The Daily Globe - Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

By JAN TUCKER

jantuck@jamadots.com

Ontonagon — Home Town Christmas in Ontonagon has become a favorite way to welcome the holidays to Ontonagon over the last 19 years. The festival starts Thursday and ends with a big parade and a visit by Santa Claus Sunday.

In between there are dances, games, sales, crafts and Christmas contests.

A Christmas concert at the Christian Center kicks off the festivities Thursday at 7 p.m.

Friday brings open houses at various business places and the judging of business and residential Christmas lighting. Business inside and outside entries must be registered by 1 p.m. Thursday, with the same deadline for residential entries. Friday evening closes with a youth Christmas Dance for grades 6-8 at the Holy Family Hall and 9-12th grade students at the high school.

The busiest day is Saturday. The day features open houses at several businesses and a Christmas Craft Fair, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, at the high school from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is also children’s time at the Holy Family Church Hall with crafts, cookie decorating and games from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children must a accompanied by an adult to participate.

The Ontonagon Ice Rink at the recreation center opens with a Skate Kick Off Party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by Reindeer Run 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is also the museum open house and a spaghetti dinner hosted by the Ontonagon Methodist Church for the Ontonagon Sports Booster Club at the Methodist Church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fireworks will fill the air at 6 p.m. The trimming of the Community Christmas Tree will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m., which includes refreshments hayrides, On Tran light tours and concludes with a Snow Ball Dance at the Eagles from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

One of the highlights of the four days will be the Christmas Parade Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Parade floats in the open commercial and youth divisions compete for Christmas cash. Following the parade, the festivities conclude with visits with Santa at the Fire Hall until 7:30 p.m.