Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BY SARAH LAUZON
Globe student intern
GOGEBIC RANGE — Beyond Ironwood’s Jack Frost Festival, the coming weekend also will feature many other holiday events, with various organizations in the area offering a range of Christmas festivities for all ages.
On Saturday, the Wakefield Historical Society will hold a Christmas craft fair and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at VFW Post 9084 on U.S. 2 in Wakefield.
Bessemer Public Library will offer its 13th annual gingerbread house event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. All ages are welcome to attend, and the library will provide everything necessary for attendants to build their own gingerbread houses at no cost.
The Erwin Township Community Club Christmas party will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Erwin Township Hall. It will feature a coffee social with baked goods, hot cocoa and apple cider. Santa will distribute goodie bags, and kids also can enjoy crafts and games. A “bake walk” will be held at noon, followed by a 1 p.m. hay ride, weather permitting. Club members welcome all to attend and join the fun.
Mercer will provide a “Northwoods Winter Wonderland” celebration on Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A candy cane parade will start at 3:30 p.m. and will flow down U.S. 51, which is the town’s main street. During the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will light a Christmas tree next to the Mercer Chamber of Commerce office. The parade will conclude with the wreathing of the Claire D’Loon statue in the same location.
Following the parade, a Christmas carnival will commence at the Mercer Community Center, which will be designated officially as Santa’s workshop during that time. The carnival will feature goodies and beverages, Christmas carnival games and the decorating of gingerbread houses. Santa and Mrs. Claus also will be available for visits.
Throughout Mercer’s Saturday celebrations, a European Christmas market will be open at the Pines Restaurant and Beer Garden. The market will include a bonfire and will run from 3 to 7 p.m.
Holiday festivities will continue into Sunday, with a community Christmas party being held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bessemer VFW Post 3673. The party will include a light lunch, caroling, crafts and an opportunity for photos with Santa.
A meeting with Santa will be held on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Iron County Memorial Building in Hurley. Treats and small gifts will be available for children. The Vietnam Veterans Post 529 in Hurley sponsors the event each year.
A Christmas festival open house also will run on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ironwood Church at 2100 E. Cloverland Drive (U.S. 2). The event will include a reading of the Christmas story, as well as games, crafts, cookie-decorating, face-painting and refreshments for children aged 2 to 11. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
For a full schedule of festive events occurring on this busy weekend, visit ironwoodchamber.org.