Home / Featured / Christmas festivals across the Copper Country this weekend
Frank A. Douglass Insurance Agency

Christmas festivals across the Copper Country this weekend

Chassell, Houghton, Calumet, and Hubbell all have one thing in common this weekend. They are going to look a lot like the North Pole and not because of the most recent snow storm. Christmas is taking hold of the Copper Country in a way as big as a bowl full of jelly.

Chassell’s Old-Fashioned Christmas is a two day event. The elementary school kicks things off with a program at the school at 1:00 PM Friday. As the sun sets, families will gather in Hamar Field for live carolers, carriage rides, and the lighting of the community Christmas tree.

On Saturday there is a craft bazaar at the school with at least 80 vendors selling their wares, plus breakfast with the Chassell Senior Class and a pie sale. The Keweenaw Country Store will be doling out free coffee and pastries. Santa Claus will be at the Chassell Heritage Center for a special open house from 11:00 to 3:00. Between noon and 5:00, a caravan of vehicles will be taking part in the home tour. Judy Evert from the Chassell Improvement Association says there are some sites that history lovers will absolutely adore this year.

The Community Center, that is back from the 1800’s, it’s a sight to behold. It is just so beautiful. The main level, where the Chassell boys played basketball, the original basketball floor has been refurbished, so that is really something to see. On that floor is a large living room and kitchen area. On the third level, where we used to watch the boys play basketball, is her loft.

Chassell’s Old-Fashioned Christmas dates back to 1980.

Calumet will be enjoying its second weekend of holiday events. Leah Polzien runs through some of the activities.

The Friends of Fashion, they create and preserve historical garments. There will be people wearing those garments in the windows [of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Visitors Center], so kind of enacting what might be an historic scene. We have horse-drawn wagon rides 10-2, and Keweenaw Coffee Works has a Cookies with Santa event.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are truly magic. They’ll be making an appearance at the Hubbell VFW on Saturday afternoon and the Man in Red is scheduled to get a very special welcome in Houghton too. He’s coming into town at 5 PM atop one of the trucks of the Houghton Fire Department. The Vault and Hampton Inn hotels will have staff creating the perfect photo opportunity. Guests are also encouraged to check out the amazing decorations along Shelden Avenue and Lakeshore Drive down to Bridgeview Park.

The full press release on the Houghton event is below.

———————————————————-

Santa is set to return to Houghton this Saturday afternoon as city volunteers prepare to welcome him with festive lights, carriage rides, and holiday cheer. Families and children will want to gather along Shelden Avenue at 5 pm to greet Saint Nick as he rides into town in one of the City’s fire trucks.

Santa’s arrival is part of the City’s efforts to create a fun and festive downtown Christmas atmosphere. Events, like rustic horse-drawn carriage rides, will take place this Saturday December 11 and December 17 from 4 to 7 pm. The carriage rides will take families along Lakeshore Drive with offers views of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and the city’s holiday-themed illuminated winter trail. Staff from the Hampton Inn & Suites of Houghton dressed as holiday characters available for family photo-ops. The carriage rides are being sponsored by The Vault Hotel and Citrus Salon.

Partners for Houghton’s Christmas placemaking efforts include city staff, The Vault Hotel & Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw and various downtown businesses including Good Times Music and Grace + Gather.

For more details on Houghton’s Christmas festivities, visit the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook Page.

Check Also

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition requests proposals for two 2025 grant programs

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition announces its 2025 round of Community Conversation Grants and Environmental …