Community celebrates holidays with Winterfest

Santa and Mrs. Claus hold a child for family photos at Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave. in Laketown Township.

From building snowmen and riding the horse-drawn wagon outside to the face painting and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus inside, hundreds of people enjoyed Winterfest at the Felt Estate, 6597 138^th Ave. in Laketown Township, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

The free annual event is sponsored by the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission.

Special holiday tours continue through December at the mansion.

A girl with reindeer antlers listens to the Holland Chorale Dickens Carolers on the landing of the main staircase at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave. in Laketown Township, at Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Winterfest included music from the Holland Chorale Dickens Carolers, a scavenger hunt, light refreshments and gift bags for the first 500 children.

Visitors also toured the 25-room, three-story, more than 12,000-square-foot mansion which is decorated for the holidays with more than 60 Christmas trees.

Winterfest began in 2009 to mark Laketown Township’s 150^th anniversary.

Dave Smallegan leads the horses for a wagon ride as part of Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave. in Laketown Township.

About the mansion

The Felt Estate is part of Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.

The Carriage House was built in 1917, and the mansion was finished in 1928.

Construction of the mansion began in 1925 by Dorr E. Felt, inventor of the Comptometer, the first machine that could do all four functions — add, subtract, multiply and divide.

Felt’s wife Agnes died in 1928. Dorr died a year-and-a-half later.

After his death, the estate eventually became a seminary for the Augustinian order then a state prison and Michigan State Police post before the property was purchased by Laketown Township.

The mansion has been restored and is a top wedding and event destination.

An artist from Fancy Faces Face Painting LLC paints Grinch decorations on a child at Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave. in Laketown Township.

An artist from La-La Land Face Painting LLC adds holiday touches to a child at Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave. in Laketown Township.

Other holiday events

Holiday events continue throughout December at the mansion. For a complete schedule and more information, click here.

Coffee & Cocoa Self-Guided Tours: Sundays Dec. 8, 15 and 22 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Family-friendly self-guided tours of the mansion with complimentary refreshments. Tickets are $18 for adults; $16 for seniors; $13 for ages 8-17; and $8 for children under 8.

Holiday Self-Guided tours: Wednesdays Dec. 11 and 18 from 4-8 p.m. Family-friendly self-guided tours of the mansion in all its holiday splendor. Tickets are $15 for adults; $13 for seniors; $10 for ages 8-17; and $5 for children under 8.

Tea & Tours: Thursdays Dec. 12 and 19 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Reserve a time slot for tea served in our antique China collection, and a guided tour of the mansion. Guided tours begin at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each.

Candlelight Guided Tours: Fridays Dec. 13 and 20 from 5-9 p.m. Reserve your time slot for a romantic guided tour of the mansion, lit only by the warm glow of your handheld candle and Christmas lights. Each guided tour starts at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each.