UPside of Life: Yes, Virginia, there is a town called Christmas

Have you ever been to Christmas?

Don't worry, that question wasn't written with bad sentence structure--it's a legitimate question. While most people in the world think that Christmas is just for celebrating, folks here in the Upper Peninsula know that Christmas is for visiting, too.

The town of Christmas, located just over four miles west of Munising and nine miles east of AuTrain on M-28, sits on the shore of Lake Superior. It boasts a population of right around 400 people and, of course, a giant Santa Claus that welcomes everyone into the town.

Christmas was founded in 1938 by a man named Julius Thorsen, a former state conservation officer who had built a factory alongside the road in which he made holiday gifts. The factory has long since departed this world, falling victim to a fire in 1940, but the community of Christmas was here to stay.

Today, Christmas has become popular not only to fans of the holiday, but to snowmobilers who frequent the wonderful groomed trails the U.P. has to offer, and to those looking to have a little entertainment at the Kewadin Casino--part of the five-casino business run by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

But Christmas is more than just gambling and a rest stop for snowmobile riders (there are quite a few hotels here, in case you were wondering, including Evergreen Cottage, Margo's Cove, Sunrise Bay Vacation Estate, the White Pine Lodge and, yes, even Vixen's Inn and the Yule Log Resort). It's a place where the holiday never truly dies.

Take, for example, that on July 8, 1966, Christmas acquired a post office and the town was chosen as the issuing site for the First Day Cover of the 1966 Christmas stamp by the U.S. Postal Service. Commemoration ceremonies were held there on Nov. 2 that year.

Since then, those wishing to add a little twist to their holiday correspondence and cards have traveled to the town to have them postmarked from Christmas.

And you likely guessed that you can't go wrong if you head to the village in search of some Christmas ornaments and gifts. Santa's Workshop Gift Shop is located on the corner of M-28 and St. Nicholas Avenue. You can't miss it, really. Just head right to the large Santa in town and you'll find the shop, which offers items for your home, tree and yard and has a slew of collectibles as well as some unusual Christmas ornaments and items.

And don't fret if you want to meet the big guy himself. Santa Claus makes an appearance every Saturday and Sunday in December until Christmas arrives. He's also typically available from April through November on Sundays, too, in case someone wants to stop by and tell him how good he's been.

The town of Christmas claims that their massive Santa is the world's tallest, and it is said that they also have the world's largest concrete Frosty the Snowman.

If you find yourself craving something to eat while in Christmas, you can either head toward AuTrain and enjoy some great eats at the Brownstone Inn, or stop right in town at Foggy's Steakhouse and Lounge where a fairly recent expansion has created a grill-your-own-steak format and a full menu that includes sandwiches, subs, Mexican food, Reuben, fish, pizza and dinner entrees.

Be it simply for a photo opportunity, or to see Santa Claus, or for a bite to eat, make a point of plotting a stop in Christmas the next time you're in Alger County.

Until then, be good little readers because the giant Santa is watching you and making a giant list.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of the U.P. Second Wave and a full-time freelance writer. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula. He can be reached via email.