Yes. There’s a village called Christmas, Michigan in the upper peninsula. Earnest interest brought us there to investigate the holiday celebrations reaching far into the northern parts of our state.

The last port of the Christmas Tree Schooner was our first stop. It’s a powerfully sad story! We learned a lot at the Iverson Snowshoe factory. In Munising we were able to to have our holiday letters and packages postmarked with, “Christmas, Michigan.”

Cruising through the village of Christmas we spied holiday themed road names and a HUGE Santa. We investigated the rumor of a park ranger leaving a cup of cocoa for Santa at the top of a range lighthouse. Heading south to Escanaba, we stayed in a turn of the century home, “DeGrand House.” The local play, “Fruitcakes” entertained us the first evening.

At last we visited, snacked and shopped at the Antique Christmas Village at the Escanaba State Fair Grounds. Looking behind the curtain of Christmas in the U.P. was a thrill!

-Poppins