Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital for the fifth consecutive year has stepped forward as the major underwriter of the Dowagiac Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.

The celebration features an expanded line-up of events Open House Weekend, Nov. 19-21, and continues Friday, Dec. 3, as a magnificent lighted procession of holiday floats, costumed characters and marching bands usher in one of this community’s best-loved traditions.

The joint announcement of the hospital’s $2,000 corporate donation was made Monday by Joy A. Strand, administrator and chief operating officer of Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, and Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA), who coordinated Open House activities and raised monies to fund the $7,100 community celebration.

On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Phillipson expressed her appreciation to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital and to corporate sponsors of the celebration, which includes eight-time corporate sponsor Matthew Cripe Dental P.C., and three-time corporate sponsors Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby and Family Fare.

Phillipson said she is also pleased to welcome Leader Publications as an in-kind donor of the 2010 event and The Timbers of Cass County, which stepped forward during its first year of operation to help underwrite the two-part holiday celebration.

“Christmas is a time of giving and that is what makes the Dowagiac Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration so very special,” said Strand. “Indeed, it is more than a celebration. It is a gift that not only brings cheer and spirit during the Christmas season, but also contributes to the very fabric of the community that makes Dowagiac such a great place to live.”

“Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital is especially pleased to be the sponsor and co-host of the Candle-light Christmas Parade and the return of this year’s Tree-Lighting Ceremony,” Strand said. “While this event takes place in early-December, planning and preparations for this special evening literally begin weeks before. Right now, there are scores of people representing many businesses and organizations who are building the beautifully lighted and decorated floats which will delight hundreds of children and adults alike.

“We at Borgess-Lee are very happy that our sponsorship triggers such wonderful, spirited activity during this precious Christmas season.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Dr. Cripe, whose dental practice is also a long-time sponsor of the celebration.

“For the past eight years we have enjoyed being a part of the Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration, Open House Weekend and Parade Night.  These are among the best events that take place here, within our great community.”

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.

Spectators typically stand shoulder-to-shoulder, lining the sidewalks of this quaint downtown community, as the parade route ushers in an Old-World Victorian Santa and hundreds of marching and motorized units, representing schools, churches and community organizations from Dowagiac and surrounding communities.

In recent years, Christmas Open House in mid-November was expanded to include the full weekend, as participating shop owners offer special holiday pricing and in-store events beginning Friday, Nov. 19, as they also extend normal business hours that Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Participating stores are also open Sunday, Nov. 21, from noon to 4 p.m.

New to this year’s line-up is the three-day Old World Market of Antiques, which opens Friday at 9 a.m. within Round Oak Restaurant, where an intimate gathering of antique enthusiasts showcase their wares for sale.

Finely-embroidered linens, pattern glassware, jewelry, primitives and furniture, plus fresh-cut greens and berries will inspire day-visitors and shoppers to recreate a nostalgic holiday.

The three-day show is sponsored in-kind by The Hairitage, Iconik, Laurie Anne’s, Oh My and The Red Raven, which also offer all things vintage.

Open House Weekend activities on Saturday, Nov. 20, have also been expanded to include a Victorian-era High Tea served by 18th and 19th century re-enactors, a Holiday Tails Fashion Show and dog parade, the appearance of a magical story-telling elf and puppeteer and the opportunity for children to stuff their own Teddy bear, reindeer or snowman.

Helen Moorman, owner and designer of Frame of Mind, LLC Custom Framing and Art Gallery, who is relocating her business to Dowagiac from Niles, will host 18th and 19th century re-enactor and fiber artist Janine Frizzio-Horrigan, who collects, sells and designs apparel of this bygone era.

Inspired by the Victorian era, they will also serve High Tea, featuring favorite finger foods of that time period, as patrons view working artisans of jewelry.

The Build a Bear Bus, which was featured during the Summer in the City Festival, is also returning for the holiday celebration.

Caruso’s Candy Kitchen is hosting the new event Open House Saturday, where children can stuff their own Teddy bear, reindeer or snowman.

Also new this year, Dowagiac District Library will feature the appearance of a magical story-telling elf and puppeteer, who will weave a holiday tale for children.

A tail of another kind will be featured as the new Holiday Tails Fashion Show is staged downtown, sponsored by Iconik, The Red Raven and Laurie Anne’s.

Pet lovers are invited to parade their pooch by entering the holiday fashion show for dogs.

The best-dressed pup and their owner will receive a complimentary pet portrait.

Other family events Open House Saturday are staged in and around Beckwith Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a true-to-life Old-World Victorian Santa, who will greet families within the elegant indoor setting of Wood Fire Italian Trattoria.

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, children will receive a coloring book and can register for a gift basket of toys and invitation to appear with Santa in the Candle-light Parade.

Across the street, at Beckwith Park, families can meet Holly from Country Reindeer Farm, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides and place a keepsake bell on the Hospice Tree of Remembrance.

Holiday entertainment will be presented by choir students from Dowagiac Union Schools, Positively Dance, Encore Dance and Southwestern Michigan College Jazz Quartet.

Theta Mu Sorority’s Holiday Craft Show kicks off events Open House Saturday at 9 a.m. at Dowagiac Union High School, where the handmade works of local artisans are featured.

The Christmas Open Houses of specialty stores and the Old World Market Antiques Show continue Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

For a complete list of events and times for the two-part celebration, call the Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212 to receive its holiday brochure.