Photo courtesy of Marilla Historical Society.

Edited from a news release

MARILLA TOWNSHIP, Mich. ‒ Seating is limited for a unique holiday experience offered in the spirit of the pioneer days.

The Joyfest Pioneer Holiday Dinner will take place 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Marilla Museum and Pioneer Place. Festivities will include tours, a “jolly” dinner and music.

advertisement for the Christmas Artisan Market in Onekama on Saturday, November 23 at Onekama Consolidated Schools. The ad is bordered by dark green with images of pine cones at the top and bottom. Save the Date! Click on this ad to be taken to the Onekama website for more information. for info on becoming a vendor, e-mail plaartisanmkt@gmail.comImage for the Gasoline Refind ad shows a photo of the front of the store looking at the red screened door on the porch with found objects. Ad reads Open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. plus Fridays from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Vintage Shopping. Shop in store or shop online. www.gasolinerefind.com. 231-238-3891. Google it. Picture of a retro looking pig's comic book face. Owners Lynn and Scott Brown written above it. Located at Erdman Road, Bear Lake, between Potter and 13 mile roads.Advertisement for Marie Marfia Fine Art written in white lettering on a black background. Beneath this is an image of a grassy dune beside Lake Michigan with waves coming into shore and clouds on the horizon. This is a pastel painting by the artist. Beneath it in black lettering on white are the words, Working artist's studio and gallery featuring local landscapes, portraits and skeleton art. Ludington, Michigan. Hours by appointment. Call 904-566-4473. Website address is mariemarfia.com or click on this ad to be taken to her website.

The event will be held at 9991 Marilla Road in Copemish, five miles south of M-115.

“This very special seated dinner is a favorite of those who have attended in the past,” read a statement in a 2024 Marilla Historical Society newsletter.

Activities are scheduled to begin with a tour of the main museum, housed in a two-room schoolhouse built in 1922. Also open for touring will be three other restored and festively decorated pioneer buildings: a fur-trapper’s log cabin, a two-story 1870s log home and a 1900 barn with logging and farming implements.

A four-course meal, prepared by the Marilla Historical Society, will be served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner features spiced cider punch, squash soup topped with pepitas and yogurt, red cabbage slaw with apples and walnuts, pork loin stuffed with apples and served with shallot/brandy sauce, garlic parmesan potatoes, and pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for dessert.

Accomplished hammered dulcimer artist Katelyn Baas will provide uplifting music throughout the meal. Baas, who teaches others to play the ancient percussion instrument, was a finalist in a national hammered dulcimer competition last month.

The minimum suggested donation for JoyFest is $50 per person. Seats may be reserved by visiting the organization’s website at marillahistory.org or by emailing marillamuseum@gmail.com or calling 231-379-0040.

The Marilla Historical Society was founded in 1980. The volunteer-run museum is supported entirely by donations. Items sold by the organization online and at the museum include books about Marilla’s history, a country cookbook, wildflower prints and more. Follow them on Facebook @MarillaHistory.

Read more about Marilla:

Influential women of Marilla Township 

Marilla: remembering a close-knit community

 

Write A Comment