Downtown brings seasonal cheer this weekend with Dickens Christmas Festival

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The Christmas spirit will take over downtown Mount Pleasant this weekend.

The Dickens Christmas Festival began in the Little Dickens Bookstore more than 20 years ago as a small way for one store to give back to the community, said Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller.

The tradition spread to other stores and eventually grew to what it is today, Sponseller said.

Part of the festival will be the ninth annual Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Saturday downtown. Sponseller said the parade is the highlight of the weekend, attracting the biggest crowd.

“The parade is a nice way to get everyone pumped up for the holiday season,” said Parade Director Jack White. “It involves many community members and will have 35 to 50 floats.”

In addition to the parade, several stores around the area intend to have special promotions and sales to add to the excitement of the festival, Sponseller said.

“Some look at it as a retail event, but it’s a community event, for the most part,” she said. “It’s a way to give back to the community.”

Executive Director of Art Reach of Mid Michigan Kathy Hill volunteered to organize the musical entertainment this year.

Local shops plan on playing festive music indoors and high school musicians, carolers and other forms of entertainment will be outside, Hill said.

“The entire ambience totally exemplifies what small town America is about,” she said. “It is a fun, easy-going event that is family-oriented and makes Mount Pleasant look good.”

Friday’s events include the live nativity scene from 6 to 9 p.m. on the corner of Broadway and Franklin streets and a vast array of musical entertainment. On Saturday there will be a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall. The cost is $6 per person.

The festival will also feature trolley rides, horse and carriage rides, hot cocoa warming stations and pictures with Santa, Sponseller said.

“The Dickens Christmas Festival is a nice holiday package that is a way to socialize, visit downtown businesses and have fun,” White said.