Historic U.P. city celebrates Christmas early

CALUMET — Calumet ushers in the Christmas season this weekend. ABC 10’s Keweenaw Bureau Reporter Rick Allen has more on December’s First Friday event.

December is a magical time in Historic Calumet. Shops and restaurants will be open late this First Friday to kick off Christmas in Calumet events this weekend.

If hand crafted copper goods would satisfy someone on your shopping list, then you might want to stop by Hahn Hammered Copper on 5th Street.

It’s a step back in time as even much of the furnishings are 100 years old. Many of the wares have been hammered into shape in the old Danish style.

Store Co–Owner Peter Hahn said, “I like hammer strokes. We keep things simple here and a lot of our stuff, people comment on it as that it’s Scandinavian simple.”

By participating in First Friday’s, they are taking part in the renaissance of Calumet.

Hahn said, “I believe that communities like Calumet that have started to deteriorate, many times it’s the artists that bring a community back and this is true throughout the country.”

Part of brining in the new is bringing back the old.

The Vertin Building, having been a department store for so many years, may have been the place where kids went to see Santa Claus. This Friday night, Santa will be making his 21st Century debut at the art gallery.

Vertin Gallery Manager Mary Sue Hyslop said, “Bringing Santa Claus back means that we bring a tradition back to the building itself.”

Kids can come see Santa from 5pm–7pm Friday night and from 11–1 on Saturday.

Plus, there will be free horse–drawn sleigh rides and carolers downtown on Saturday as part of Christmas in Calumet.