12/01/2025
~*~Christmas in Kalkaska 2025 in memory of Sharyl Deveneau~*~
Sharyl Deveneau and Katina Banko, along with several family members, began organizing the Christmas in Kalkaska Lighted Parade in 2007 when there were only 13 entries. Over the years, the best friends built the Christmas Parade to participation of epic proportions. Despite volunteering with various community organizations over the years, Christmas in Kalkaska was always their favorite recalls Banko. “It became a tradition in our families to start off the holiday season,”
“We all know the holidays can be very stressful and the expenses can pile up,” continued Banko. One of their favorite reasons for putting the parade together each year was the knowledge that a free event where families could come together for an evening, enjoy a roaring bon fire, with a cup of cocoa and a cookie, visit with Santa, and see a lighted parade, provided a magical respite for the community to come together for a moment of fun, memory making, and joy.
Her family shared these favorite stories of their Mom and Christmas in Kalkaska:
From her daughter, Natalie- One of my favorite memories from the Christmas parade was making the light up “adopt” dog bone for the animal shelter with my mom. She had this idea that a piece of cardboard and some lights would be “easy peasy” and we would get done super-fast. Well, after nearly five hours of the lights going in and out, we had finally finished it with blood, sweat, and tears. Literally. We laughed and laughed throughout the whole time making that bone and we loved doing it for the animal shelter.
From her son, Nate- For the people that don’t know, I have been in the parade many times, despite you never seeing ”me”. I was a secret. I was a reindeer, a snowman, a frog, Winnie the Pooh, and others that I can’t remember. The best thing about this was not only the kids’ excitement but all the jokes and laughter that we shared with my Mom while getting into costume and ready for the parade.
Natalie also shared, “Our mom loved Christmas in Kalkaska, and Christmas in general. She always looked forward to the KAIR Festival of Trees and its luncheon, the Christmas in Kalkaska Craft Show that she had to shop each year, and of course, the Lighted Parade. We hope to keep up these traditions and keep her memories strong (with help from Tina Banko, of course).”
This past summer, we lost Sharyl Deveneau, just short of 52 years old, to the evil of cancer; colon cancer specifically. If you are so inclined, the family would be grateful for donations to the American Cancer Society, specified to colon cancer, in memory of their Mom, Sharyl Deveneau. You may do so online at https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=Coloncancermedia
