Schedule updated regularly. Check back often. 

Lakeside Club of Manistee County’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Décor
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ramsdell Ballroom, 101 Maple Street
Admission: Donation ($1 minimum)
Come view and bid on creatively decorated local artist’s Christmas trees, wreaths and seasonal decor and gifts. “Buy it Now” options available. Bring canned goods to vote for your favorite entry for the “People’s Choice” award. Bring unwrapped toys for Five CAP’s “Toys for Tots/Gifts for Teens.” Enter for prize drawing with each toy donated.  Proceeds from the 2023 Festival of Trees will go to Staircase Youth Services, Great Lakes Environmental Festival and Lakeside Club’s High School Senior Service Scholarship.  Bidding for the event closes at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

Dramatic Reading from “A Christmas Carol”
3 pm, Manistee County Library, 95 Maple Street
Enjoy excerpts from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” performed as a dramatic reading in the top floor meeting room at Manistee Main Branch Library. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.manisteelibrary.org.

The Nutcracker
7:30 p.m. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St.
For ticket information, please visit ramsdelltheatre.org

Lakeside Club of Manistee County’s “1885 Come Alive! The Grand Ball”
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Ramsdell Ballroom, 101 Maple Street
Step back in time to a black tie, Victorian-themed grand ball inside the beautiful Ramsdell Ballroom. Enjoy entertainment, appetizers and sweets along with a cash bar. Ages 21 and up. Costumes are required. Admission: $40/person or $70/couple.  Limited tickets available by advance purchase only on www.lakesideclubmanistee.org.

Holiday Craft Show
9 am to 3 pm – Manistee Senior Center – 260 St Mary’s Pkwy
All items are homemade. There will be a luncheon available and a holiday cookie sale.

The Elk’s Breakfast Buffett
9-11am, Elks Lodge, 432 River Street
$12 per person, 5 and under free

Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor
11 am to 8 pm – Ramsdell Ballroom – 101 Maple St – Admission: Donation – $1 minimum
See Friday for event details.
Bidding closes tonight at 8pm.  Winning bidders may pick-up items Sat between 8:30 -9:30 pm or see below.

Scandinavian Christmas Open House
11 am – 2 pm – 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.

Sleighbell Saturday Open House and Warming Station
Noon – 2pm, Manistee County Library, 95 Maple Street
Stop by the Manistee Main Branch Library for family-friendly activities including a Victorian Lantern Craft and Bah-Humbug Pinback Buttons. Enjoy a self-guided tour of this 118-year-old Carnegie Library built in 1905. End your tour at the top floor meeting room for great views of the historic district and a cup of hot cocoa!

Horse and Carriage Rides
Noon – 3:45pm – River Street (East and West Sides of Maple Street)
Enjoy complimentary horse and carriage and wagon rides on River Street in beautiful Downtown Manistee (rides end sharply at 3:45pm in order for horses to be fed and groomed before the parade)

Santa’s Headquarters
1pm – 4pm, Manistee Municipal Marina, 480 River Street
Welcome Santa at 1pm as he arrives on a vintage firetruck.  Visit with Santa afterwards and give him your Christmas list.
Santa Headquarters will also be open on Dec 9, 10, 16 and 17 from 1-4pm

CHRISTMAS TEA AT THE BUCKLEY HOUSE
2 – 4pm, 450 Cedar Street
Enjoy a lavish Christmas tea in the third-floor ballroom of one of Manistee’s premier Victorian homes. Three full courses will be served along with a tour of the home. Reservations required by Wednesday, November 29. Pay at time of reservation. 231 690-2743, $40./person.

VICTORIAN SLEIGHBELL PARADE
5:30 pm – Downtown Manistee – River Street
The Victorian Sleighbell Parade down historic River Street is one of Michigan’s most memorable holiday traditions. This authentic parade features horse drawn carriages, turn of the century characters, 30-foot Christmas tree pulled upright by a beautiful horse team, bagpipers, Miss Michigan, Santa himself and much more. The parade concludes downtown’s west end near the fountain with community caroling, lighting of the tree and weather permitting a spectacular display of fireworks.
Parade Sponsored by: West Shore Bank
Fireworks Sponsored by: Edward Jones – Jeff Reau

NUTCRACKER
7:30 pm – Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts – 101 Maple St
For ticket information please visit ramsdelltheatre.org

Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor
10:30 am -12:30 pm – Ramsdell Ballroom – 101 Maple St
Pick-up time for winning bidders. Please pick up your items promptly. We wrap trees for easy transport!

Scandinavian Christmas Open House
11 am – 2 pm – Old Kirke Museum – 304 Walnut St.
See Saturday for event information.

Santa’s Headquarters
1pm – 4pm, Manistee Municipal Marina, 480 River Street
Welcome Santa at 1pm as he arrives on a vintage firetruck.  Visit with Santa afterwards and give him your Christmas list.
Santa Headquarters will also be open on Dec 9, 10, 16 and 17 from 1-4pm

NUTCRACKER
2 pm – Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts – 101 Maple St
For ticket information please visit ramsdelltheatre.org