The County Press

Holiday fun abounds this weekend in county


During the summer, local communities across Lapeer County hold distinct festivals and hometown events to celebrate the season. The events are social gatherings where area residents and visitors alike enjoy fun activities in the heart of our local communities.

This Friday and Saturday (Nov. 30-Dec. 1), depending where you live, you won’t have to travel far to usher in the holidays as Almont, Imlay City, Lapeer and North Branch will all host activities sure to get you into the spirit of the season. Each one offers a different take on the holiday, with a local flare that makes them unique to their community.

Next Friday (Dec. 7), the second Annual Dryden Township Christmas Light Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. from Dryden Elementary School to the Dryden Fire Dept. hall.

There’s nothing quite like small-town holiday celebrations in Lapeer County where children and adults coming to enjoy festivities will find Main Street lined with decorations and the sound of Christmas music mixed with snowflakes in the air.

• Almont’s Holly Day Light Parade (see story on page 2B) will mark its 21st anniversary on Saturday. The parade, which starts at 6 p.m. will begin on Centennial Street and then head south on Main Street where it will end around 7 p.m. at the corner of Main and St. Clair streets where Santa will then light the village’s Christmas tree.

The Almont Historical Society will open the museum doors so children can make Christmas crafts and write letters to Santa. Visitors can enjoy the roasting of chestnuts over an open fire at Fountain Park on the court of Main and East Saint Clair streets.

• On Friday, downtown Imlay City will host the annual Winter Playground tree-lighting and parade, as well as a special guest appearance by Santa Claus himself. Winter Playground will be held from 5-7:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at 6 p.m. from the Farmers’ Market parking lot and loop through downtown. Immediately following the conclusion of the parade, the Community Christmas Tree, located at the Imlay City Police station, will be lighted with a ceremony that ushers in the holiday season. Santa will visit with the children after the tree lighting ceremony.

There will be a wide variety of family-friendly activities offered throughout the downtown during Winter Playground, including three face painters, seven merchants offering complimentary ‘make and take’ crafts for kids, two warming stations and marshmallow roasting at the Farmers’ Market.

• WinterFest, the annual Christmas season kick-off done in collaboration between the Lapeer Downtown Development Authority and the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce, will ring in the season Friday and Saturday.

Friday evening at 6 p.m. a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will be held around a large pine tree on the historic county courthouse square — sponsored by the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce.

WinterFest festivities take over downtown Lapeer for the day on Saturday, including two horse-drawn carriages that will be offering free rides to holiday gatherers from 4-7 p.m.

The annual downtown Lapeer Christmas parade will start at 11 a.m. along Nepessing Street. Theme for this year’s parade is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

In his house located adjacent to the farmer’s market pavilion in front of the historic courthouse, Santa will take up residence for numerous dates (see page 5B) this holiday season including immediately after the parade.

• North Branch this weekend will host the eighth annual Holiday Celebration, sponsored by the North Branch Area Business Association. Festivities include a dance program in the high school auditorium Friday evening (see story on page 1A), gingerbread house making at the North Branch Township Library on Saturday and visitors are invited to “Pickup” the Holiday Spirit with the annual parade along Huron Street that will include dozens of holiday lighted pickup trucks and other vehicles. The parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday.

This weekend offers an opportunity to head downtown and enjoy your hometown holiday fun, no matter where you live in Lapeer County.