By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
Ortonville-Christmas comes to town.
From noon-5 p.m., Dec. 1 the annual Christmas in the Village celebration with more than 20 different activities to kick off the holiday season.
Celebrate a little early by checking out downtown and voting on the best window decor by donating inside the businesses. All money raised will go back to the community through Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance, OCEF, the Deputy Overall Scholarship Fund and the DDA. The voting starts on Nov. 24 through Christmas.
“There’s 23 different things that I know of going on downtown from noon to five,” said Rick Dery, Christmas in the Village promotions committee. “There’s more sponsors than I think we’ve had recently, there’s been a lot more activity.”

In addition to the parade organized by Parks and Rec director Fred Waybrant, which will have costumed walkers, there will be many other activities including downtown local merchants holiday open houses •gift shopping •live music and refreshments •storytime and crafts with Mrs. Klaus at the Mann School House from noon-2 p.m. •tractor hay rides noon-2:30 p.m. at Old Town Hall •kid’s Christmas movies noon-3 p.m. at Old Town Hall •Family photo spots throughout downtown marked by signs. •Holiday craft market in the former Thompson’s Hardware building on South Street •Food trucks in downtown on Mill Street •The Brandon Community Church warming station in the Old Town Hall area•The Village Pub will serve food at Mill and South street •Turkey Bowling•A Find the “Pickles” contest •Family holiday portraits by

Michelle Bess Photography at The Old Town Hall•Christmas cards to the troops at The Old Town Hall•Letters to Santa at the Old Town Hall•Petting Zoo at the corner of Mill and Cedar streets•Santa’s Reindeer 1-3 p.m. at The Old Mill Museum•Kid’s holiday craftzone at the Masonic Hall, South Street•Eastern Stars Cookie Walk and Handmade Crafts at the Masonic Hall South Street•Marshmallow roasting and warming station at Brandon Fire Hall, South Street•Brandon High School caroling 3-5:30 p.m. throughout downtown•Story Time at the Old Town Hall 4-5 p.m.l•Santa and Mrs. Clause at the Old Mill Museum after the parade•Santa Sleigh rides 3:30-5 p.m. in front of Hamilton’s Feed Store•Tree lighting at 5:30•Ready to give gifts, 11 a.m., cookie sale, 2 p.m., and ham dinner, 4 p.m., at Ortonville United Methodist Church 93 N. Church Street.
“We’ve received a lot of local support again this year,” said Dery. “All this was possible with help from Courtney McClerren and Carrie Boersema in securing sponsors and and parade units.”