Based on the story written by Bette McCormick Olli in her book, "The Way It Was: Memories of My Childhood at Grand Traverse Lighthouse,” GTLM volunteers will recreate a McCormick Family Christmas of the 1920s. A fireplace and mantle will be created to hang the children's stockings, which will be filled with an orange, Brazil nuts and hard candy. The dining room table will be filled with the sight and smells of an actual holiday meal of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, squash, homemade bread and strawberries. Picture molding will be added to the living room to hang the appropriate silver icing garland. The fainting couch will be moved to its original place in the dining room and a cribbage board will be set up on the keeper's desk.
Doug McCormick and Bette McCormick Olli have been able to provide additional information and guidance to make this a very special Christmas event for all. A special guided tour sheet will be created to allow visitors a self-guided walking tour through each room and read about the many wonderful things that happened during a typical McCormick Family Christmas.
The sounds of holiday cheer and caroling will echo through the old Lighthouse and Fog Signal Building, with music and entertainment by musicians Mark and Mary Westmaas, Rich and Cheryl Reiffer and the Northport Community Band. Local volunteers will be playing the antique organ in the lighthouse keeper's residence. New this year will be the live reindeer ( 2-4 p.m.) from the Hoxie Antler Farm in Williamsburg.
The lighthouse will be open for all to climb the tower to see the magnificent view of Lake Michigan.
Santa will arrive by fire truck around 3 p.m. to meet the children and hand out traditional holiday treats. There will be a Santa toy chest challenge and if your key fits the toy box you win the prize inside. Free admission and refreshments.
This event is sponsored by the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum. For more information, call the lighthouse office at (231) 386-7195