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A newly refurbished boulevard and downtown area decked out in all its Victorian splendor await to greet visitors to the annual event scheduled for Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24.

"Our aim is to bring a festive holiday atmosphere to Chesaning for our regulars and for new comers. This is a nice, family oriented event with something for everyone," said event co-chairperson Greg Wirgau.

"We encourage folks to come to Chesaning and enjoy a relaxed time and make some holiday memories," he added.

Wirgau co-chairs the event with his wife Carol.

"We invite everyone to come out and enjoy this unique atmosphere as our high school and middle school students light thousands of luminaries throughout the village," added Carol Wirgau.

Highlighting this year's Candlelight Walk, sponsored by the Chesaning Area Chamber of Commerce, will be the return of both the Holiday Home Tour and the magnificent Festival of Trees, along with the addition of several new attractions.

Familiar favorites including live reindeer, live pony rides, a gingerbread house contest, a candlelight gift walk, arts and crafts shows at the Chesaning Middle School and the Our Lady Parish School, horse drawn carriage rides, and plenty of holiday shopping, will be joined by new events that include a Kris Kringle's Market and music along the boulevard with entertainment by a Christian band and the Chesaning High School choir and band.

Also new this year will be a warming tent located in the Ace Hardware parking lot.

The Kris Kringle's Market will include tents along the boulevard that will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. The market will include craft booths and other vendors offering items for Christmas gift giving and decorating.

"We are offering this opportunity for those vendors who are not able to get a spot at the middle school and also for shoppers who are unable to shop during the day," noted Carol Wirgau.

The Festival of Trees will again be located at the Peet Community Center with its display of colorfully adorned trees, wreaths, and door pieces decorated by area merchants. All items will be raffled off at the conclusion of the festival with tickets available for $1 apiece or six for $5.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will again be available for visits and photographs.

The Gingerbread House contest, sponsored by Chesaning Parks and Recreation, will also take place at the Peet Center this year.

Houses decorated by local elementary students from Chesaning Zion Lutheran School, Brady Lutheran School, Our Lady Catholic School, and Chesaning Public Schools will be on display for viewing.

Free hot chocolate and donuts will be served at the center courtesy of the Chesaning Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Holiday Home Tour expands to both days this year and will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. with cost of admission being $12.

The ever popular crafts shows will again take place at the Chesaning Middle School and the Our lady Parish School from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The Chesaning Area Historical Museum, featuring its current exhibit "Old One Room Country Schools" will be open both days from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

At dusk the streets will glow as thousands of luminaries light Broad Street from the curve on the east end of town to the railroad tracks at the Bonnymill Inn.

The street will be closed to traffic from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information, see a complete schedule of events in the annual Holiday Gift Guide in next week's Citizen or call the Chesaning Chamber at 845-3055.

Welcome home parade for local Iraq veteran today

CHESANING - A parade to welcome home local Iraq veteran, Sergeant Amanda Mikulka, is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. today, Sunday, November 11, 2007.

Organizers of the event invite the public to line the streets of downtown Chesaning to greet a local war hero.

The parade will conclude at Trinity United Methodist Church with a special reception and program.

A state commendation will be presented to Mikulka with State Representative Ken Horn, State Senator Roger Kahn, members of the Chesaning/Brady Fire Department, and American Legion Post 212 attending.

The public is encouraged to attend the program.

A 2001 graduate of Chesaning Union High School, Mikulka lost part of her leg during a rocket-propelled grenade attack on August 9, 2007 while serving her tour of duty with the 144th Military Police Company.

She earned the prestigious Purple Heart for her service.

She is the daughter of Jake and Paulette Fowler of Chesaning.