The historic Log Cabin in Palmer Park will be the centerpiece for the annual WinterFest coming up on Sunday Dec. 10.
The free family-friendly event runs from 2-5 p.m. and offers old-fashioned horse and carriage rides, hot cider, hot chocolate, holiday cookies, candy canes, music, arts and crafts, and, of course, a meeting with Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus and some special elves.
In the spirit of giving and sharing, those attending are asked to please bring NEW, unused mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for Mittens for Detroit to donate to those in need.
The log cabin, the home of Senator and Mrs. Palmer and built in 1885, is really a Victorian home disguised as a rustic cabin. It will be transformed with the magic of the season to celebrate diverse holidays treasured in Detroit and around the world.
The Wright Museum of African American History will present experiences and displays about Kwanzaa.
The celebration of Hanukkah will be presented by the Downtown Synagogue. Christmas, and other holidays also will be showcased.
Kids of all ages can create and decorate paper birds and snowflakes to hang on the holiday tree. Adults and older children can learn how to fold origami cranes to add good luck and peace to the Log Cabin and all who visit it.
There will also be storytelling and music from the diverse holidays and live performances by violinists from Detroit Youth Volume.
Teams of neighbors and artists will decorate the Log Cabin in a friendly competition for fun and prizes. Preservation Detroit, City Detroit Tour, Blossoms, Bagley Design Belles, and several neighborhood groups from Palmer Woods and Sherwood Forest are volunteering their talents. Those attending WinterFest can vote for their favorites.
This is the first winter celebration in the cabin, perhaps in history, since the Palmers did not live there during the winter in the late 1880s.
The Log Cabin, which has been closed for most of the past 40 years, will reopen this winter with this magical and inclusive celebration. With newly restored and sparkling stained glass windows, and its original front door now being restored, the cabin will be dazzling.
The Almond Hut will have candied nuts, hot coffee and other offerings for a small charge.
Official PFPP (People for Palmer Park) merchandise will be for sale. It includes t-shirts, winter hats, Palmer Park Log Cabin prints and postcards and more. 100 percent of the proceeds go to People for Palmer Park.
WinterFest will take place in and around the Log Cabin, which is located just north of McNichols (Six Mile Road) and just west of Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Follow the signs to free parking. Admission is free. A small donation of $5 for an adult and $2 for children is suggested for carriage rides.
WinterFest is presented by People for Palmer Park with the support of the City of Detroit and Quicken Loans.
— Lead photo by Barbara Barefield.
Palmer Park to hold its annual old-fashioned WinterFest December 10 added by Marge Sorge on
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