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The shop owners of historic downtown Buchanan plan to dazzle patrons again with their latest shopping event scheduled for Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. Thanksgiving weekend.
The merchants will offer a dizzying blend of art, music and merriment to mark the opening of the holiday shopping season. Evergreen-wrapped light poles – courtesy of the city and the Buchanan Garden Club – and planters created by Fernwood Botanical Garden will provide a festive backdrop for strolling patrons in search of gifts, food, antiques, art and friends.
Downtown Buchanan, branded as “a four-season event,” has presented two such culture-packed events thus far. Two thousand patrons turned out for the Labor Day event that showcased the visual arts as well as vocalist Greta Pope.
These galleries will host wine and cheese receptions starting at 4 p.m.:
• Thomas Jolly Home & Garden, 107 E. Front St., will offer vintage Christopher Radko ornaments and new collections.
• Alan Robandt, 114 E. Front St., will have a special exhibit of holiday gift books by Chicago bookseller Kurt Gippert, ABAA, featuring vintage and antiquarian books on design, cooking, art, architecture, fishing and more.
• Justin Brown Shoes, 107 N. Main St., will present Rampage boots and new designer inspired handbags.
• FRONT gallery, 207 E. Front St., will have a champagne reception catered by Buchanan’s own Back Door Cafe. The gallery will feature holiday gifts by Alessi, Votivo, French linens, Taschen books and Kartell furniture.
• SL Consignment, 211 E. Front St., will play host to Fernwood Botanical Gardens. Fernwood will offer gift memberships and a selection from the Fernwood Gift Shop.
• Sweeties Sweet Shop, 259 E. Front St., will offer a selection of holiday gifts, gift baskets, caramel corn, cheese corn, stocking stuffers, chocolates and more.
The Buchanan Art Center, 117 W. Front St. will offer the following events:
• From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., artists will work on clay in the pottery studio, and talk to the public about their work. Potters’ work will be for sale in the studio and gift shop.
• From noon to 3 p.m., make and take your own Christmas Cards! Instructor Tammy Stepien, scrapbook and stamping consultant will accept adults, teens and children accompanied by an adult for $1-3 per card. Cards, envelopes, stamps, ribbon and adhesives will be provided.
• From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. instructor Pam Kirkham will offer a Harry Potter Drop & Shop Workshop for kids from 5 years old through tweens. Young ones can be dropped off at the center for a creative experience while parents shop downtown. Cost is $10 per member and $12 per non-member per hour (10 to 11 a.m.; 11 a.m. to noon; noon to 1 p.m.; 1 to 2 p.m.; 2 to 3 p.m.). All materials provided. Students will construct, write and illustrate a Harry Potter Spell Book. Pre-registration is required by calling the center at (269) 683-2794.
• From 5 to 8 p.m. there will be an opening reception for three different exhibits: Henderika Akkerman, “The Way I See It,” watercolor, collage, and acrylics; Mark Canfield and Allen Gara, “Clark Equipment: Current Images, A Photographic Exhibit of the Former Operations;” Jack C. Cook, Jill Ender, Kay Longacre, Alma Northouse and Marilyn Tilman, “Galien Country Artists,” oils and photographs. See clay work in the showcases by Minza Zdzieblowski and Linda Shelley. Exhibits run through Jan. 8.
The First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, 115 W. Front St., will serve cider and cookies from 3 to 8 p.m. during which time visitors may enjoy an exhibit of nativity scenes.
“Many of the nativities are from other cultures – from Guatemala to Ethiopia,” Pastor Pat Ramden said. “Several are unusual or rare – one shows Joseph holding baby Jesus – another is a folk art nativity made by a father and his 6-year-old son.”
Area eateries will also be open. Gary Z’s Sub Shop, 254 E. Front, will offer hot cider, soup, chili and of course, subs. Sweetie’s Sweet Shop, 259 E. Front St., is already famous for its selection of caramel corn, cheese corn, chocolates, pastries and more. The Wheatberry, Memories Tavern and Sonny’s restaurant will also be open.