Holiday joy, wonder (and hot chocolate): Clinton’s ‘Christmas in the Village’

Nine members of Clinton’s “Christmas in the Village” volunteer committee are pictured inside the Clinton Village Office on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, gathered around the Christmas tree. They are, from left to right, Tonya Couture, Abby Smith, Kim Scott, Tamara Forro, Doris Kemner, Daniell Smith, Sue Newman, Jared Couture and Danny Smith. Not pictured are Kari Dortson, Norleen Hicks and Nate Smith.

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Thanks to the contributions from several volunteers, the Christmas season was ushered into the Clinton community throughout the entire day on Saturday, Dec. 6.

“Christmas in the Village,” Clinton’s annual celebration of the holiday season, started as early as 9 a.m. on Saturday, and concluded sometime after 8 p.m. for almost 12 straight hours of holiday merriment.

This year’s theme — “A Dash of Gingerbread Magic” — opened the door for downtown businesses to decorate for the holidays around a gingerbread theme. The Smith-Kimball Community Center hosted a gingerbread house decorating contest for kids and teens with winners being announced for the best three gingerbread houses for teens and the top six for kids. The list of winners and additional gingerbread house photos can be found on the Smith-Kimball Community Center Facebook page.

Those festivities and a host of other Christmassy events were organized by the Christmas in the Village volunteer committee — a 12-member group that worked alongside the village of Clinton, the downtown development authority, Clinton Township and the SKCC board.

“We all pitch in and have an important role,” said Christmas in the Village committee member and Village President Doris Kemner. “We’re just a group of people who want to bring a bit of Christmas magic to our community. Almost like a Hallmark Christmas movie.”

That same sentiment was shared by fellow committee member Danny Smith, who for this year was the man in charge of bringing Clinton’s Christmas Parade to life.

“With us being such a small town, all the little things matter to our community,” Smith said.

Clinton’s Christmas Parade consisted of 56 participants from local and neighboring fire departments to area businesses, organizations, churches and nonprofits. If a group rode in a float in the parade, there was a good chance that float was decorated and strung with twinkling Christmas lights. Utility vehicles, school buses and firetrucks were equally adorned with seasonal strands of lights.

While Smith said he’s been involved in past Christmas Parade setups, this was the first year for him being in charge. He took over such duties from past parade chairman Basil Greenleaf, who vouched for Smith to take the helm this year.

“I put a lot of hard work into the parade for this year, but I couldn’t have done it without someone like Basil who started this (parade) and kept it going,” Smith said.

While the Saturday evening parade served as a “Christmas in the Village” highlight, so too did things like free hot dogs, hot chocolate and walking s’mores at the Clinton Fire Department. A visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Clinton Township Hall following the parade capped off the busy day in downtown Clinton.

“I think we have been overfilled with joy,” Smith said, adding both Manchester and Saline had holiday events the same day as Clinton. “This event is all about a time for family, and keeping it free for the community is vital.”

About three months of planning went into having “Christmas in the Village” come together, Smith said. Holiday planning starts almost immediately after the conclusion of the Clinton Fall Festival in September.

Now, the “Christmas in the Village” committee will meet sometime this week to put a final bow on this year’s edition of the Clinton holiday event.

Holiday competition winners announced

Decorating contests for Clinton businesses and residents were among the “Christmas in the Village” list of events.

Here’s the top winners for the Nonedible Gingerbread Creation contest for businesses:

• First place: Clinton Theater.

• Second place: fhL Massage & Wellness.

• Third place: Smith-Kimball Community Center.

Here’s the top winners for the residential Holiday Lights and Décor contest:

• First place: 120 Loomis St.

• Second place: 407 Oak Tree Drive.

• Third place: 604 Donna Drive.

• Judge’s choice: 316 W. Michigan Ave., Lot 15.