Christmas in July attracts crowds

Sheila Swartz tops her summery outfit with a spiral Santa hat on Front Street. She was one of many people attending the annual celebration that blends winter-holiday atmosphere, decorations, and music with warm-weather relaxation. THE BLADE/LISA BERNHEIM Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Classic cars, oldies music, and Christmas carols filled the summer air as people strolled down a stretch of Front Street wearing Santa hats to celebrate Pemberville's Christmas in July.

Todd Sheets, owner of Beeker's General store and Downtown Deco, a floral design business, organizes the event each year.

This year's Christmas in July incorporated Pemberville's monthly car cruise on its opening day, Thursday.

Business owners, families, couples, and children all stepped out to admire the cars and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

"It's a good little promotion for the store to get people in the area and get them to start thinking about Christmas," Mr. Sheets said.

He said this event brings in many Christmas enthusiasts, one of them being Dennis Boyer of Bellevue, whose Christmas decorations have been featured in the Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Mr. Boyer taught a class on making German feather trees at Beeker's General Store Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.

Mr. Sheets said the idea of feather trees dated all the way back to the Victorian ages.

"People think 'going green' these days is something new, but it actually started way before now, around the Victorian era with people not wanting to waste anything," Mr. Sheets said.

He explained that people would cut down evergreens for the holiday, but because they didn't want them to go to waste, they would store the trees in their woodsheds.

"We all know what happens when you try to store a tree. It browns, and the needles start falling off," Mr. Sheets said.

In an effort to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing, Mr. Sheets said, they would wrap cotton around the branches to create a "snowy effect."

This same idea of wrapping branches came into play with the German feather tree, and Mr. Boyer taught class participants to wrap trimmed and green-dyed goose feathers around wire to look like real pine trees.

Mr. Sheets started working at Beeker's General Store when he was just 12 years old for Mrs. Beeker, from whom he purchased the store.

He has owned and operated the business for 16 years.

Balloon artist Steve Kurr fits a heart-topped balloon hat to a girl at the Christmas in July celebration. Mr. Kurr's offerings were among the activities for children. THE BLADE/LISA BERNHEIM Enlarge | Photo Reprints

For Christmas in July, Mr. Sheets sets up extra Christmas displays around the store, with many nostalgic trinkets and treats for sale, including a Four Seasons corner in the back of the store that houses the old-fashioned feather trees, Christmas ornaments, and figurines, along with decorations for Halloween and Valentine's Day.

The event also had activities and attractions for children, including a balloon artist. Chloe Wilson, 10, waited in line for a balloon flower with her friend Alexis Csizmar, 9, who wanted a balloon cat.

The two Pemberville girls were at the event to raise money for their Girl Scout troop by having a bake sale.

Sheila Swartz, an elder at the Presbyterian Church in Pemberville, attends Christmas in July regularly and said she was there this year to promote a Vacation Bible School for Methodists, Presbyterians, and Lutherans.

"I just love to see so many people in the community come to this," Mrs. Swartz said. "The cars are such a great attraction."

Others agreed with Mrs. Swartz, including Larry Reese of Findlay who spent his first time at the Christmas in July event showing off his 1929 Ford roadster.

"I love this little show, it's such a great turnout," Mr. Reese said. "I couldn't believe as many cars as this brings in. I'm very impressed."

Another car lover, Tony Shack of Oak Harbor, had come back for his second year at Pemberville to show off his 1973 Mustang Fastback.

He said he likes going to car shows to see all of the different people coming together.

"They are just nice people," Mr. Shack said. "Any place you go, they're friendly."

Contact Payton Willey at: paytonwilley@theblade.com or 419-724-6065