By Adrienne Brown-Reasner
West Michigan Tourist Association
Getting in the holiday spirit is easy when you visit downtown St. Joseph during November and December.
Countdown to the New Year with SWMI businesses and restaurants! Free entry with purchases made at participating locations through Dec. 20. To enter, fill out an entry form for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate from a participating location. St. Joseph Today will draw daily winners through the month of December. The grand prize will be drawn on December 31 for a $500 St. Joseph Today gift certificate good at over 80 locations. Visit stjoetoday.com/countdown for a list of participating locations.
On Friday, Dec. 4, Light up the Bluff will transform Lake Bluff Park into a winter wonderland, featuring one million holiday lights. The lights will then remain on through Valentine’s Day in Michigan’s Most Romantic City.
Dec. 4-10, Window Wonderland invites attendees to stroll downtown to get into the holiday spirit as they take in the holiday window decorating contest. Dozens of storefronts will participate in this holiday window decorating event. Vote for your favorite holiday window all beginning at 10:00am on Friday, December 4 – voting will remain open until 11:59pm on December 10 at stjoetoday.com/vote. This event is sponsored by Edgewater Bank, Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council, and Holt Bosse.
Additionally, new winter lights have been added throughout downtown St. Joseph. Zapal says, “St. Joseph Today, Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council, City of St. Joseph, Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber and Cornerstone Alliance have partnered together this winter season to create a magical experience that will bring more consumers and business to downtown St. Joseph.”
The new winter lights have been placed downtown 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.) and will remain up through February 14 in conjunction with Light up the Bluff.
For more information visit stjoetoday.com/merryandbright.
