Photo by Todd & Brad Reed Photography

Manistee's Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend

December 2026

When the Christmas season is upon us, the Victorian city of Manistee kicks off the festivities in a big way, with its annual Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend. This popular event brings as many as 10,000 visitors to Manistee to experience the wonder of a Christmas gone by. The highlight of the parade is the Belgian draft horses that pulls a 30′ Christmas tree down River Street in downtown Manistee. The entire Old Christmas Weekend is filled with wonderful activities.

Manistee is a great place to pick up those gifts for everyone on your list, and downtown restaurants welcome you into their cozy establishments for a delicious meal. As the snow flies, enjoy the carolers, decked out in period dresses, coats, and top hats. It’s certainly the right setting to put you in a festive holiday mood.

For the holiday season, make sure you include Manistee’s Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend in your plans.

If you are traveling from outside the area, check out places to stay in Manistee, and Manistee restaurants for your dining options.

And don’t forget to make time to visit the many downtown shops!

Here's what happened in 2025:

Thursday

5-7pm – Chamber UnTapped at the Ramsdell Theatre Ballroom- 101 Maple St. Connect with business professionals and enjoy the Lakeside Club of Manistee County’s Festival of Trees. Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater or other tacky holiday attire. Tickets are $15 for members & $25 for non-members.
6pm – Krampus & Old Christmas Curiosities presented by the Manistee County Library at The Vogue Theatre- 383 River St. Who is Krampus? Explore the dark lore, ghost stories and unique traditions of Christmases past. This event is free and intended for adults.
7pm – Free Manistee Choral Society Concert at the First Congregational Church- 412 Fourth St. The concert features a mix of traditional, popular and gospel Christmas music. Reception to follow with Victorian treats and Wassail beverages in the church parlor, served by the Choral Society members. Free but donations will be accepted.
8-11pm – Sleighbell Social Holiday Bash at The Wander In- 91 Arthur St. Chef will have a small plate appetizer menu, as well as drink specials. Live music featuring Tim Krause.

Friday

4pm – Fish Fry at the Elks Lodge- 432 River St. Feast on fish, shrimp, chicken tenders, or the weekly special. Open to the public. Cost is $10 to $17.
4-7pm – Cookie Crawl throughout downtown shops. Purchase a cookie collection box and stop by local businesses to gather specially designed and crafted signature cookies to fill that box. Only 100 cookie boxes will be sold by freewill donation.
4-7pm – Smitten Party at The Vogue Theatre. Bring new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves to decorate our Christmas tree. All items will be donated to area organizations serving those in need. Participants will receive free popcorn.
4-7pm – Jack’s Shirt Shack Pop-Up Shop. Check out some cool T-shirts and get a jump on your holiday shopping with these custom Tees. TJ’s Pub- 399 River St.
6pm – Ceramic Tree Painting Party at the Purple Paintbrush- 338 River St. Many different styles and sizes to choose from. Acrylic painted or glazed options are available. Fired items take up to one week for completion.
7-9pm – Seasons Greetings Bash at The Outsider- 457 River St. Event features holiday trivia with prizes, live holiday music, and prizes for top pinball scores. Warm up by fires on the patio and sip on holiday cocktails.
7:30pm – Karaoke at The Manistee Moose Lodge- 1010 Robinson St. Open to the public. Sloppy Joe’s, homemade pizzas, and appetizers available for purchase. (Non-members may enjoy cocktails from 7-11pm)
7:30pm & 10pm – The Manistee Civic Players present “1885 Murder Mystery at the Ramsdell Ballroom.” Includes entertainment, hors d’oerves, and cash bar. Victorian attire suggested.

Saturday

8am-12pm – Flapjacks with Fire Hats at VFW Post 4499- 1211 28th St. to benefit the Filer Township Fire Department. Menu includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, orange juice, and coffee. There will also be a door prize giveaway with every breakfast ticket. Cost is $12 for adults, $5 for kids aged 6 to 12, and kids under 5 free.
8am-8pm – River Street Closed to all traffic.
9am-12pm – Breakfast buffet at the Elks Club. Cost is $14 which includes scrambled eggs, potatoes, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, sausage, and fruit. There will also be a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar for $6.
9am-3pm – Christmas Craft Bazaar at Wagoner Senior Center- 260 St. Mary’s Parkway. Features handmade crafts and Christmas cookie sale. Lunch will be available for purchase.
10am – Jingle Bell Jog 5k Run/Walk beginning at Tabernacle Church- 77 Hancock St. Registration is $20 per runner (prices increase to $25 after November 30th. Register at runsignup.com.
10am – Free Saturday Family Matinee showing of Arthur Christmas at The Vogue Theatre.
10am-2pm – Guardian Angels Church Free Self-Guided Tours at Guardian Angels Church- 371 5th St.. The Guardian Angles Historic Preservation Project will host an open house and self-guided tours of the church. Step inside one of Manistee’s most beautiful landmarks during the Guardian Angels Church Open House. Guests are invited to enjoy self-guided tours through this stunning historic church, admiring its breathtaking stained-glass windows, intricate architecture and peaceful atmosphere. Whether you’re drawn by faith, history or simple curiosity, it’s a wonderful opportunity to experience a cherished part of Manistee’s heritage up close. Christmas music will be played on the historic pipe organ and the steeple chimes will play music. Guardian Angels Church was constructed in 1888, designed by architect Adolphus Druiding, and is one of Manistee’s tallest structures.
11am-1pm – Meet the Grinch at Hoot & Hornet Bookshop- 358 River St. Free admission.
11am-Close – Holiday Fire Lounge at The Outsider. Gather around the fires and enjoy hot food, seasonal drafts, signature cocktails, and the holiday-decorated pinball arcade.
12-2pm – Open House & Tour at St. Paul Lutheran Church- 313 4th St., Manistee. Free admission includes an ornament, cookies, and hot chocolate.
12-3pm – Free Carriage Rides on River St. (East and West Sides of Maple Street).
12-3:30pm – Meet the Alpacas at The Outsider. Meet & snap photos with Cookie the Alpaca and her two daughters.
1pm – The Spirit of the Season: Readings and Carols by the Manistee Civic Players at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts.
2-4pm – Free Holiday Magic Show at the Vogue Theatre.
2-6pm – Victorian Sketches at Backstage Hobbies and Games- 419 River St. For $5, talented artist Bay Anderson captures your likeness in a charming Victorian-style sketch.
3-6pm – Warming Station at West Shore Community College Satellite Site- 400 River St. Free admission includes water and cookies.
3-8pm – Hot Dogs & Sloppy Joes with chips at the Elks $8 per person and open to the public.
3:30pm – MaxwellTown Brass (a 15-member group of brass, percussion and sleigh bells) will perform on River Street at the Art Park.
5:30pm – Victorian Sleighbell Parade on River St. in downtown Manistee. Carriage rides are first-come, first served and can be picked up at two locations on River St: near Greenbush St. and just past Maple St. Free but tips are appreciated.
6pm – Jingle Bell Jam at the American Legion- 10 Mason St. Live bands and entertainment. Admission is $10 or donated toy.
8pm – Live music featuring Aces and Eights and Jay Fortier at the Manistee Moose Lodge. The lodge opens at 4pm and will have Sloppy Joe’s, homemade pizzas, and appetizers available for purchase. (Non-members may enjoy cocktails from 8om-12am).

Sunday

10:30am-12:30pm – Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor Pick-up time for winning bidders at Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. Please pick up your items promptly. We wrap trees for easy transport. Don’t want the tree? Take the ornaments and we will keep the tree for next year.
11am-8pm – Free Pinball at The Outsider.
3pm – Lessons & Carols at Trinity Lutheran Church- 420 Oak St. The event will include the Advent and Christmas story in word and song. A dessert and social hour will follow. Free admission. town- 1569 US-31.

Events That Happened Over Multiple Days

Daily – Santa’s Mailbox is open at the Manistee County Library.
Thursday from 5-8pm, Friday & Saturday from 11am-4pm, and Sunday from 12-4pm – Drop-in Sleighbell Parade Keepsake Ornament Painting at the Purple Paintbrush. featuring a variety of ornaments. Prices vary. Acrylic painted for fired options available. The last seating is one hour before closing.
Friday & Saturday from 11am-2pm – Scandinavian Christmas Open House and Tiny Towns and Trains at Old Kirke Museum- 304 Walnut St. Join us for a Scandinavian Christmas Open House with traditionally decorated Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Christmas trees and cookies. An exhibit of miniature villages and toy trains in the “Tiny Towns and Trains,” is also available.
Friday from 11am-5pm & Saturday from 10am-3pm – Free Holiday Book Nook Show at the Manistee County Library. Local artists and holiday fans have created tiny models of their favorite seasonal stories, movies, and songs. The Manistee Library’s elves added fairy lights and tucked all the book nooks into shelves on the main floor. Stop in, wander the shelves, and vote for your favorite.
Friday from 1-6pm & Saturday from 11am-8pm – Lakeside Club’s Festival of Trees & Holiday Decor at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts Ballroom. View and bid on creatively decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and, seasonal decor and gifts, all made by local artists and organizations. Bring canned goods to vote for your favorite entry for the “People’s Choice” award. Bring unwrapped toys for Five CAP’s “Toys for Tots/Gifts for Teens” and enter in a prize drawing. $2 admission fee.
Friday from 4-7pm & Saturday from 9am-4pm – Sleighbell Scavenger Hunt downtown. Find the hidden ornament at participating downtown stores and win a prize. Stay tuned to manisteesleighbellparade.com for a list of participating businesses.
Friday & Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm – Performance of The Nutcracker at the Ramsdell Theatre.
Friday & Saturday from from 6:45-10pm and Sunday from 1:30-5:30pm – Nutcracker Boutique Pop Up Shop at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. The Nutcracker Boutique will feature a variety of snow globes, ornnaments, jewelry, decor and so much more. Hosted by Miracle on River Street, this pop-up shop helps support the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts.
Saturday from 12-4pm & Sunday from 1-4pm – Santa’s Workshop Photos with Santa at the Municipal Marina- 480 River St.
Saturday & Sunday from 1-3pm – A Very Merry Card-Making Workshop at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. All materials are provided, and artists of all ages and skill levels are welcome.