Winter in the Village opens in Kewaunee

It is that magical time of year in Kewaunee when the Polar Express model train winds its way around Lakehaven Hall and holiday music is in the air.

For the second year, Lakehaven will be opening its Winter Village from 6 to 9 p.m. from Sunday, Dec. 13 through Saturday Dec. 19. There will be village and Santa displays, lighted trees and free cookies, cider and hot chocolate.

In addition, Lakehaven is showing one Christmas movie each night. The schedule includes: “Elf” on Sunday night, “The Polar Express” on Monday, “Disney’s Christmas Carol” on Tuesday, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” on Wednesday, “Scrooged” on Thursday, “Christmas with the Kranks” on Friday and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on Saturday.

“We want to offer all the community events here free of charge to the public,” said Bob Orr, president of the board of the Lakeshore Community Center, a 501 (c)(4) organization, which owns and manages Lakehaven as a community center.

He said that the board is trying to offer four free community events a year. In addition to the Winter Village, the board also organized events for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Halloween in 2015, he said.

He noted that Lakehaven has become a popular place to host weddings and reunions and that the hall is already booked on most weekends from March through September 2016.

The board has also received funds from “Hooray for Hollywood” to purchase a Black Diamond screen that can features movies and videos in daylight. They are presently trying to raise funds to create a curtain wall for smaller groups and arrange for bands to perform.

Eileen Heuer strings lights on a Christmas tree in preparation for Winter in the Village.

Bob Orr unpacks the Polar Express train for the Winter in the Village exhibit at Lakehaven.

Susan Orr sets up one of the villages for the Winter In the Village event in Kewaunee that will be open every night between 6 and 9 p.m. from Dec. 13 to 19.