GAYLORD — Downtown Gaylord will welcome the holiday season on Dec. 13 with the first annual Light the Night Christmas Celebration, featuring an artisan market, Santa Parade and Christmas tree lighting.
The event, inspired by Gaylord’s sister city of Pontresina, Switzerland, will include an artisan market hosted by the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts under the Pavilion from 1-7 p.m.
The market will offer art vendors, food and warm seasonal beverages from local restaurants.
Girl Scouts will sell DIY S’mores, and bonfires will be available. Christmas trees will also be sold by the Boy Scouts through a partnership with North Star Gardens.
Evening festivities begin with the annual Santa Parade at 5 p.m. Santa will ride a 1940 firetruck from South Indiana along M-32 and end at Center Street. A Christmas tree lighting ceremony will follow the parade, and children may greet Santa and take photos with him from 6 to 7 p.m.
Retailers and restaurants in the Alpine Village will offer specials and sales throughout the day.
“We wanted to embrace this holiday season in a way reminiscent of our Swiss identity,” said 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 or having a float in the parade can contact Tobin at 989-732-4060 or tobinl@cityofgaylord.org.
Downtown Gaylord events are organized by the Downtown Development Authority, which oversees the city’s Downtown District and promotes historic preservation, development plans and economic growth. More information is available at downtowngaylord.com.