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.

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

Joel Tacey has a different view of the parade

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

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.”