ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND...

We just finished up the second weekend of the Holly Dickens Festival and it was a blast! The snow hill is still the centerpiece of town, but the entertainment, food and shopping is magical. We have one more weekend, December 8th and 9th from noon to 6 p.m. if you can join us. Saturday morning is the "Run Like The Dickens" race, the parade is at noon, and then more fun in the village. I have a lot of fun pictures I'd like to share with you and then a surprise at the end of the blog! You better grab a cup of coffee and settle in, cause there's a whole tour of the festival coming up. Sure hope you don't get too bored!

We stayed at the shop until 10:30 p.m. on Friday night and Dick brought in this beautiful red cupboard. Guess what was the first thing to sell on Saturday morning???

Do any of you have any pieces made by Tammy Jias? Her work is wonderful!! She brought in these little Santas, lots of blackened wax goodies and more that you'll see next.

I'm crazy about her huge Santa, he fit in wonderful with our resting reindeer.

Her Santa heads filled our tree. Okay, enough about the shop, now on for some fun at the festival!

The sledding hill is still the favorite for the children at the festival!

The Red Wood Grill is cooking up the most amazing bar-b-que that I've ever tasted!

My great friend Debbie came in to work in the shop with us on Saturday and we had a ball! She'll be back this Saturday too.

We have a super raffle each day of the festival. Saturday's prize for Scrooge's Vault were these two cruiser bikes.

Good friend Bonnie came into to town to "man" the golf cart. We have this available to help people get to and from their cars and to deliver packages.

Another hit was the turkey bowling!

Gannon, Abbey, Ashley and Lucy did their turn.

Old St. Nick is right in the window of the Wilmot Building. Bring your children for free pictures, cookies and milk and fun doing a craft.

St. Dominic's Chapel Girl's Choir is heavenly!

The horse and carriage rides are back too.

We had dancing in the streets by Star Struck Dance Studio.

Dick and I had to be in early for a t.v. interview on Channel 12 (Flint).

Scrooge also had his moment of fame with the Adventest Choir.

The characters were all about town. One of our country gentleman (John LaCroix) looked pretty dapper.

Pam Krantz that leads our children's parade along with the queen and Katie Hughes that came up with our turkey bowling are looking very victorian!

Our sledding hill guys (Josh - J.Z. Landscaping and John - PARX) got right into the spirit with their top hats.

Harold the town crier made sure everyone knew when the next act was going to take place.

Jessie the chimney sweet kept all of the wood stoked throughout the town.

Mike was another very distinguished country gentleman.

Our new village president, Jason Hughes, worked like crazy to get everything in place.

Joe Mishler, co-owner of Blue Heron Theatre, helped get our Christmas Carol onto the stage this year.

A big surprise and huge hit this year was Jenna and Robert. The crowds didn't want to let them go.

THEN - late in the afternoon we had fun visitors. Norm and EARLENE came to join in the festivities.

Earlene got to get acquainted with Scrooge.

Queen Debbie (Musgrave), Norm and Earlene posed for a photo op.

Seems like after the day is over, everyone congregates in our shop for a few minutes of fun.

Silly Gary Musgrave got right in on the action.

And then the festival ended and Norm, Earlene, Dick and I walked around the corner to the Holly Hotel. It is decorated from top to bottom and you feel like you were transported back to the Victorian days.

Norm and Earlene on the Holly Hotel porch.

We had a beautiful dinner in the "dining car" (just like a train car). We were both so excited that they came to visit. Hope to get over to see her decorating before the holidays are over. Thanks friends.

As the day turned to night, we are thankful for another wonderful weekend of festivities with a beautiful ending with good friends. Until next time...