2025 MERRY & BRIGHT WEEKEND, DEC. 5-7, FILLS DOWNTOWN ST. JOSEPH WITH HOLIDAY CHEER

MERRY & BRIGHT WEEKEND, DEC. 5-7,  FILLS DOWNTOWN ST. JOSEPH
WITH HOLIDAY CHEER

ST. JOSEPH, MICH. — Celebrate the winter season in Michigan’s Great Southwest! Merry & Bright Weekend invites the Southwest Michigan community to enjoy four festive events: Light up the Bluff, Reindog Parade, Santa’s House and the Holiday Artisan Market.

Light up the Bluff kicks off Merry & Bright Weekend on Friday, December 5. At 6:00p, the St. Joseph High School Choir begins with Christmas carols, followed by the tree lighting at 6:30p. The one million holiday lights will transform Lake Bluff Park into a winter wonderland and will be viewable daily between 5:30a-8:30a and 5:30p-midnight through February 15. Light up the Bluff is presented by the City of St. Joseph. For more information, call (269) 983 5541.

On Saturday, December 6, the annual Reindog Parade returns to downtown St. Joseph at 3:00p. Sponsored by Mighty Dog Roofing and FuzzyButz Pet Boutique & Bakery, this event features dressed-up pets and their owners in a variety of holiday garb. Be prepared to see all kinds of costumes from “Santa Bernards” to “Reindeer Rottweilers” – definitely a must-see event! Parade participants may register in-person at the St. Joe Today Welcome Center, located in downtown St. Joseph, or online at stjoetoday.com/reindog. Cost: $5 per dog; each additional pet is $3. A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to a local animal rescue organization. 

After the parade, children can share their wish lists with Santa until 7:00p. Santa’s House, part of the Santa Series sponsored by The Herald-Palladium, is moved from the North Pole each year to the corner of State & Pleasant Streets in downtown St. Joseph. Santa will be available for wish list conversations and holiday photo ops every weekend in December until Christmas. Hours are Thursdays and Fridays 4:00p-6:00p, Saturdays 12:00p-5:00p and Sundays 1:00p-5:00p. Don’t forget to bring a camera to capture this magical visit! 

Additional Santa Series fun can be had with Letters to Santa and Storytime with Mrs. Claus. Attendees can grab a postcard from the Welcome Center to write a letter to Santa, hand it to the big man in red himself, or use the drop box at Santa’s House! Mrs. Claus has offered to read some of her favorite holiday books during Storytime with Mrs. Claus. St. Joe Today will be releasing weekly videos at stjoetoday.com/santa - on December 9, 16 and 23.

On Sunday, St. Joe Today wraps up the Merry & Bright Weekend with an indoor Holiday Artisan Market featuring local artisans. This event will be held from 11:00a-4:00p on Sunday, December 7, at Union + Social in downtown St. Joseph, behind Silver Harbor Brewing. Visit stjoetoday.com/artisanfair for more information.

To make the most of the giving season, St. Joe Today is excited to host Countdown to New Year, a daily giveaway event throughout the month of December! Shoppers earn one entry per $25 purchase (one time or cumulative) at a St. Joe Today member business. Qualifying purchases must be made between November 21 and December 14 - earn double points for shopping on Small Business Saturday (November 29) and the Reindog Parade (December 6). Additional qualifying purchases include St. Joe Today Gift Certificates and St. Joe Winter Beer Fest tickets (on sale at 10:00a December 1). Receipts for purchases must be presented to an SJT staff member at the Welcome Center by December 14. Participants will be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a local SWMI business. Visit stjoetoday.com/countdown for more information. Sponsored by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. 

Additionally, shoppers and diners alike will enjoy a magical experience this winter season while downtown. Beautiful winter lights and festive holiday music throughout downtown St. Joseph will enhance the holiday atmosphere. The lights will remain up through February in conjunction with Light up the Bluff (December 1 through February 15). 

Participating locations will host amazing deals and special offers throughout the weekend. For more information on the Merry & Bright Weekend, visit stjoetoday.com/merryandbright.

Catch these additional upcoming St. Joe Today winter events:

Countdown to New Year: November 21-December 14
Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 29 (All Day)
Merry & Bright Weekend: December 5-7 (All Weekend)
Reindog Parade: Saturday, December 6 (3:00p)
Santa Series: December 6-23 (Select Dates/Times)
Holiday Artisan Market: Sunday, December 7 (11:00a-4:00p)

St. Joe Today is a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and businesses in St. Joseph, Michigan and its surrounding communities. For more information about upcoming events and details call St. Joe Today at (269) 985 1111 or visit stjoetoday.com.