Getting into the holiday spirit is easy when you visit downtown St. Joseph! On Friday, November 21, kick off the holiday season with two great community events - Luminary and Countdown to New Year.
Friday (November 21) evening will begin with the warm glow of hundreds of luminaries lining the streets of downtown St. Joseph from 5:00p-8:00p. Luminary, sponsored by The Boulevard Inn & Bistro, creates a great atmosphere for all ages to enjoy sales, specialty items, giveaways, complimentary gift wrapping and gift ideas galore from participating restaurants and businesses.
In addition to the luminaires, attendees will enjoy a ride on the Jolly Trolley throughout downtown St. Joseph. Rides on the holiday-decorated trolley will be offered between 4:30p-8:30p. Presented in partnership with Visit Southwest Michigan.
“Get ready to kick off the holidays downtown! St. Joe Today invites everyone to join us downtown for Luminary,” said Paul Knapp, executive director. “It's the perfect chance to treat yourself to holiday goodies, grab a great meal, and check off your gift list—all while celebrating the season with the people you love.”
Luminary participants include Baroda Founders St. Joseph Tasting Room, Caffe Tosi, Chartreuse Artist Co-Op, Edgewater Gifts, Evermore Juice Bar, Full of Crepe, G & M Variety, Gallery on the Alley, Glik's, Krasl Art Center, Lana's Boutique, Lazy Ballerina Winery, Lee & Birch, Oh My Darlings, Olive Cart, Perennial Accents, South Bend Chocolate Company, St. Joe Community Taproom, State Street Stuff, The Cheese Lady, The Culinary Cottage, The Inn at Harbor Shores, The Market, The Salvation Army Benton Harbor, The Toy Company, Twin City Toastmasters, Wanderlust Outfitters, Whitcomb Senior Living Tower andWhite Pine Winery. For more information on Luminary, visit stjoetoday.com/luminary.
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 Luminary (November 21), 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.
Additionally, St. Joe Today will kick off the holiday music in downtown St. Joseph during Luminary weekend. Knapp says, “We are excited to carry on this beloved tradition of brightening the holiday season.”
Shoppers and diners alike will enjoy a magical experience this winter season while downtown. Winter lights have been placed along State St. (from Elm St. to Ship St.) as well as Broad St. and Ship St. (Lake Blvd. to Main St.) and Pleasant St. (Lake Blvd. to Court St.). The winter lights will kick off on November 21 and remain up through February in conjunction with Light up the Bluff (December 1 through February 15). The Light Up the Bluff project is presented by the City of St. Joseph.
Knapp notes that many downtown businesses will be offering special perks throughout the holiday season, including things like complimentary gift wrapping. “It's all about making your shopping easier,” says Knapp. “Join us for Luminary Weekend and Small Business Saturday to support local businesses and find those unique gifts while making an impact in our community.” For more information on Small Business Saturday, visit stjoetoday.com/shopsmall.
Catch these additional upcoming St. Joe Today winter events:
Luminary: Friday, November 21 (5:00p-8:00p)
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.
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