Much like the setting of a Dickens’ novel, one of southwest Michigan’s largest Christmas parades is sure to transform Dowagiac and its turn-of-the-century storefronts into a storybook-like setting, as this community’s 117-unit holiday procession takes to the streets at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Dowagiac Candle-light Christmas Parade is presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital.

Max Sala is heading up the 36th annual parade, with the help of Edward Jones’ Kim MacGregor, chamber president, and Vickie Phillipson, chamber program director. Serving as this year’s master of ceremonies is Steve Arseneau, director of the Dowagiac Area History Museum, and Angie Roberts, of Vincent J. Jewelers.

Holiday festivities begin at 6:15 p.m. at Beckwith Park, located downtown at the corner of Front and Beeson streets, where the community tree-lighting ceremony and pre-parade entertainment will be presented.

Following Christmas carols will be the introduction of this year’s grand marshal, Jim Kusa, a 40-year veteran of the Dowagiac Police Department, and a holiday presentation by students of Positively Dance.

“Dowagiac’s Candle-light Christmas Parade is one of the largest and finest parades in southwest Michigan, if not the entire state,” Sala said. “I am truly honored to be a part of it. Our central business district is beautiful during Christmas time. A big tip of the hat to all those involved in showcasing our city during the holiday season.”

“Through the years, the candle-light parade has continued to grow in both size and popularity,” Phillipson said. “While it provides cheer and spirit during the Christmas season, it also contributes to the very fabric of our community and is another reason Dowagiac is such a great place to work, live and play.”

Known as one of southwestern Michigan’s largest lighted parades, Dowagiac’s holiday procession is part of this community’s four-part Christmas Celebration, which also included the Nov. 10-12 Open House Weekend, Small Business Saturday and the upcoming Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Elks Lodge.

“New this year, we are delighted to have staff from WGTO Good Time Oldies with us Friday evening, who will be broadcasting the parade live from the downtown,” Phillipson said.  “Families parked in their vehicles along Depot Drive will be able to hear the broadcast, while staying warm within their vehicles.”

This year’s celebration was underwritten by Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, The Business Center of Southwestern Michigan, Casual Tees Inc., Chemical Bank, Clark Chapel/Starks Family Funeral Homes, Cass County COA/Front Street Crossing, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Edward Jones’ Office of Kim MacGregor, John A. Vylonis Custom Building, Mahar Insurance, The Marshall Shoppe, May Oberfell Lorber, The Timbers of Cass County and Vincent J. Jewelers.

Appearing in this year’s parade will be:

1. Town Crier

2. Director of Public Safety Steve Grinnewald

3. Grand Marshal James Kusa, transported by Clark Chapel/Starks Family Funeral Home

4. Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital

5. Mayor Don Lyons and the Dowagiac City Council

6. The Timbers of Cass County: vehicle

7. The Timbers of Cass County: walkers

8. Pokagon Tribal Police

9. Boy Scout Troop 531

10. Cassopolis High School Marching Band

11. Open

12. Cass County Sheriff

13. Creative Vinyl Signs

14. Feed the Hungry (one)

15. State Sen. John Proos

16. Miss Michele & Co. vehicle

17.   Miss Michele & Co. dancers

18. Dowagiac Church of Christ

19.   C. Wimberley Automotive Group

20. Chemical Bank: vehicle

21. Chemical Bank: walkers

22. True’s Towing & Recovery

23. Sister Lakes Fire Department

24. American Red Cross

25. St. John’s Lutheran Church

26. Round Oak Revisited

27. Wayne Township Fire Department

28. Dig It Excavating (one)

29. Whitney Podell and Magic Mini horses

30. Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant contestants

31. Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant float

32. Cass County Animal Control

33. Ausra Equipment (one)

34. Greater Niles Community Credit Union

35. Cass County K-9

36. C. Wimberley Automotive Group (two)

37. Four Flags Apple Festival: float

38. Four Flags Apple Festival: walkers

39. Dig it Excavating (two)

40. Forest Glen Assisted Living

41. Twistee’s

42. Southwest Vision Center

43. Cass County 100 Women Who Care

44. SMC Foundation/honors

45. Miss Heart of Blossomtime

46. C. Wimberley Automotive Group (three)

47. True’s Towing & Recovery (two)

48. Miss Edwardsburg Pageant

49. Feed the Hungry (two)

50. SMC Symphonic Band

51. First Orchards

52. Van Buren ISD

53. Crystal Springs Campground & Retreat

54. Spruce Ridge Golf Course: vehicle

55. Spruce Ridge Golf Course: walkers

56. Victory Tabernacle Church: float

57. Victory Tabernacle Church: walkers

58. City of Dowagiac Electric Crew: Pat Harding

59. Deals on Wheels

60. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz

61. Aaron’s Rental

62. Miss Niles Pageant

63. Ausra Equipment (two)

64. Positively Dance: vehicle

65. Positively Dance: dancers

66. City of Dowagiac Streets Crew: Dave Gillesby

67. Pride Care Ambulance

68. Grandma/Grandpa Built a Float

69. Dowagiac K-9 Unit

70. Feed the Hungry (three)

71. Morrison Industrial Equipment of South Bend

72. True’s Towing & Recovery (three)

73. Alex Manley Float

74. C+M Plowing 1

75. Dowagiac Union High School Marching Band

76. Dowagiac Moose Riders: float

77. Dowagiac Moose Riders: cycles

78. Dig It Excavating (three)

79. Miss Cassopolis Pageant

80. Judd Lumber Co. & Rental

81. Wayne Township Fire Dept.

82. City of Dowagiac Streets Crew: Henry Krohne

83. Brookside Farms

84. North Wayne Mennonite Church

85. Indian Lake Fire Department

86. Innovative Fab: truck

87. Innovative Fab: walkers

88. Central Cass Fire Department

89. Sister Lakes Brewing Company

90. Knee Deep Living

91. Scott Palmer

92. Miss Stateline Scholarship Pageant

93. Myer’s Forklift: Truck

94. Myer’s Forklift: Walkers

95. True’s Towing & Recovery (four)

96. Charles Concrete

97. C+M Plowing (two)

98. Dig It Excavating (four)

99. Foam Craft

100. Chad Burger transporting w/ Santa, Mrs. Claus and Scarlett Samuel and Colton Hoenes

101. Open

102. Little Caesars Pizza

103. Portage Road General Baptist

104. Kimberly and Terry Hall

105. Cowboy Up 4-H: float

106. Cowboy Up 4-H: horses

107. North Red Hill 4-H: float

108. North Red Hill 4-H: horses

109. Oakwood Farm Draft Ponies

110. Reins of Life: wagon

111. Reins of Life: horses

112. Reins of Life: horses

113. Edgewater Farms

114. Cass County Road Commission

115. Dowagiac School Bus

116. Dowagiac Fire Department (one)

117. Dowagiac Fire Department (two)