After the tree lighting in 2017. Photo by J. Reed

Tree lighting this weekend

By Judy Reed

Looking for some holiday cheer? You don’t want to miss the “Mingle with Kris Kringle” event this Saturday, December 1, put on by the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The day will run from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with various fun, family-friendly, events. The day starts with a Jingle Bell Fun run/walk. Registration at 9 a.m. and registration at 9:30 a.m. 

Families can make and take Christmas ornaments and crafts at the Cedar Springs Library from 9-noon. You can also enjoy a story time with Mrs. Claus from 2-3 p.m. at Perry’s Place llc for herbs, teas, and more. There will also be a meet and greet with Cedar Springs cheerleaders, a petting zoo, and caroling, all before the mini-parade that brings Santa to the corner of Main and Ash Street at about 4:30-4:45.

Following the parade will be a live nativity scene near the Christmas tree, and mingling with Kris Kringle at the American Legion Hall, where kids can meet Santa and write him a letter, and families can enjoy hot cocoa. 

The fun then continues next weekend with the Kent Theatre Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 8 from 3-5 p.m., and the Kent Theatre Christmas Dance Extravaganza on Sunday, December 9, from 3-5 p.m. Admission is $3 for each show. Then on Monday, December 10, enjoy a free Christmas Carriage ride from 5-8 p.m., starting at the White Pine Trail staging area at the end of W. Maple Street. 

See more activities and details in the Chamber of Commerce ad on page 16.

This man dressed as Elrond the Elf at last year’s CS Renaissance Faire would be a perfect fit for this year’s theme, “Fellowship of the Springs.” Post photo by J. Reed.

Fellowship of the Springs May 20-21

The Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce will turn Morley Park into Middle Earth next weekend, when they kick off their spring and summer events with the annual Cedar Springs Renaissance Faire, May 20-21. This year’s theme is “Fellowship of the Springs.”

“Fellowship of the Springs serves as a double meaning,” explained Chamber President Perry Hopkins. “Many of our faire’s fans are J.R.R. Tolkien fans. Since many of the Renaissance Community call Morley Park Morleyshire (for the Cedar Springs Renaissance Faire), it is only fitting we choose a theme that Tolkien fans can relate to. The theme also ties into all the new excitement around Cedar Springs (new library, new businesses, new future potentials for the community, etc.)”

Hopkins said this year’s Renaissance Faire would be the biggest one yet. “We will have double the encampments from previous years, a wider variety of vendors, bigger entertainment, along with the annual Royal Dinner catered by the Grilling Company.”

The Faire will run 12-8 p.m. on Saturday, with the Royal Dinner from 6-8 p.m.; and then reopen from 12-6 p.m. Sunday. It is a free family event.

New to this year’s attractions will be the Kingdom of Shiabrook. Returning entertainers and encampments will include Darkmor Colony of Larp Craft, Robyn the Bard, E-Leesa Gypsy Enchantress, Steal Lotus Dance Troupe, Bell Book and Catro Hopkins said that the cast for this year’s faire will have a few more local people included.

The Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce (CSACoC) started hosting an annual Start of Summer Celebration in June of 2014 with a Renaissance theme, then later renamed it the Cedar Springs Renaissance Faire.

Could town support an effort to attract a hotel?

There will be an informational meeting next week regarding funding for a hotel study that would determine whether a hotel could be supported in Cedar Springs.

The meeting will be held on October 25 at Cedar Springs Brewing Company at 5:30 p.m.

According to Cedar Springs City Manager Mike Womack, the City was approached by investors from AmericInn about the possibility of opening a hotel near US131.

He said they claimed that they needed a “hotel feasibility study” to be conducted before they can commit to building a hotel in Cedar Springs.

The City has a group prepared to conduct the study, which would show whether the area could support the hotel and turn a profit for investors. But it would cost $7,500 for the study.

“The difficulty lies in the fact that the Americinn people think that the City should pay for the study and the City has both financial and philosophical concerns regarding paying for the study,” said Womack. “The financial concern is that $7,500 is a significant amount of money for a city the size of Cedar Springs and the philosophical concern is that the City isn’t sure that spending taxpayer money to support a private business decision is appropriate,” he explained.

Private funding may be the answer. Womack noted that at least one interested party has promised $1,000 toward the study, and depending on the outcome of the meeting, the city may seek additional donations to fund the study.

“The City is definitely interested in locating a hotel within city limits,” said Womack. “A hotel located in Cedar Springs would not just benefit the City but would also be great for the surrounding area.”

The closest hotels to Cedar Springs are in Greenville and Comstock Park — both 14-15 Miles away.

“We here at city hall have been asked on a regular basis for the closest hotel to stay at by people visiting local factories, families attending tournaments at the Art Van Sports Complex, people in town for weddings or funerals, people visiting Rockford, golfers in town, snowmobilers, bicyclists, and people enjoying the Cedar Springs brewery,” explained Womack. “Furthermore, Cedar Springs is an ideal place to stay just outside Grand Rapids for people that prefer small town charm.”

It’s going to be a busy weekend in downtown Cedar Springs. The Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Community Building Development Team to bring some exciting family events to this year’s Christmas in July sidewalk sales event, including a free movie in the park, the groundbreaking for the new Cedar Springs Library at Main and W. Maple Street, and a free concert at the site where the new amphitheater will be built (near the new library).

The weekend starts with a free movie in Morley Park, concessions, and other activities Friday, July 8, at 6 p.m. This year’s movie will be the Christmas movie Elf. Some businesses in downtown Cedar Springs will have Christmas in July sidewalk sales on Saturday July 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, will be the groundbreaking for the new Cedar Springs Library at the corner of Main and W. Maple Streets, near the Fire Station. Everyone is encouraged to attend and celebrate this milestone.

The Community Building Development Team is also hosting a free concert performed by the band Mane Street, on July 9, from 6-10 p.m., at the site of the future amphitheater in the Heart of Cedar Springs. This is the lot where Cedar Springs began in the 1850’s, and is also in the same area where the new library is being built. There currently is a flowing well on the site, featuring one of the springs that Cedar Springs is named for. The address for the concert is 37 W. Maple Street, and is just west of the Fire Station and north of the White Pine Trail staging area. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and be ready to hear some good music!

See the Mane St. band at a free concert at the site of the future amphitheater on July 9.

The Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Community Building Development Team to bring some exciting family events to this year’s Christmas in July sidewalk sales event, including a free movie in the park, the groundbreaking for the new Cedar Springs Library, and a free concert at the site where the new amphitheater will be built.

Christmas in July is an annual Chamber of Commerce event, which takes place the weekend of the second Saturday of July. The weekend starts with a free movie in Morley Park, concessions, and other activities Friday, July 8, at 6 p.m. This year’s movie will be the Christmas movie Elf. Some businesses in downtown Cedar Springs will have Christmas in July sidewalk sales on Saturday July 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, will be the groundbreaking for the new Cedar Springs Library at the corner of Main and W. Maple Streets, near the Fire Station. Everyone is encouraged to attend and celebrate this milestone.

The Community Building Development Team is also hosting a free concert performed by the band Mane Street, on July 9, from 6-10 p.m., at the site of the future amphitheater in the Heart of Cedar Springs. This is the lot where Cedar Springs began in the 1850’s, and is also in the same area where the new library is being built. There currently is a flowing well on the site, featuring one of the springs that Cedar Springs is named for. The address for the concert is 37 W. Maple Street, and is just west of the Fire Station and north of the White Pine Trail staging area. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and be ready to hear some good music!

For details on the weekend and to see the ads download the link below:

ChristmasInJuly-sf.pdf

Have you ever pretended to be a Pirate? Or wanted to? How about a member of royalty, such as a king, queen, prince, princess or knight? Or maybe a gypsy, fairy, hobbit or elf is more up your alley. Whatever your style, the Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce is giving you a chance to come out and be a kid again and have some fun at their 2^nd annual Renaissance Faire, June 12-14.

“It’s going to be an awesome event,” said Chamber President Perry Hopkins. “We have three times as many vendors as last year (over 30) and four times the entertainment.”

The fun will start Friday June 12, at 6 p.m. at Morley Park with an outdoor Celtic dance class, and grilled brats and hotdogs catered by the Cedar Springs Lions Club. At 6:30 there will be a meet and greet with Renaissance Faire Queen Victoria and cast (bring your camera for photos). At about 9:30 p.m., or as soon as it’s dark, there will be a showing in the park of Disney’s “Robin Hood,” with 100 bags of popcorn donated by the Kent Theatre. Bring the family for fun, food and excitement!

Saturday there will be sidewalk sales all along Main Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; ice cream with Queen Victoria and cast at 11 a.m. at KC’s Kones and Coneys; a petting zoo from noon to 4 p.m.; live entertainment, dunk booth, vendor and food booths from noon to 8 p.m.; and a royal dinner and entertainment from 6-8 p.m. at Morley Park.

On Sunday there will be meditation in the park at 10 a.m.; live entertainment, dunk tank, and food and vendor booths from noon to 6 p.m.; and catering.

For more information, see ad in next week’s paper, and check out their facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1406694329586519/.

In a spin-off from Solon’s popular market, Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Farmers Market beginning Monday, June 9 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and running every Monday through October. Many of the vendors will be ones you might recognize from the Solon Market, but it is open to everyone on a first come, first setup basis. Although Solon Market’s committee is helping to get this market running, Vicky Babcock, Solon Market Manager, stressed that this is not Solon Market.

“We are doing what we can to get the new market up and running, but we have enough on our plates with one market to manage,” explained Babcock. “Ultimately it will be up to the vendors to see that this market continues.”

The market will set up on Ash Street north of the Cedar Pub. For information, contact Vicky at 696-4227.