Upcoming holiday events in the area include:

— The Iron Mountain Downtown Christmas Walk and Community Christmas Tree Lighting, sponsored by the First National Bank & Trust, will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday.

The tree lighting will be about 6 p.m., as soon as Santa Claus and the Downtown Christmas Walk foot parade arrives at the First National Bank outdoor plaza.

This year’s community Christmas tree was once again donated by Swanson’s Big Red Barn Holiday Events in Niagara, Wis.

DAVE CARMODY OF Bacco Construction puts lights on the Christmas tree in front of First National Bank & Trust in downtown Iron Mountain as Chris Rigoni holds the ladder. A tree lighting ceremony is planned Friday as part of the Downtown Christmas Walk. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

In collaboration with the walk, the Iron Mountain Downtown Development Authority is bringing back the tradition of the Holiday Window Decorating Contest for businesses in the downtown district. Participating businesses will receive ballots for shoppers to vote for their favorite window display. Voting begins Friday and extends through Dec. 19. The ballot box is just outside City Hall. Winners of the Window Decorating Contest will receive DDA mini-grants.

DDA Program Director Mindy Wittock and DDA Event Coordinator Tania Mishra said they enjoyed working with the First National Bank & Trust again this year on the Christmas Walk and Tree Lighting.

“Thanks to their generous sponsorship of First National Bank, we are able to provide a fun treat for the children and bring back the mini-grants for the contest,” Wittock said. “We are excited to see what our local downtown businesses come up with and think that the contest is a great way to beautify our downtown over the holidays.”

The Dickinson County Library in Iron Mountain and Friends of the Library will feature the Story Stroll, with pages from the book “Winter Cats” by Janet Lawler available for viewing in some of the downtown storefronts.

Children who complete the Story Stroll to collect the clues and return to the library with the answer will receive a Christmas gift pack while supplies last.

More details about the stroll and prize pickup can be found on the library website at www.dcl-lib.org.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand at the library for visits and photos from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Registration is required by calling the library at 906-774-1218 to reserve a slot to see Santa.

“Thank you to the First National Bank for sponsorship, the Dickinson County Library for hosting Santa and the Story Stroll, and to Swanson’s Big Red Barn for the beautiful Christmas tree,” Mishra said. “We are so lucky to work with such a generous community.”

The Community Christmas Tree will once again be a “giving tree,” where donations of hats, mittens, gloves and other winter wear can be hung on the tree. Anyone in need who could use these items may take them and when the tree comes down, all remaining items will be donated to local charitable organizations.

Bishop Baraga Catholic School also will have a live nativity display.

“It is so wonderful we are able to gather as a community again and enjoy the Christmas spirit together at the walk,” Wittock said.

For more information on the Downtown Christmas Walk, including activities and schedules, go to downtownironmountain.com/2021christmaswalk.

The community event is possible thanks to the partnership of the First National Bank & Trust and the Iron Mountain DDA, with the help of Swanson’s Big Red Barn, Bacco Construction, and the Dickinson County Library.

— Northern Michigan Dance Academy and the Dickinson Ballet Company will present “The Nutcracker” this weekend.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for ages12 and younger and can be purchased online at www.thebraumart.org.

— The Lights at the Lake continues nightly at Lake Antoine Park in Iron Mountain through Sunday, Dec. 19. The public is invited to this drive-through light display from 5 to 10 p.m. Vehicles can enter through the main gate of the park and continue through the campsites with lights on dim. Several local businesses, schools and organizations have converted each site into winter wonderland displays. They encourage playing some Christmas music on vehicle radios. There is no admission charge.

— Boss Snowplow’s Community Children’s Christmas Adventure is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Big Red Barn, W7484 Valerio Road in Niagara, Wis. Parking and admission is free. Ages 12 and younger will receive coins to enjoy food and activities.

— The Crystal Falls Business Association will present “It’s A Free For All” Crystal Christmas on Saturday.

A full day of activities is planned. The festivities kick off with a craft show from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at United Lutheran Church, 506 Superior Ave.

The Crystal Falls Library will feature author Samantha Dalton reading her book “The Cow That Loved the Moon” at 10 a.m.

The Crystal Falls Contemporary Center will host a soup luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at United Lutheran Church. There will be paintings, pottery bowls, play dough and art kits for sale as well.

Santa Claus will arrive at the Veterans Memorial Pocket Park to visit with children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The third-annual Authorpalooza will begin at 2 p.m. at the library and will feature several authors giving presentations about their books.

The public is invited to Crystella Ski Hill from 2 to 6 p.m. to meet volunteers, families, tow operators, directors and board members. They will also offer food, beverages, crafts, raffles and a photo booth.

Santa Claus will make a stop at the Crystal Theatre’s Santa Station to welcome children and take pictures. As a safety precaution, only one child with their family will be admitted at a time.

This year’s Ice Shanty Parade, with the theme “Free For All,” will begin at 6 p.m. A fireworks display is planned after the parade.

The CFBA will show the “Chronicles of Narnia” at 7:30 p.m. at the Crystal Theatre. Admission is a donation.

— The Amberg Christmas Parade takes place Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to enter the parade with their decorated vehicle, float, four-wheeler or other form of transport.

After the parade, the Children’s Christmas party will be at the Amberg Pub. Kids can make a decoration and have photos taken with Santa. Food, stockings, gifts and door prizes will be given out.

— The Reino American Legion Post 21 of Stambaugh will host Lunch with Santa and Mrs. Clause on Saturday. They will serve hot dogs and chips, along with fruit punch, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the post, 212 Washington Ave. in Stambaugh. Everyone is encouraged to bring a camera for a great photo opportunity. Each child will receive a goodie bag from Santa.

— Mansfield Township residents and guests are invited to a Christmas Open House on Saturday at the Mansfield Township Hall. Santa Claus will have treat bags for the kids from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Mansfield Memories choir will sing songs of the season and lead socially distanced Christmas caroling starting at 3 p.m. Cookies and coffee will be available.

Everyone is invited to share some Christmas spirit with friends and neighbors.

— The Caspian-Gaastra Fire Department, along with the cities of Caspian and Gaastra, will have Santa out delivering holiday goody bags to children and the elderly starting at 2 p.m. Saturday.

— First Covenant Church of Iron Mountain hosts Christmas Carole Hymn Sing staring at 4 p.m. Sunday. Refreshments will follow. The church is at 125 E. H St. in Iron Mountain.

— The fourth annual Bring-a-Bear Teddy Bear Toss, sponsored by First National Bank & Trust in Iron Mountain, takes place Monday at Mountain View Ice Arena, when the Kingsford Flivvers hockey team takes on the Negaunee Miners.

The game starts at 6 p.m., and admission is only $1 for attendees bringing a new stuffed animal donation to toss out onto the ice when announced.

Project Teddy Bear program collects stuffed animals to be donate to local area emergency responders, charities and crisis centers.

— The Mansfield Pioneer Church Christmas celebration will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Vicki Prewitt, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Crystal Falls, will officiate the ecumenical service.

Participants will take a step back to a simpler time, with candles and lanterns illuminating this historic little church. The antique pump organ will accompany the traditional Christmas carols and all are encouraged to join in the singing.

There is no admission fee, but a free-will offering will be taken during the service.

The Mansfield Pioneer Church is on Stream Road — traveling from the west, take a left onto the Mansfield Cut-Off Road, approximately 4 miles from Crystal Falls; from the east, travel on M-69 and the Mansfield Cut-Off Road is 6 miles west of Sagola. Stream Road is found by taking a left at the fork and travel a half-mile to the church.

To keep all of guests safe during the holidays, masks will be required regardless of vaccination status.

— The West Iron District Library in Iron River will host a Secret Santa Workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the library. Kids will create special gifts for friends and family.

— A free community holiday meal will be served from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at Grace United Methodist Church in Norway.

The menu will be ham, cheesy potatoes, corn casserole and dessert. The free meals will be available for take out at the church parking lot. Meals will also be delivered in the Norway area.

Reservations for meals are required and can be made by calling Chris Spence at 906-282-9752 by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17.

The church is at 130 Odill Drive in Norway, behind the Jake Menghini Museum and is known as Crossroads, a facility shared by Grace United Methodist and Bethany Lutheran churches.