Winterfest brings free holiday fun to families

The event on Saturday includes music, Santa Claus, wagon rides at the Felt Estate.

The Dickens Carolers of the Holland Chorale sing on the landing over the foyer at Winterfest at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave., in Laketown Township on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. The carolers are Steve Hook, Elizabeth Taylor, Jennie Gonzalez and Jeff Peerbolt.

The free community holiday celebration of Winterfest is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave.

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

“This is my favorite event of the season,” said Elizabeth McEwen, executive director of the Felt Estate. “I love seeing all the multi-generational families visiting together! Events like this help remind us that we have more in common with our neighbors than we may realize.”

A family photo at Winterfest at The Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., in Laketown Township on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

The event includes a time for children to sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus for pictures, face painting, music from the Holland Chorale Dickens Carolers, horse-drawn wagon rides, scavenger hunt, light refreshments and gift bags for the first 500 children.

Visitors may also walk through the mansion which will be decorated for the holidays with more than 60 Christmas trees.

Last year, about 2,000 people attended the event. Because of Winterfest’s popularity, an extra hour was added to the event this year.

Winterfest began in 2009 to mark Laketown Township’s 150th anniversary. That first event drew about 300 people.

A horse-drawn wagon ride starts out in front of the Felt Mansion on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, as part of Winterfest.

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.

Other holiday events

Holiday events continue throughout December at the mansion.

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. 4, 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. 5, 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. 6, 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.

For more on the events, visit here.