By Gabrielle Martin, Staff Reporter.
Sleigh bells rang, snow glistened, noses were chilling, and all around people appeared happy as they walked in Downtown Saginaw by the water treatment plant on the evening of Nov. 21 for Holidays in the Heart of the City. Horse-drawn carriages decorated with wreaths and lights rolled down Court St. The focus of the event was the lighting of the water treatment plant. As people gathered for the event, candles were passed out and the Saginaw Choral Society sang Christmas carols such as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” while many people joined in song.
People gathered, young and old, to join in the festivities. Eveline Gatzsche of Freeland has been coming for about eight years with her sister Peggy Schambeck. This year, Gatzsche’s nieces, who love the carriage rides, were with them.
Mike and Laura Shabrnoch, a married couple who has lived in Saginaw for 68 years, said that this is the first time they have attended the event.
“We just wanted to see the lights come on,” says Mike.
As the countdown began for the lighting of the water treatment plant, excitement rose and finally the lights went on and Santa joined the chorus leading the audience in singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.
Outside the Children’s Zoo, carolers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Saginaw sang as children had a snowball fight behind them. Down the street at the Andersen Enrichment Center, people lined up for the opportunity to warm up and admire the artistic creativity of gingerbread houses made by people of many ages. There was a sand castle gingerbread house, a day of the dead themed one and even a blue police call box for Dr. Who fans present.
Christa Allen was outside the Andersen Enrichment Center waiting in line to get on the carriage ride with her three girls – Addison, 17, MiKayla, 15, and Amaya, 10. For Allen, the event is a kick-off to the Christmas season. Addison says she can’t remember a year when the family didn’t come to Holidays in the Heart of the City. She didn’t mind waiting in the cold for the carriage ride too much though because it’s her favorite part.
“I like the gingerbread houses the most,” said MiKayla, much to the agreement of Amaya, “They’re really creative.”
Standing in line with the Allens were some family friends – the Dobsons. Kevin and Joy Dobson were with their three girls – Britton, 4, Brooklyn, 5, and Bella, 9. This was Britton’s first time coming to the event. She enjoyed seeing Santa Clause and says she would have asked him for a Rapunzel doll had she gotten to talk to him. Britton, along with her two sisters said that they were very excited to go on the carriage ride.
On the carriage, the girls joined others on the ride in singing Christmas carols and admiring the lights.