and bid on creatively decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, gift baskets and other seasonal decor designed by local holiday enthusiasts. Vote for favorite entry for “People’s Choice award with canned goods. Bring unwrapped toys for Five CAP’s Toys for Tots/ Gifts for Teens. Admission: $1 minimum donation

• 1-3 p.m. Kelley Niles Playing the Brass Hand Bell Tree, The Ideal Kitchen, 417 River St.

Attendees pour over craft booths at the Holiday Craft Show at the Wagoner Community Center in 2021. (File Photo)

Schedule of Events

• 1-4 p.m. Santa’s Headquarters, Manistee Municipal Marina, 480 River St. Santa will be on hand for photo ops and to receive Christmas lists from all the good girls and boys. Santa leaves promptly at 4 p.m. to line up for the Victorian Sleighbell Parade.

• 4:30-7 p.m. Annual Sleighbell tradition roasted chestnuts, various locations on River Street in downtown Manistee

• 5:30 p.m. Victorian Sleighbell Parade, River Street in downtown Manistee Experience one of Michigan’s most memorable holiday traditions; parade features horse drawn carriages, turn of the century characters, 30-foot Christmas tree pulled upright by a beautiful horse team, bagpipers and more. The parade concludes in downtown’s west end near the fountain with community caroling and lighting of the tree.

• Immediately following the parade, Sleighbell fireworks over River Street

Dec. 4

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor, ballroom, Ramsdell The atre, 101 Maple St. Pickup time for winning bids

• Noon Hand-Rung Christmas Carols from the histor ic bell tower, Guardian Angels Church, 371 Fifth St. Historic tours from noon to 1 p.m.

• Noon-3 p.m. 6 x 6 Art Exhibition, Hardy Hall Art Gallery, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St. This exhibit features 6x6 canvases by area and re gional artists and enthusiasts. Art is for sale for $20. Admission: FREE

• 1-2 p.m. Ramsdell Theatre Box Office is open, 101 Maple St.

• 1-4 p.m. Santa’s Headquarters, Manistee Municipal Marina, 480 River St. Santa will be on hand for photo ops and to receive Christmas lists from all the good girls and boys. Santa headquarters will also be open from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18.

• 2 p.m. West Shore Community College Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St.

• 7 p.m. to midnight Jingle Jam, American Legion Post No. 10, 10 Mason St. Public welcome. Admission: New, unwrapped gift or $10 to benefit Toys for Tots.

• 8 p.m. West Shore Community College Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion, Ramsdell Theatre, 101 Maple St. Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion is an opportunity to ring in the holiday season with a powerful musical production featuring the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, For King and Country, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, U2 and more. Tickets are $15-$50; available at RamsdellTheatre.org

• Manistee News Advocate • November 2022

Holiday Rock Spectacular Reunion is an opportunity to ring in the holiday season with a powerful musical production featuring the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, For King and Country, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, U2 and more. Tickets are $15-$50; available at RamsdellTheatre.org

• 3 p.m. Lessons and Carols, Trinity Lutheran Church, 420 Oak St. Enjoy the Advent and Christmas story in word and song. Dessert and social hour will follow. Admission: FREE

People from all over the country celebrated with the city of Manistee for the annual Sleighbell Parade in 2021. (File Photo)

The American Legion Post No. 10 hosted the Jingle Bell Jam in 2021. (File Photo)

an over 100-year-old piece of firefighting equipment

Fighting fire in 1900 on display during parade

As the Manistee lakeside community of Eastlake began to grow in the late 1890s, the residents recognized the increased need for fire protection and a volunteer fire department was formed.

Shortly after 1900, the volunteer group in the primarily residential town, purchased its first “modern” piece of firefighting equipment: a soda ash cart.

Using technology that had existed for nearly two decades, the cart was like a conventional “tank” style fire extinguisher found in offices at the time, except much larger and on wheels. Beginning in the late 1800s several companies began making the carts for both large and smaller communities like Eastlake.

The chemical carts were the quick attack fire apparatus of the day. Each had a tank holding a

prepared mixture of water and sodium bicarbonate, in which a bottle of sulfuric acid was suspended.

On the scene of a fire, the cart was tipped causing the stopper to fall out of the bottle. The acid would mix with the soda water solution generating carbon dioxide gas, propelling the water through the attached hose.

The Eastlake Volunteer Fire and Rescue team continued to use the cart for a number of years until finally purchasing a more functional truck. At the time, one of the volunteers on the team said the firefighters were always worried the soda cart “just didn’t blow up!”

Each year the Eastlake volunteers roll the cart down River Street during the Victorian Sleighbell Parade for everyone to see firefighting technology of 1900.

Fireman Fred celebrates more than 30 years in Sleighbell Parade

When fireman Fred LaPoint, his wife Susan and their Dalmatian Blaze take their “evening stroll” down River Street this year, it will be one that they’ve done for nearly every Sleighbell Parade since the beginning.

LaPoint recalls that they’ve missed just one year in the event’s 33-year history due to an unfortunate medical issue.

While the lantern “guiding” them down the street has remained pretty much the same, this years’ Blaze will be the seventh or eighth Dalmatian that has made the walk with them.

LaPoint retired a couple years ago following 40 years of service with the Manistee Fire Department, aiding the community as an engineer paramedic. But during his final years with the department, LaPoint embarked on a “mission” that became an extraordinary gift to the community.

He began researching the history of the now 133-yearold fire station that sits at 281 First St. in Manistee and realized that it may, in fact, be more significant than anyone

in Manistee realized.

LaPoint searched archives at the Manistee Library and Manistee County Historical Museum and began to understand the station, opened in 1889, just may be the oldest continuously operating fire station in the United States. After more than two years of research, he discovered the significance was even greater: the Manistee station is the oldest “manned” fire station in the world.

Because of LaPoint’s’ efforts, on June 17, 2019, the station was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest continuously operating fire station in the entire world.

This was “a labor of love” LaPoint noted at the time, and is “a way for me to pay it forward to my brother and sister firefighters and to my community.”

The fire station houses a small display of the historic building along with historic artifacts and photos and is open for tours daily except during mealtime or during an emergency.

Fred LaPoint, former firefighter with the Manistee Fire Department walks the Manistee National Forest Festival parade route with a dalmatian. LaPoint and his dalmatian also make an appearance in the Victorian Sleighbell Parade in December each year. (File Photo)

Eastlake firefighters pull

through downtown Manistee at a past Victorian Sleighbell Parade. (File Photo)

2022 VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE LINE-UP

1 Girl Scouts Flag Detail

2 West Shore Bank Principal parade sponsor

3 Muskegon Regional Police Pipe & Drums Corps Wearing the ‘Hume’ Tartan honoring Thomas Hume an early Muskegon founder

4 St. Nickolas

Common Gentry carriage

5 West Shore Bank

Founded in 1898 oldest area financial institution

6 Parade Grand Marshall John Kaiser Former Manistee Business Owner / longtime parade volunteer

7 Miss Michigan Melissa Beyrand

Fm: Milford, MI / Ed: UoM College of Engineering / violinist

8 ‘Super Scooper’ Team #1 Pierport Pony Club volunteers

9 Victorian Ambassadors Community volunteers celebrate Manistee’s history

10 Manistee Public Library volunteers An Andrew Carnagie Library Founded in 1905 / MI State Historical site

11 Spirit of the Woods Garden Club Living Flag Support and tend gardens throughout the area

12 Spirit of the Woods-Dancing Christmas Trees Support area gardening initiatives & education

13 Manistee High School Band Director: Andrea Mack

14 Shoreline Cycling Club Members from Manistee & Mason Co’s.

15 High 5 Guy Joel Stilt Walker

10 feet tall based in Bay City, MI

16 Trinity Lutheran School Shepards, Angels & Nativity scene

17 East Lake Volunteer Fire & Rescue

1st early 1900’s purchase soda ash cart

18 Manistee Catholic Central & Brethern High School Marching Bands

19 Salt City Rock and Blues Victorian dress and wagon

20 Elsa & Olaf

Frozen comes alive

21 Kennedy Elementary school

4th to 6th Graders- In every Sleighbell Parade

22 Michigan Wheelmen

Keeping alive bicycling heritage

23 Repo’s Rescues

24

Placing happy animals with loving families

Childrens Christmas Tree w/ Nutcracker escorts & Manistee Jaycee assistants

25 Golden Retriever Club Owners in Victorian dress & their dogs

26 Gordie (Dividson) the Organ Grinder Horse drawn wagon w/ a German Concertina-Concert street Organ

27 Authentic 231 Wagon by McCarry Clydesdales

28 Coldwell Banker carriage Horse & carriage

29 ‘Super Scooper’ Team #2 Pierport Pony Club volunteers

30 Little Manistee Watershed Council Protecting 145,200 acres of area wetlands Since 1996

31 Fireman Fred & Sue LaPoint w/ Blaze Engineer & Paramedic w/ City of Manistee for 40-yrs (Ret)

32 Horse & Carriage Marzinski Horse Camp 33 Nutcracker salute Manned by Manistee High School Football Team

34 Clare County Sheriffs Dept. Mounted Unit Volunteer unit provide crowd control at Events through Norther Michigan

35 Victorian Sleighbell Christmas tree w/ Santa Claus 30+ foot tree pulled by Ben Reed & Draft horse team 36 ‘Super Scooper’ Team #3 Pierport Pony Club volunteers

Everyone is invited to follow the tree down River Street for the lighting of the tree, caroling and fireworks to conclude the evening. The parade order may be slightly altered by last minute additions or withdrawals, due to weather, or availability changes.

No motorized vehicles to be seen in Sleighbell Parade

While the Victorian era (historically, roughly 1837 to 1901) began the introduction of the automobile, none will be seen again this year in Manistee’s Sleighbell Parade.

Many of those at the turn of the 1900s still remained noisy, messy and particularly “disturbing” for the still prevalent horses on city streets.

The industrial revolution that took shape in the mid to late 1800s featured dramatic changes in all forms of transportation, and especially farming with the development of steam driven tractors. First seen on American farms in 1888, they proved to be more efficient and productive than horses and were a sight to behold with their clanking and steaming across the landscape.

Automobiles soon followed and by 1900, over 8,000 were operating across the U.S. A year later the number topped 23,000. While somewhat quieter, -around the turn of the century, nearly 38% of American vehicles were electrically powered -- their presence was still

extremely troublesome for the horses that remained prominent.

Over the years, the Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend committee has fielded suggestions that the parade include steam tractors, early gaspowered cars and other frequently “later model” motorized vehicles. All have been thoroughly evaluated and the use of horses and “walking” units has been maintained.

Several years ago, the committee explored a proposal to include entries

featuring various industries that flourished during the period. Included could be lumbering, clothing manufacturing, clock making, salt mining, shingle making and more. The “professionally designed” units, a new one introduced each year, would hide a small vehicle or golf cart providing mobility, much like the floats in the California Rose Parade. Again, while liking the “concept,” the decision was made to stick with the truly traditional “horse” and “foot” power.

So again, the 2022 Sleighbell Parade will not move down River Street with the clunking and clanking of either steam or motorized vehicles. It will be with the beauty and grace of dozens of horses and their accompanying carriages and wagons. All for the ultimate enjoyment of Manistee’s thousands of residents and visitors.

The Victorian Sleighbell Parade will take off down River Street starting at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Manistee.

Joel Tacey has a different view of the parade

At 10-feet in the air, stilt walker Joel Tacey has a much different view of the Victorian Sleighbell Parade than anyone else in Manistee.

While he has a bird’s eye view of the thousands lining River Street, they also won’t miss seeing him as he comes along in the parade on his high stilts.

Tacey says he’s been bringing his “high level” performances to audiences since 1995 when he and entertainment friends first formed “Tip Top Twisters.” Reshaping simple balloons into fascinating animal shapes for kids took off into a myriad of other entertainment

forms Tacey’s business provides corporations and organizations across the country.

Based in Bay City, Tacey and his team of entertainers have appeared with the Detroit Lions and Red Wings, the Great Lake Loons and other regional baseball teams and numerous state and national corporations.

Soon Tacey will be giving up his “long-legs” for his “sea legs” when he fulfills his being selected as the official Balloon Artist of Royal Caribbean’s 91st sailing of The Allure of the Seas ship throughout the Caribbean.

Tacey frequently performs with four other

stilt walkers as the High 5 Guys at many events, although his appearance at this year’s Victorian Sleighbell Parade in Manistee at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 will be as a “solo” walker. However, he notes with a smile that when it comes to interactive, strolling entertainment, “nothing stands up to the high 5 guys.”

Throughout the parade as well as briefly before, Tacey will be visiting with children, creating balloon animals and posing, uphigh, for photographs. But most importantly he insists, he’ll be giving all the kids “lots of highfives.”

A 30-foot Christmas tree is pulled by a horse-drawn carriage during the 2021 Victorian Sleighbell Parade in Manistee. (File Photo)

Stilt walker Joel Tacey poses for pictures in downtown Manistee during the 2021 Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend. (File Photo)

Jingle Bells

Silent Night

O’ Holy Night

2. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming; With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand: So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient land, The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our friend; Chorus

3. Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is Love and His gospel is Peace; Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, And in his name all oppression shall cease, Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we; Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Chorus

O’ Christmas Tree

Joy to the World

A Child is Born in Bethlehem

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Good King Wenceslas

What Child is This

The Victorian Sleighbell Parade Slei ll Par

The Victorian Sleighbell Parade, one of the most unique events of its kind, will celebrate its 33rd year in 2022 that’s a lot of chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Stepping back in time to host four days of nostalgia and fun takes a lot of work. A lot of volunteers from organizations across the community make all the events happen.

The Victorian Sleighbell Parade Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their monetar y and in-kind donations. Without them, the event would not be possible.

West Shore Bank Victorian Sleighbell Parade Signature Sponsor

Edward Jones Jeff Reau

RE/MAX Randy Zakrajsek

Spicer Group

Water’s Edge Dentistry

The Ideal Kitchen Snyder’s Shoes Boyer A gency

PCA

Century 21 Northland Chopos’s Northside Bar

Talon Title

Essential Real Estate North Channel Brewing Company

Morton Salt

The Tabernacle Manistee Campus

Consumers Energy Lakeside Club

Kendra C. Thompson Architects, P.C. William J. Brooks, PLLC Blarney Castle

The Painted Lady Saloon Dr Shrink

West Coast Construction

In-kind Donations

Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend Committee

The Family of Phil and Lynn Miller Manistee Jaycees

Manistee High School Football Team Manistee Elks #250

Manistee Department of Public Works Manistee City Police

Manistee City Manager Bill Gambill

Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts Manistee County Convention and Visitors Bureau Cherry Koblinski

Dr. Ronald Gardin: Heritage Square Victorian Ambassadors

John Pomeroy & Angela Caro Music Duet Divine Mercy Catholic Church Choir Johnson-Amor Signs Armory Youth Project

Thank you!

*Please note this list may be incomplete due to additions made af ter printing. Visit www.ManisteeSleighbellParade.com for updated schedules, sponsors and other information.