Much like the setting of a Dickens novel, one of southwestern Michigan’s largest lighted Christmas parades is sure to transform Dowagiac and its turn-of-the-century storefronts into a storybook-like setting on Friday, Dec. 4, as a town crier, inspired by the Victorian era, signals the triumphant start to a magnificent lighted procession of 100 holiday units.

The Dowagiac Candle-light Christmas Parade, proudly presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and underwritten by Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, opens at 6:30 p.m. with pre-parade entertainment on Front Street, where students of Positively Dance will take to the streets in the fashion of New York City’s Rockettes.

The holiday dance performance will be presented on Front Street at Main.

Corporate sponsors of the yuletide event, which included the Nov. 20-22 Christmas Open House Weekend, include: Matthew Cripe Dental P.C., Family Fare and Spartan Stores, Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union and Wood Fire Italian Trattoria.

Having swelled in recent years to more than 100 marching and motorized units, the Dowagiac Christmas parade is said to be one of southwestern Michigan’s largest lighted parades.

An estimated 3,000 spectators typically line the sidewalks of this quaint southwestern Michigan community, three to five shoulders deep, along the parade path that ushers in a rosy-cheeked Old-World, Victorian Santa, and marching and motorized units, representing schools, churches and community organizations from Dowagiac and surrounding communities.

“Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, which has been a vital part of Dowagiac for more than 90 years, is privileged to be part of this community and to return as the major sponsor of the 2009 Dowagiac Christmas parade,” said Joy A. Strand, administrator and chief operating officer.

“Christmas, among many things, is a time of hope; perhaps even a brief respite from some of the cares and concerns that we face every day,” Strand said. “While Christmas is a wonderful time every year, the hope, the joy and the cheer that Christmas can bring are certainly much needed this year.”

“That is why Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital has chosen once again to be the major sponsor of the 2009 Dowagiac Christmas parade,” Strand said.  “It is our hope that this sponsorship not only demonstrates our thanks for the community support we continue to receive, but also in some small way contributes to the hope, the joy and the cheer of the people that we stand ready to serve.”

Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, who raised funding for and coordinated the two-part Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration, said once the event was moved to the early evening hours and it became a procession of lights, it continues to attract new entries from throughout southwestern Michigan, making it one of the largest Christmas events in this part of the state.

Trish Brazo, a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and team leader for Huntington Bank, is serving as this year’s chairman of the grand procession.

“Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital and the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, as the host of the 2009 celebration, along with our five corporate sponsors, invite families from throughout southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana to gather together their friends and extended family members, as they enjoy this spectacular community event,” Brazo said.

New this year, the parade will be emceed by three gentleman. Returning as the veteran emcee is Patrick Murphy, manager of Dowagiac Elks Lodge 889, who is a longtime Chamber of Commerce member and a former president of the business organization.
Joining Murphy on the Master of Ceremony’s viewing stage at the corner of Front and Main streets will be Dowagiac City Clerk James Snow and Max Sala, also of the Elks Lodge.

Previously Sala served as Master of Ceremonies for the Chamber’s Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant.

Dressed in attire inspired by the Victorian-era, Franklin Ward of Dowagiac’s Beckwith Theatre Company, also returns for the evening of parade pageantry as the celebration’s town crier.

Mingling with passersby on the sidewalk, the town crier will distribute holiday cheer and candy canes beginning at 6 p.m.

Later that evening, the tolling sound of his hand-bell will signal the triumphant start of the holiday parade and the return of Old-World Victorian Santa, whose appearance was made possible by Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital and the celebration’s corporate sponsors.

“Our Old-World Santa comes as close to a true-life Santa Claus as any child or adult could ever imagine,” Phillipson said. “Parents are amazed by his fascinating true-to-legend appearance, which is a pleasant surprise from the holiday character typically found at area shopping malls.”

Jolly ol’ St. Nick, coming to Dowagiac from his Sinterklaus Reindeer Farm, will be transported atop the driver’s seat of a beautiful three-seat carriage, driven by John Touse of Constantine.

“This gentle-hearted Victorian fellow will be dressed in his finest attire, including a burgundy cape, with wool fleece lining and trim, and brocaded vest and knickers, which were tailored by Lemon Creek Limited, a designer of wedding gowns in Berrien Springs,” Phillipson said. “His parson’s shoes, adorned by the traditional large black buckle, are similar to those worn by the Pilgrims and were tailor-made by a firm in Shipshewana, Ind.”

Riding with St. Nick in his carriage will be the winners of Santa’s Giant Gift Basket Drawing, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce during its recent Christmas Open House Weekend.

They are Emalee Foote, the 7-year-old daughter of Vicki and Dennis Foote of Dowagiac; and Henry and Cole Weller, the 6-year-old twins of Lori and Marc Weller, also of Dowagiac.

Brazo said the candle-light parade, which presently numbers 101 units, will step off Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., traveling a downtown route, which accommodates the growing event.

Starting at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Main Street at Farr Park, the route travels Main, onto Front Street, then onto Division and back Depot Drive, as units circle the central business district.

At the request of the public, 15 years ago the route was changed to include Depot Drive, thereby allowing senior citizens and handicapped individuals the opportunity to park their vehicles along that stretch of the parade path, where they can watch the event from the comfort of their cars.

Brazo said due to preparations for the 6:30 p.m. pre-parade entertainment on Front Street, Dowagiac police will close Front Street to through-traffic at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Families who arrive for the parade can warm up with hot chocolate that will be served as early as 5:30 p.m. by volunteers of the Cass County Cancer Society, stationed at City Hall at Front and Main streets.

City Hall will be open to the public that evening as a warming station, where restrooms will also be available.

Hot chocolate will also be served, beginning at 6 p.m., by Caruso’s Candy Kitchen in front of its shop  on Front Street.

Chamber officials will honor award-winning parade entries with the presentation of engraved trophies, which will be announced the following Monday.

Dowagiac’s picturesque central business district brims with holiday cheer as Victorian lampposts are decked in greenery, and giant wreaths are laced with burgundy bows of velvet and tiny white lights.

Units that will appear in the Dec. 4 holiday parade and their number in line include the following:

1. Franklin Ward, portraying Town Crier, leads parade
2. Dowagiac Department of Public Safety
3. Coloma EMS vehicle
4. Dowagiac Fire Department fire truck 1
5. Dowagiac Fire Department fire truck 2
6. Charlie Troop, 126th Calvary marching unit
7. Charlie Troop, 126th Calvary military vehicle 1
8. Charlie Troop, 126th Calvary military vehicle 2
9. Charlie Troop, 126th Calvary military vehicle 3
10. Charlie Troop, 126th Calvary military vehicle 4
11. Mayor Don Lyons and City Council vehicle 1
12. Dowagiac City Council vehicle 2
13. Debbie Peters, portraying Mrs. Claus
14. Bernie Laymon, portraying Santa’s Elf
15. C. Wimberley Auto Group transporting Ronald McDonald
16. C. Wimberley Auto Group transporting second McDonald’s character
17. Richard Veit of Coloma, portraying Abe Lincoln
18. Cass County Relay for Life float
19. Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant contestants’ float
20. John Touse of Constantine transporting Dowagiac’s Old-World Victorian Santa, along with winners of the Chamber’s Gift Basket Drawing for Children, who are Emalee Foote and Henry and Cole Weller of Dowagiac
21. Pleasant Valley Church marching unit
22. State Rep. Sharon Tyler
23. Eau Claire Bag Ladies
24. Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital float
25. Frosty the Snowman
26. Dowagiac Middle School Band
27. Indian Lake Fire Department fire truck 1
28. Indian Lake Fire Department fire truck 2
29. Red Hat Mamas of the Cass County COA car 1
30. Red Hat Mamas of the Cass County COA car 2
31. Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant float
32. Berrien Teachers Credit Union motorized unit
33. Dowagiac Elks Lodge golf cart
34. Positively Dance marching unit
35. Positively Dance float
36. Forest Glen Assisted Living motorized unit
37. Tender Moments Childcare and Stephanie’s Daycare
38. Patrick Hamilton bus
39. State Rep. John Proos
40. First Christian Church float
41. Judd Lumber Co. truck
42. Open for late marching unit
43. Dowagiac Little League truck and float
44. Kraklau’s Towing and Repair tow truck
45. Around the Clock Learning Childcare float
46. Indiana Michigan Power with Louie the Lightning Bug and Friends
47. Hillview Farms truck and grain trailer
48. Pokagon Fire Department fire truck 1
49. Pokagon Fire Department fire truck 2
50. St. John’s Lutheran Church float
51. Glenwood Snowmobile motorized unit
52. Four Flags Area Apple Festival float
53. Miss Michele and Company float
54. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz motorized unit
55. Dowagiac Informer float
56. Cass County Sheriff Patrol Vehicle
57. Southwestern Michigan College Symphonic Band
58. Miss Cass/St. Joseph County Scholarship Program motorized unit
59. Word of Life Family Worship float
60. Cass County Parks
61. Dr. Alan Montgomery float
62. Dowagiac Church of Christ motorized unit
63. Midwest Energy Cooperative bucket truck
64. Midwest Propane bulk truck
65. Open for late motorized unit
66. Liberty Chapel float
67. Aaron’s Rent-to-Own motorized unit
68.  Twistee’s float
69.  Sister Lakes Fire Department fire truck 1
70.  Sister Lakes Fire Department fire truck 2
71.  Encore Dance Company float
72.  Open for late motorized unit
73.  Drafted! 4-H Club
74.  Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service
75.  Dowagiac Chieftain Marching Band
76.  Pokagon Tribal Police SUV
77.  Cass County Road Commission Mack truck
78.  Cass County Road Commission grader
79.  Cass County Road Commission semi
80.  Open for late motorized unit
81.  North Red Hill 4-H float
82.  North Red Hill 4-H horse unit
83.  Luxury Limos of Michiana
84.  Keene’s Auto Body and Sales tow truck 1
85.  Keene’s Auto Body and Sales tow truck 2
86.  Wayne Township Fire Department fire truck 1
87.  Wayne Township Fire Department fire truck 2
88.  JK Enterprise semi-trailer 1
89.  JK Enterprise semi-trailer 2
90.  4-Kids 4-H float
91.  4-Kids 4-H horse unit
92.  Clean Cut Lawn and Landscape motorized unit
93.  True’s Towing seven-vehicle fleet
94.  Town Crier walking unit
95.  Dowagiac Department of Public Safety