After dropping off the family at Great Lakes Crossing, Dad went about ten miles down the street to Canterbury Village to check out the shops and see if new Halloween or Christmas items were in. Usually Canterbury was quiet but not today, the entire village had dinosaurs in it. These were high tech animatronics and pretty cool. Dad did a quick walk around the village taking these pictures, then went into the store to check on the gifts. Dad then headed back to Great Lakes Crossing to pick up the family.

This is one time for sure that Dad got the better part of the shopping deal. Continue reading “Canterbury Village 2022” →

We visited the “Made in Michigan Market” which was held in Canterbury Village. This was the first time I ever saw the Canterbury Village parking lot full, with additional parking across the street. Fortunately we were lucky and got a good spot as someone was pulling out. Lots of interesting booths and we decided to sign up with home delivery for the Free Press as they gave us Kroger gift cards to do so. It should be fun for James to get a morning paper to read as we think he will enjoy it. Mom got a free umbrella for signing up too, its design was based on the comic section of the Free Press.

One sad note, we found out the Department 56 store was closed, we purchased many of our Halloween display ceramics there and it will be missed.

After we left Canterbury we visited Great Lakes Crossing which is only a few miles away, a good time was had by all.

Continue reading “Made In Michigan Market at Canterbury Village 2019” →

On a cold February day we took a little jaunt to Canterbury Village to check out the shops. In a week they will be hosting a home garden show so we felt this would be a good time to visit. Everyone found something unique at these stores to bring home. Olde World Canterbury Village and Aldridge’s Always Christmas celebrated it’s grand opening October 1, 1993. The original Wildwood Farm buildings used by the Hadrills, Scripps and Keating have all been carefully restored and continue to be productive while preserving an important chapter in Michigan’s history.

Continue reading “Canterbury Village 2019” →

Our first visit to Canterbury Village was fun but again we were hurrying to beat the rain. We dropped Mom off at Great Lakes Crossing outlet mall and then James and his Dad head straight to the Halloween stores at Canterbury Village (about ten minutes away from the Outlet mall on Joslyn street). We found plenty of Halloween stuff and more importantly discounted Halloween stuff. This is the time to buy Halloween, not October.

James found a weather center that he liked and also a large alarm clock, Dad told James if he graduates OW Best we will come back in June and get him one or the other as a graduation gift. James did end up buying a batter tester so he knows when his batteries are low in his games.

Continue reading “Canterbury Village 2017” →

This week the roads were kind to us. After last weeks construction everywhere we hit very little traffic all day this beautiful Memorial day Saturday. Our first stop was Canterbury Village in Orion Michigan, just a stones throw (about 3 miles) from the Palace. We stopped in at the cider mill, the gift shops, the Christmas shops, and the Department 56 store (which had some pretty good sales going on). The Merry go round store was open as well and its always interesting visiting a store with a huge merry go round in the center of it. We did make a few purchases at the Dept 56 store as they had two bins of items half off. A great start for the Memorial Day weekend.

Continue reading “Canterbury Village Memorial Day Weekend 2016” →

This is a popular stop for us on the way home from Mackinaw. Its only an hour away from our home so its well within striking distance anytime we want. This was fun for James because its almost all toys and Christmas at Canterbury, all throughout the year. Lots of craft shops as well but primarily the theme is Christmas. While not as big a Bronners, its a little more elegant and has an animated nursery tale that simply fascinated James to no end.

Plenty of Dept 56 houses here as well including a Halloween display which was sort of the inspiration for the one we made in the basement. If you have a chance be sure to visit Canterbury Village out near the Pontiac area, its great fun especially for the little ones.

Remember it is a Christmas village and it can get pretty crowded in December, but you can have the place pretty much to yourself in the summer.

Continue reading “Canterbury Village 2006” →

Canterbury Village was on our Thanksgiving plate for today, we needed a few Christmas items that they did not carry at Target or Walmart but did not have time to make the trek to Bronners in Frankenmuth so we decided on going to Canterbury in Lake Orion which is probably about 1/3 of the time it takes us to go to Bronners.

Canterbury is a Michigan Historical Landmark and some of the original buildings (Wildwood Farms – known back then for raising prize black angus cattle) that were built in 1870 can be found in the back here, usually selling candles or something like that behind the Merry Go Round. The big buildings in the front are much more recent architecture from about 20 years ago in 1993.

A nice place to spend part of our Thanksgiving weekend and an early preparation for the upcoming Christmas season.

Continue reading “Thanksgiving Visit to Canterbury Village 2005” →

If you are looking for a true fairyland for small kids I don’t think you can beat Canterbury Village and the Christmas stores that they have here (in addition to the carousel of course). The animatronics come to life and perform a short story for the shoppers, James just loved it.