“When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer..”

The widely-read poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” surely contributed to the folk lore surrounding the now infamous team of flying reindeer of St. Nicholas, though it’s a reindeer of another origin that will visit downtown Dowagiac during this year’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration.

The two-part yuletide event, presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, kicks off Dowagiac’s holiday season with Christmas Open House Weekend, Nov. 19-21, and continues Friday, Dec. 3, as the much-anticipated 100-unit lighted parade steps off, encircling the downtown.

“Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital and the Chamber of Commerce, as the host of the 2010 celebration, along with our five corporate sponsors, invite families and friends to enjoy our beautiful community during the upcoming yuletide season,” said Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA), who coordinated Open House Weekend events.

Corporate sponsors of this year’s celebration are Matthew Cripe Dental P.C., Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby, Family Fare, Leader Publications and The Timbers of Cass County.

In recent years, Christmas Open House weekend has been expanded to include the full weekend, as participating shop owners present their finest in holiday merchandise, when doors open Friday morning at 9 a.m.

Phillipson said business hours at participating locations throughout the community will also be extended until 7 p.m. Friday evening, as shops open Sunday, Nov. 21, from noon to 4 p.m.

Store hours on Saturday are normal for most locations, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One of the featured attractions of the family events that will be staged in and around Beckwith Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Open House Saturday, Nov. 20, is Holly, a reindeer of Alaskan descent, which will visit downtown Dowagiac from Country Reindeer Farm in Centreville.

Owners Joshua and Carrie Brueck will have Holly on display for children to see and to pet.

“When Holly first visited Dowagiac, she was just over a year old and was still being bottle fed,” Phillipson said. “Today, she is almost five.”

New this year, reindeer of another kind will also join Saturday’s line-up of events.

Within Caruso’s Candy Kitchen an entire herd of reindeer, though much gentler and smaller in size, will gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Phillipson said the Chamber of Commerce is pleased to again host Indiana’s mobile stuff-your-own Teddy Bear company, which first visited Dowagiac during July’s Summer in the City Festival.

“Indiana’s build a bear bus continues to be a popular attraction at children’s birthday parties within the Michiana area and will add another element of enjoyment to our expanded line-up of family activities Open House Weekend.”

Phillipson said for a fee of $6 or $12, children can stuff their own Teddy bear, or perhaps a reindeer of their choice for the holiday season.

She said snowmen will also be available, as well as bear wear and other apparel best suited for holiday reindeer.

Debbie Pletcher and her sister, Tracie Kertai, originated Indiana’s first and only Bear Bus, delivering a unique and exciting experience directly to the site of children’s parties across Michiana.

Parents that have booked this unusual party-on-wheels are typically credited by their children as having given them “the best ever” party experience.

Phillipson said Caruso’s Candy Kitchen, which agreed to serve as the host site of the build-a-bear and reindeer event, will feature the hands-on children’s workshop at the rear of the restaurant, where youngsters can enjoy building their own stuffed animal.

New events Open House Weekend also feature the three-day Old-World Market of Antiques that will be staged within Round Oak Restaurant, where finely-embroidered linens, jewelry, glassware, primitives and furniture, plus fresh cut greens and berries will be for sale.

The antiques show opens Friday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m. and runs through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Another new attraction is a magical story-telling elf and puppeteer, who will present a holiday performance at 11 a.m. at Dowagiac District Library.

A newcomer to Dowagiac, herself, Helen Moorman, owner of Frame of Mind Custom Framing and Gallery, which is moving into the storefront adjacent to Underwood Shoes on Front Street, will host working artisans of jewelry Nov. 20, along with 19th Century Re-enactor Janine Frizzio-Horrigan, who collects, sells and designs 18th and 19th Century apparel.

She is also planning to serve High Tea in Victorian fashion, featuring finger foods of that same era.

Also new to Saturday’s line-up is the Holiday Tails Fashion Show, 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 be selected at Beckwith Park and receive a complimentary pet portrait.

One of the leading characters of the family events that will be staged in and around Beckwith Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 20, will be the 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.

While seeing reindeer Holly at Beckwith Park, families can place a keepsake bell on the Hospice Tree of Remembrance, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides and holiday entertainment 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 hand-made 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 events and times for the two-part celebration, call the Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212 to receive its holiday brochure.