Ortonville- Kick-off the holiday season Dec. 6 with Christmas in the Village.
‘I love how downtown Ortonville gets dressed up for Christmas, it’s the perfect way to start the holiday season,? said DDA Executive Director Molly LaLone.
The bulk of the festivities take place between noon and 5 p.m., Dec. 6, although a craft, treasure and bake sale will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 and Mabelena’s will host a holiday open house at the quilt shop beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Celebrants can enjoy a concert by the Street Briar String Band at 11 a.m. at the library, 304 South St., and performances by the dulcimer troupe begin the same hour at the Old Mill.
Take in another Christmas concert by the Brandon Academy of Arts and Sciences Band at noon at the Old Town Hall. Outside the town hall, at Heritage Garden, pet alpacas from noon-5 p.m. and a baby reindeer will arrive at the garden at 3 p.m. and stay until 5 p.m.
The highlight of Christmas in the Village, the parade, will begin at 3 p.m. and features Santa Claus. Following the parade, the jolly old elf will be available for photos and present requests at the Old Mill. Meanwhile, Mrs. Claus will tell Christmas stories in the Mann Schoolhouse, accompanied by a sign language interpreter.
Also after the parade, enjoy Yesteryear Tractor Club hayrides at the Old Mill and Old Town Hall, and free carriage rides, which begin at Hamilton’s Feed and Fuel store, where children can also make a pine cone birdfeeder. Outside of the store will albe be parked a truck from Hog Wild BBQ of Howell, new to Christmas in the Village this year. Not in the mood for barbecue? The Ortonville United Methodist Church Men will host their traditional ham dinner from 4-7 p.m. and a bake sale can also be found at the church located at 93 Church St. The Eastern Star Cookie walk returns from 2-4 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.
Two Pine Forge Blacksmithing is back and shopping abounds with holiday boutiques at the Old Town Hall, as well as at the former Glass With Class store, at 437 Mill St. Season’s Sparkle will be at For the Love of Local, a new store temporarily open during the event at 68 South St. Participate in Christmas in the Village Rewards by receiving a ticket when shopping in downtown stores. All tickets will be collected and a winner’s name drawn during the tree lighting ceremony (accompanied by Christmas caroling) at 5 p.m. at Heritage Garden. The winner receives gifts featured in the window at 449 Mill St.
Looking for a unique gift? The Friend of AMOS (Always Making Ortonville Strong), a non-profit group, has commissioned 500 limited edition ornaments of the Old Mill. The ornaments are the first in a ‘Cultural Heritage Ornament Series,? and will be for sale at Christmas in the Village for $15 each.
Christmas in the Village events are sponsored by Brandon Township Parks and Recreation, Verizon Wireless Zone, Hamilton’s Feed and Fuel, Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union and Jason Gault- Real Estate One. For more information, call Molly LaLone at 248-627-8070.

Dear Editor,
More than one thousand people attended Christmas in the Village this past Saturday, starting with the first ever Jingle Bell run, where close to 50 people raced through town. It was great to see antique fire trucks and tractors join in the parade this year, too! For its? second year, the Taste of Ortonville fed more than 150 people. The Fire Hall was filled shoppers, so the vendors were happy and the kid’s craft tables were occupied all day long. While they waited in line to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, kids and their parents enjoyed seeing a live reindeer and alpacas outside the Old Town Hall, while Sacred Grounds served coffee and hot-chocolate on the porch. The day finished off with caroling and the lighting of the Christmas tree by Village President, Wayne Wills and Village Manager, John Lyons.
Thanks to all of its? sponsors, volunteers and supporters, Ortonville’s Christmas in the Village was a smashing success!
Pam Belding
Ortonville DDA Promotions Chair

Christmas in the Village will be from 2-7 p.m. on Dec. 1.
The Ortonville DDA along with the Chamber of Commerce is asking for help in decking out the streets and shops of Ortonville in donating working holiday lights and gentely used holiday decor.
Needed is a sled with reindeer for the roof of The Old Mill. Donations can be dropped off at The Old Mill on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Also, local groups are are welcome to help decorate The Old Mill on Nov. 24.
The DDA and Chamber of Commerce also have parade participants that are in need of transportation, a hay wagon or flat bed. Details: Mary Dorda (248) 627-6851.

Christmas in the Village will be from 2-7 p.m. on Dec. 1.
The Ortonville DDA along with the Chamber of Commerce is asking for help in decking out the streets and shops of Ortonville in donating working holiday lights and gentely used holiday decor.
Needed is a sled with reindeer for the roof of The Old Mill. Donations can be dropped off at The Old Mill on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Also, local groups are are welcome to help decorate The Old Mill on Nov. 24.
The DDA and Chamber of Commerce also have parade participants that are in need of transportation, a hay wagon or flat bed. Details: Mary Dorda (248) 627-6851.

Ortonville- Kick off the magic of the holiday season with Christmas in the Village.
The annual event will be held Dec. 7, with most events taking place between 1-5 p.m. with more participants than ever.
‘This is a memory-making event,? said DDA Executive Director Molly LaLone. ‘Bring your kids for old-fashioned charm in an old-fashioned village.?
The centerpiece of the event is the parade, which begins at 3 p.m. downtown and features Santa Claus, who will ride in a beautiful carriage sponsored by Thompson’s Hardware and Hamilton’s Feed & Fuel. Also in the parade will be vintage tractors decorated for Christmas. Following the parade, the Yesteryear Tractor Club will offer hayrides at the fire hall on Pond Street. Rides in Santa’s carriage will also be available, although if you want to see Santa, you will need to go to the Old Town Hall, where he will be hearing children’s Christmas wishes and posing for photos.
Joining Santa at the Old Town Hall will be Mrs. Claus, reading stories. Besides visiting Santa, children will also want to visit Fire Station #1 on South Street, where they can do kids crafts from 3-5 p.m. At Hamilton’s on Mill St., get a free peanut butter pinecone birdfeeder craft and check out Two Pine Forge Blacksmithing there for a demonstration and purchase a commemorative ornament for $1. Drop by The Local Relic for a free upcycling make and take.
Free raffles for goodies are available at both South Street Consignment and First Impressions Hair Salon, and for every purchase made at any of the shops in the village, or at Santa’s Shop at the fire station (various craft vendors from 1-5 p.m.), you can receive a ticket for a prize drawing at the tree lighting ceremony. Must be present to win.
Check out the St. Dominic’s Chapel Girls Choir at 2:30 p.m. at the Old Town Hall, where you can also find alpacas and reindeer. Music will also be heard in a dulcimer concert at the Old Mill at 11 a.m., and in a classic winds concert at 1 p.m. at the library community room, 304 South St.
There will also be plenty to eat at Christmas in the Village, with breakfast and lunch options at the Old Mill (along with tours of the museum), as well as the traditional ham dinner sponsored by the Ortonville United Methodist Men at the church located at 93 Church St. Pick up free cookies and cocoa at J&N Supplies. A cookie walk is planned at the Masonic Temple from 2-4 p.m., and bake sales will also be from 2-7 p.m. at the Ortonville United Methodist Church, as well as at the Edna Burton Senior Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
‘Reindeer, Santa, carriages’this community goes all out to provide great memories for everyone,? said LaLone.

Saturday, Dec., 6 will be a full day of adventure downtown Ortonville.
Wake up early, dress in layers, pack up the family and start a full day of Christmas in the Village with breakfast at the United Methodist Church, before the parade.
All who have little ones, pack up the wagon with parade bells, cameras for a visit with Santa or catch a snap shot of children with frosting on their noses at the cookie decorating table.
Explore the Old Mill with new displays of antique Santas and feather Christmas trees, while they warm up with hot chocolate from the Cafe’ Espresso.
Wear warm, comfortable walking boots for a day of shopping to check off the Christmas Shopping list at the Craft show in the Old Town Hall and the Reminder Building.
Take the kids for Christmas stories of long ago to present at the Brandon Public Library. Hop on a traditional Vantine’s hay ride for a tour downtown. While on the tour vote on the downtown residential creativity
Don’t plan to make dinner, instead discover the delectable tastes of both Ortonville and Goodrich with at the “TOOGOOD” taste-fest of local restaurateurs, hosted by the Ortonville Baptist Church.
Finally at 6 p.m. join the community for the decorating and tree lighting at the Old Town Hall.