Light the Night Christmas Celebration Brings Santa Parade & Artisan Market to Gaylord

Light the Night Christmas Celebration Brings Santa Parade & Artisan Market to Gaylord

(Gaylord) – Downtown Gaylord will formally welcome the holiday season to our community on Saturday, December 13th. Join your friends and neighbors for the first annual “Light the Night Christmas Celebration,” inspired by the charm of our sister city, Pontresina, Switzerland.

Revelers can look forward to an artisan market hosted by Gaylord Area Council for the Arts under the Pavilion from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. The market will consist of art vendors, along with food and warm seasonal beverages for purchase, courtesy of local area restaurants. Under the Pavilion, you’ll also find local Girl Scouts selling DIY S’mores and glowing bonfires to warm up to. To complete the holiday experience, purchase your Christmas tree from the Boy Scouts through a partnership with North Star Gardens.

Evening festivities kick off with the annual Santa Parade, which begins at 5:00 p.m. Santa will travel via a 1940 firetruck from South Indiana, along M-32 and end at Center St. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony directly follows the parade, then children are welcome to greet Santa and have their photo taken from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Many retailers and restaurants in the Alpine Village will also offer specials and sales to those partaking in the activities throughout the day.

“We wanted to embrace this holiday season in a way reminiscent of our Swiss identity,” commented Lisa Marie Tobin, Executive Director of the Gaylord Downtown Development Authority. “The parade will kick off with lanterns that light up the night, just as they do in Pontresina. Our Alpine Village will come together with new and nostalgic traditions for everyone to enjoy.”

Those interested in volunteering at any time during the event or having a float in the Santa Parade can contact Tobin at 989-732-4060 or tobinl@cityofgaylord.org.

Downtown Gaylord events are brought to you by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The DDA serves as the governing body of the City of Gaylord’s Downtown District and strives to encourage historic preservation, create and implement development plans and promote economic growth in our

area. To stay up to date with activities and events happening in Downtown Gaylord, visit www.downtowngaylord.com.

** For media information, please contact Downtown Development Authority Director, Lisa Marie Tobin, at 989-732-4060 or tobinl@cityofgaylord.org **