TRAVERSE CITY — Downtown Traverse City will usher in the holiday season with two annual traditions: Shop Your Community Day on Nov. 8 and the Traverse City Light Parade on Nov. 22.
Shop Your Community Day transforms a day of shopping into a day of giving. For every purchase made at participating downtown stores, 15% of the sale will be donated to a local nonprofit chosen by the shopper. Nearly 40 businesses and 30 nonprofits will participate. A full list is available here.
Two weeks later, downtown will glow during the Traverse City Light Parade, featuring Santa’s arrival and the official tree lighting. The event draws more than 15,000 people to Front Street each year.
Front Street and the parade staging area will close to traffic at 3 p.m. Tree lighting festivities begin at 5 p.m. with holiday treats, sing-alongs, and contests, followed by Santa’s arrival and tree lighting at 6 p.m. The Light Parade will start at 6:30 p.m., ending with visits to Santa’s House until 9 p.m.
For safety, candy and giveaways will be handed out during the tree lighting activities rather than along the parade route. Attendees are encouraged to use BATA public transit or the Old Town parking structures for event access.
This year’s event is supported by Platinum Sponsors Molon Asphalt, Molon Excavating, and K-Wall, and Gold Sponsors Baker College, Cherry Republic, and M&M Garage Doors.
Both events are organized by the Downtown Traverse City Association, a nonprofit merchants group that promotes and enhances the downtown district through community events and partnerships.
More information is available here.