ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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North Muskegon Circle Tour Rings In the Holidays
by Cathy Morin, Owner, the Bird House
Celebrate with North Muskegon businesses during the 17th Annual Northside Holiday Circle Tour, November 17, 18 and 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, November 19 will once again host special events at many of the businesses.
Flowers by Ray and Sharon, 1888 Holton Rd., will offer special events Saturday, including a free Flowers for Kids Class where kids make a bud vase to take home. With the purchase of a fresh pine wreath, designers will assist customers in decorating with pine cones, millimeter balls and a Christmas bow for free.
Travel to KU Kandles, 1384 Holton Rd., the premier store for all types of candles, and savor the amazing fall scents now available in wax melts, votive, t-lite, pillar and jar candles. Enjoy fresh baked cookies and warm, mulled cranberry apple juice while checking out the "one of a kind" pieces crafted by talented local artists. The craftsmen from KU Kandles are available to show off their candle making talents and look forward to seeing their "regulars" as well as old friends and new faces.
Cichetti Culinary Studio and Kitchen Boutique, 702 Holton Rd., offers gourmet cooking classes and private events along with fresh homemade items such as pasta, herbs and spices, dried mushrooms and unique kitchen items and clothing, all in their custom designed kitchen and store. Mention On the Shore magazine and receive a 10% discount on any culinary class or private event! Enter a drawing to win a free Lunchtime Mini Cooking Class, which is a course that teaches you how to prepare a delicious lunch and enjoy it at the same time.
Visit Buck Snort Lodge Products, 1500 Whitehall Rd., for unique one-of-a-kind gifts, including rustic bedding, picture frames, wine accessories, and many more items for the outdoor enthusiast in your life! During the Circle Tour save 10% to 50% on selected merchandise and enjoy free gift wrapping on purchases of $25 or more.
Attracting wild birds is enjoyable and easy with a quality bird feeder filled with a special blend birdseed. The Bird House, 1915 Lake Ave., offers a variety of feeders and all are 20% off during the Circle Tour. On Saturday 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. bring the family in for a line-up of special events. Wild Delight, a leader in the bird seed industry, will sponsor a free make your own pinecone bird seed ornament for kids of all ages. Check out the new line of pet products with Ainsworth and take home a sample of dog or cat food. Annette, an animal behavior consultant from Wolf Song Enterprises, will "showcase some animal talent." Marie, a fine local artist from Diverse Design, specializes in oil paintings of wildlife and domestic pets. Find out how you can get a portrait done of your special pet and observe her as she does one of her drawings of a bird.
Northpointe Jewelers, 200 Holton Rd., is going into their eighth holiday season. Owner/Designer Eloy states their "Personal Design Studio" allows dreams to become designs and help create memories from the heart.
Dawn Barry at Barry's Flower Shop and Greenhouses, 3000 Whitehall Rd., said she is excited to show visitors her new real topiaries of rosemary, lemon cypress, mossed ivy reindeer, and more. Barry's Horticulturist will be available to show how to trim and train topiaries, make your own and answer gardening questions. Plus, there will be cookies and punch.
Thirteen local business continue on with the tradition to coordinate Holiday Open Houses as a way to give back to the community and patrons. Stop by each business, experience the spirit of the holidays with holiday fare, festive decorations and enjoy all of the specials available only during these three days. Join us all for fresh new ideas to incorporate with your family traditions.
Collect the signatures from each business as you travel on your way and then leave your flyer at the last business on your journey for a chance at a beautiful $50 gift. Each business has selected a gift they are sure you will love.
Stop by each business, experience the spirit of the holidays with holiday fare and festive decorations while you enjoy all of the specials available only during these three days!
For more information about the 17th Annual Holiday Circle Tour phone Mary at Flowers by Ray and Sharon, (231) 744-4706 or Cathy at The Bird House, (231) 719-2473.
White Lake Area Family Events Celebrate the Holidays
by Amy VanLoon, Executive Director, White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
The season of Christmas brings a community together, and what better way to ring in the holiday than the White Lake Holiday Walk? This year's Christmas Walk will take place during the weekend of November 18 through 19 along the downtown streets of Montague and Whitehall with over 30 participating merchants.
Enjoy traditional Christmas Open Houses featuring unique gifts from participating White Lake Area businesses. Share the spirit of Christmas holiday music, carolers from area schools and a visit with Santa Claus strolling along the downtown streets.
Free old-fashioned carriage rides await you Friday and Saturday in both Montague and Whitehall. Stroll the streets on Friday evening to see hundreds of luminaries lining the sidewalks. The trolley will be available to transport shoppers from town to town during the day on Saturday.
There will be a Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the end of Mears Avenue.
Area businesses will offer holiday treats and hot cocoa, along with holiday discounts. Register to win a White Lake Gift Certificate!
The Holiday Walk hours are Friday, November 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Christmas Walk maps are available at participating shops, businesses, and at the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town -- Saturday, December 3, nearly 75 entries will line up and follow the 59th White Lake Christmas Parade route from Whitehall to Montague along Business Route 31. The parade will begin at 2:00 p.m.
The parade promises to be even more exciting with characters, floats, civic organizations, businesses and parading fire trucks along with other local favorites. Santa will be riding up as the Grand Finale of this very special slice of "small town America" parade. He will be eager to see children of all ages. What a great way to celebrate this holiday season with family, friends and neighbors.
For more information on the Annual Holiday Walk and the White Lake Christmas Parade, contact the White Lake Area Chamber at (231) 893-4585 or 1-800-879-9702 or visit www.whitelake.org.
Holidays in Lakeside: A Tradition
by Louise Hopson, Owner, Art Cats Gallery
What is your favorite Christmas pastime? Maybe it is taking the kids to see Santa or enjoying your favorite homemade holiday cookies. It could be shopping for those perfect presents for special friends and loved ones, taking a traditional carriage ride in the snow or delighting in the sounds of Christmas carols being sung with happy voices.
All of these things and more can be enjoyed at the eighth annual Holidays in Lakeside on December 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Strolling through Lakeside between specialty shops listening to street carolers may sound like a favorite movie from days of yore, but the Lakeside District Association is determined to keep holiday traditions alive and even the biggest Grinch will find holiday shopping fabulous fun when done at local Lakeside shops, where distinctive and unusual gifts can be found.
Families can enjoy a free holiday movie at the Harbor Theater sponsored by the Lakeside Neighborhood Association. Don't forget to get your tickets for the Lakeside Merchants Gift Basket Raffle for a big beautiful basket of Lakeside goodies and gift certificates!
Enjoy bake sale treats at Lakeside Center and make sure to follow the elves to Santa and let him know what is on your list. A photographer will be on hand to snap candid pictures of Santa and your little ones.
Don't forget to do some Star Glazing at Art Cats Gallery during the month of November (Check our web site for dates). All funds collected will be used for beautification in Lakeside.
Holidays in Lakeside is being held Saturday, December 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Lakeside Business District along Lakeshore Drive between Addison and McCracken. For more information, visit the Lakeside District's website at lakesidedistrict.com.
Holiday Traditions at Muskegon's Historic Sites
by Joni Dorsett, Communications Director, Lakeshore Museum Center
Holidays are when many traditions begin. During Thanksgiving weekend, visitors will have an opportunity to start a new tradition with a tour of the Hackley and Hume Historic Site, Fire Barn Museum and Scolnik House of the Depression Era. Each site has been decorated for the holidays by members of local civic organizations and Museum volunteers and staff members reflecting time periods from the late 1800s to the 1930s.
The homes of Charles and Julia Hackley and Thomas and Margaret Hume have been decorated to tell the story of how holidays were celebrated in the late 1800s and early 1900s. More recently, the tours have been expanded to include the Lakeshore Museum Center's other sites: the Fire Barn Museum and Scolnik House.
Horse drawn carriage rides will transport visitors between the two houses on Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Daytime tours will begin on Sunday, November 26 from noon to 4:00 p.m. Tours will continue from noon to 4:00 p.m. on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.
Tours will also be offered between the Christmas and New Year's holidays on Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29 from noon to 4:00 pm.
Guides will be stationed throughout the historic sites to interpret the decorations for visitors.
The cost of a tour at the Hackley and Hume Historic Site is $3.00 for visitors 13 and older; guests 12 and younger are admitted free. It is located on West Webster Avenue at Sixth Street in downtown Muskegon.
Tours begin in the City Barn where the Museum Store is located. The store offers unique gifts and holiday items for sale. There is no admission charge at the Scolnik House, 504 W. Clay Ave. or at the Fire Barn Museum, located next door at 510 W. Clay Ave.