20th annual Jack Frost Festival honors Marvin Tassava Sr.

IRONWOOD - To mark the 20th anniversary of the Jack Frost Festival, the planning committee decided to honor Santa in a special way.

This year's theme is "Santa's Memories" in honor of the late Marvin Tassava Sr., who passed away in March.

Marvin spent many years playing Santa for the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce during the parade, greeting children and helping to kick off the Christmas holiday.

"We wanted to honor his dedication and involvement to this festival," committee member Mary Hitt said. "He loved doing this. It was part of his fiber."

Marvin's daughter Bliss Rovelsky and her husband Larry will be the parade marshals for this year's parade on Dec. 5. According to Bliss, hearing the theme was a "surprise and nice tribute to dad."

"I think that Larry bought him the Santa suit at an auction and he took to it like a fish to water," Bliss said. "He loved putting a smile on people's faces and this was another way he could do that."

For many years, Marvin would go to local events as Santa, with his friend Dorothy Pakonen dressed as Mrs. Claus. And his special guest was his beloved dog Misty T.

"He brought that dog everywhere," Bliss said. "He loved her so much, and she even had little outfits for her appearances."

In addition to being Mr. Claus, Bliss said her father would often purchase toys for the emergency room, so kids would have little toys to play with. He would also travel to the hospital on Christmas Eve to lift the spirits of the patients and staff.

"Even when he was hired for private parties, if he got paid, he donated it to local charities," Bliss said of her father. "He was generous and kind."

As for the parade, Bliss is excited to share her father's memory with local residents.

"He was just an amazing person," she said. "He always had a sense of humor and had a joke ready. He loved being Santa and this is such a wonderful honor to him."

Jack Frost Festival

The 2014 Jack Frost Festival kicks off tonight with a tree lighting ceremony at Depot Park in downtown Ironwood at 6.

Downtown Ironwood businesses can participate in the annual window decorating contest with Christmas themes. Judging will be Dec. 3. The winner will be announced before the parade and first place will receive a traveling trophy. Registration forms are located at the chamber office.

The annual gingerbread house contest is also taking place. Entries are due by 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Downtown Art Place in Ironwood. The list of rules and registration forms are found at downtownartplace.com. For more information on the contest, contact Arlene Schneller at 906-364-0992.

Any person or business wishing to enter a float or walking unit in the parade must register by Nov. 28. Forms are located at the chamber office and online at ironwoodmi.org.

All floats must be lit, and sirens and fires are prohibited. Floats or walking groups cannot stop during the parade route unless prior approval has been given by the chamber. For safety purposes, candy or other items can be handed out, but not thrown from floats.

Parade participants are responsible for having their float in their designated parade section by 5 p.m. on Dec. 5.

For more information, call parade chair Kim Kolesar at 906-932-4519.

For more information about the 2014 Jack Frost Festival, call the chamber at 906-932-1122.