BLISSFIELD, Mich. — While we may still be a few weeks away from Christmas, an annual festival in southeast Michigan will help get you in the holiday spirit this weekend.
South Lane Street in downtown Blissfield will become a holiday shopping wonderland during the 49th Annual Yuletide Festival.
Along with plenty of shopping opportunities, Santa Claus will stop by on Friday night to help light the community Christmas tree and will be around all weekend long to visit with children.
"Get his picture taken with the kids on Saturday after breakfast with Santa," Yuletide Festival committee chair Sarah Kerekgyarto said. "He also has an area where you can see his reindeer over by the town depot."
Plenty of other events are planned all weekend, including "Yule Make" ornaments, a Kinder Market, carriage rides and historic home tours.
There will also be ticketed events like the "Taste of Bliss" on Friday night, and "Brunch & Bingo" on Sunday.
The local shops in the village's historic downtown will all offer special deals and items for sale.
"Not only in our local businesses, but we have some buildings where we're going to have local vendors," Kerekgyarto said, "and so, there's going to be a lot of shopping opportunities as well."
Local businesses are looking forward to welcoming in customers looking for something perfect for the holiday season.
"I think that our gifts are very unique, special," Heather Marks, owner of Three Bridges Boutique, said. "They offer something different that you can't really find online or in the big box stores."
Three Bridges Boutique will also be celebrating its 5th anniversary during the weekend.
Marks said that all of the shops in Blissfield, though similar, do not compete with each other. Instead, everyone works together to help make this small village a great destination for gift ideas every holiday season.
"It's really great to be able to work with so many wonderful businesses and business owners that all have the same understanding of, 'we're in this together,'" Marks said.
Shopping for the Yuletide Festival runs Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More information, including a schedule of events, is available at Blissfield Main Street's Yuletide Festival website.