August 16, 2026

Manistee Old Christmas Weekend Dec. 2-5

Victorian Sleighbell Parade and more
By Jamie Kauffold | Nov. 26, 2021

Step back in time as you take part in the Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend in Manistee, Dec. 2­–5. The port city’s parade includes horse-drawn entries, bagpipers, a reindeer meet and greet, and carolers elegantly dressed in Victorian-style attire. The highlights are the enormous draft horses pulling a 30-foot Christmas tree down River Street, followed by a display of luminaries, caroling, and the lighting of the tree. There is so much to choose from this weekend, including the Festival of Trees, guided tours of the historic 1894 mansion that now houses the Dempsey Manor Bed and Breakfast Inn and Victorian Tea Room, the Sleighbell Breakfast, Manistee Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk, River Street carriage rides; the 18th Annual Jingle Bell Jam; cocoa to go, and more. Search “Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend” on Facebook for details on all of the weekend’s events.

Trending

FAMgrove Festival at Interlochen

Northern Michigan supergroup The Accidentals is headed to Interlochen Center for the Arts on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 6:30pm, f… Read More >>

Traverse City Food & Wine Festival: Year Two

It’s year two for the Traverse City Food & Wine Festival, held Aug. 19-23 at locations throughout northern Michiga… Read More >>

In the Kitchen with Martin Sorge: Recipes, Reality TV, and Really Great Bakes

Celebrity baker Martin Sorge grew up making Bisquick biscuits with his mom. This might not seem like the most auspicious beg… Read More >>

Tunnel of Trees Art Trail 2026

As summer winds down, the Good Hart Artist Residency pulls out all the stops for their Tunnel of Trees Art Trail, an immersi… Read More >>