NORTHVILLIANS,

• 11/19 – “Lights on Holiday Parade”, 6:30 PM (Parade route - Cady to Rogers to Main St. to Linden to Dunlap to Wing). Tree lighting at 8:15 (Town Square).
   
• 11/20 & 11/21 – Holiday Greens and Winter Market, 7 Mile & Center St., 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• NCF Holiday Home Tour goes virtual this year. For more info, go online at northvillecommunityfoundation.org or contact Christmas Carol at 248 347 0200.
   
• Mill Race Village presents The Festival of Trees starting December 3^rd.  For more info, contact the Northville Mill Race Village at https://www.millracenorthville.org or call 248 348 1845.

• Nearly all of the nation's coronavirus infections are now attributed to the delta variant which is a more contagious strand. Waning immunity may be contributing to a rise…an ongoing booster rollout is attempting to head off the effects of this waning immunity. (USA Today)

• The city is installing 10 new EV charging stations in downtown – the first phase was installation of new equipment at present EV locations.
   
• The City mourns the passing of retired Fire Chief Jim Allen who was known as “CHIEF” for 36 of his 50 years of service to the City of Northville.  During the memorial service on Saturday at the Baptist church, I noted that the Allen Family is considered royalty of Northville...our thoughts and prayers are with them.

• 1976 – According to The Record, when the nation was celebrating its bicentennial (1976), Northvillians lined our downtown streets as Santa Claus arrived and took up temporary residence at the North Pole Santa exhibit in Town Square.
   
• 1988 – The community’s traditional Santa Parade took place in all its glory, traveling down Main Street past City Hall to a throng of cheering youth. The Record stated, “Northville’s High School Band played brilliantly as ever at the festive parade, where a holiday trolley was featured, and a calliope organ played holiday favorites.”
   
• 1996 – Santa made a triumphant ride through town and was pulled by 18 live reindeer. All the merchants decorated their shops in holiday finery. The town was ready for the Holidays!
   
• 1998 – This year, in addition to Santa arriving, there were Holiday clowns, carriages and carolers in town. Chuck Gaidica from WDIV-TV was the Master of Ceremonies, live on TV.
   
• 2004 – Northville rolled out the Red Carpet for the Holiday parade...35 new floats participated, along with Arabian horses and much more (so reported The Northville Record).
   
• 2013 – A record attendance crowd came to view the 47 entries on a cold snowy night. A local resident was quoted in The Record as saying, “The parade is a reflection of the spirit of Northville,” and many stated it was their favorite parade yet in the Ville.
   
• 2019 – My first Holiday Parade as Mayor was a festive event, with Dr. Demray’s Preservation Dental presenting their classic VW Bugs all decorated in Holiday lights. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” was the theme and the evening culminated with a tree lighting ceremony in Town Square. I can attest the City was abuzz while waiting Santa’s arrival, with local churches providing hot chocolate to keep us warm.  I had the great honor and pleasure to present Santa with the Keys to the City to make it easier for him to get back to town for Christmas deliveries.  Notably, Mill Race Village outdid themselves, giving us a glimpse of Christmases of yesteryear with all the buildings decorated in spectacular holiday trimmings.

I will see you downtown Friday night as we all gather to welcome Santa and light the Christmas tree in Town Square.  Come on down and enjoy the festive holiday spirit of the town we love.
 
Keep that Northville Holiday Faith!