St. Joe Today hosts Countdown to New Year, a daily giveaway event through the month of December!

HOW TO ENTER:

Each time you spend $25 (one time or cumulative purchases) at an SJT member business you will receive one entry.

Qualifying purchases must be made at an SJT member location between November 21 - December 14, 2025

To receive an entry form, please present receipt(s) of purchase(s) to an SJT staff member at the Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is located at 301 State Street in downtown St. Joseph.

For a list of SJT members visit:

EAT - stjoetoday.com/eat

SHOP - stjoetoday.com/shop

STAY - stjoetoday.com/stay

PLAY - stjoetoday.com/play

Shoppers will earn double entries on purchases made on November 21 (Luminary), November 29 (Small Business Saturday) and December 6 (Reindog Parade). 

PRIZES:

Prize winners will be drawn daily, December 1-14.

Winners for December 15-31 will be drawn and announced on December 15 to allow more time to use gift cards!

Prizes are $50 gift certificates from various SJT member locations.
 

The St. Joe Today staff have been entrusted by Santa and his elves to help get the letters to the North Pole! Stop by the Welcome Center for a candy cane treat – SJT will also have postcards for those last-minute wish lists! Drop them off to Santa during Santa's House hours (stjoetoday.com/santa for a complete schedule); or after-hours in the drop-box.

Santa's House is located outside the St. Joe Today Welcome Center, on the corner of State St. & Pleasant St. 

Celebrate the winter season in Michigan’s Great Southwest! Attendees will enjoy extended shopping hours, events, special offers and more.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE: 

FRIDAY
      Light up the Bluff | 6:00p (Ceremony), 6:30p (Tree Lighting) | Lake Bluff Park
      Merry & Bright Weekend | All Weekend | Throughout Southwest Michigan

SATURDAY
      Reindog Parade | 3:00p | Downtown St. Joe
      Santa's House | 4:00p-7:00p (special hours immediately following the parade) | Downtown St. Joe
      Merry & Bright Weekend | All Weekend | Throughout Southwest Michigan

SUNDAY
      Holiday Artisan Market | 11:00a-4:00p | Union+Social
      Santa's House | 1:00p-5:00p | Corner of State & Pleasant
      Merry & Bright Weekend | All Weekend | Throughout Southwest Michigan

2025 MERRY & BRIGHT WEEKEND PARTICIPANTS: 

Bricks and Minifigs St. Joseph - For every ticket higher than $25 you get a small bulk bag. 

Caffe Tosi - Buy one get one free on all hats!

DK Boutique - 20% off storewide! *Excludes sales items. 

Edgewater Gifts - Extended hours!

FuzzyButz Pet Boutique & Bakery - SATURDAY: Gift with purchase event! Specially themed Christmas treats in the bakery! 

Glik's - Cookies and hot drinks (treats for puppies, too)! Free gift wrapping and a drawing for a $25 gift card. 

Krasl Art Center - THURSDAY-SUNDAY: The Clay Guild Merry Makers Market for unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts! FRIDAY: Warm Up During Light Up the Bluff from 6p-8p - enjoy Santa, artists sketching Santa, FREE hot chocolate and Ben's Pretzels (onsite in KAC lot). SATURDAY: XL Family Fun Fest from 10a-2p; 12p Costume Contest; 1p Twas the Night Before Christmas Puppet Show - bring the family for a day packed with activities! For just $10, purchase a punch card for up to 10 fun activities, such as crafts, cupcake decorating, face painting and more! 

Lana's Boutique - Extended hours and storewide sales! 

Lazy Ballerina Winery - FRIDAY: Open late until 8p - Charm Bar and Dirty Baker Pop Up from 5p-7p; SATURDAY: Charm Bar 1p-3p; SUNDAY: DIY Macrame Ornament Pop Up w/ Banana Knots. Mulled wine to go all weekend!

Local Pour - SATURDAY: Live Music from 4p-7p!

Marionette Playhouse - SATURDAY: Twas the Night Before Christmas Marionette Puppet Show at the Krasl Art Center at 1p! 

Olive Cart - New holiday flavors and 15% off select items! Spend $50 to be entered into our Christmas Eve giveaway! Earn rewards with every dollar spent!

Sourdough House & Coffee Bar - Enter drawing to win a $25 Sourdough House & Coffee Bar gift card + Merry & Bright Latte Special!

The Aware Lab - SUNDAY: "Why Is Cranio-Sacral Therapy Right For Me" - a free workshop with Maria Falce of Kindred Root from 1p-3p.

Twin City Players - FRIDAY & SATURDAY: A Christmas Carol at Twin City Players, at 7:30p; SUNDAY: A Christmas Carol at Twin City Players, at 2p.

Wanderlust Outfitters - SATURDAY-SUNDAY: Giveback weekend to benefit the Wonderland Toy Store. 10% of all sales from the day will be donated to assist families in need this Christmas. 

White Pine Winery - 10% off 4-bottle purchase; 15% off 6-bottle purchase; and 20% off 12-bottle purchase. 

Zo's Mini Donuts - FRIDAY-SATURDAY: Special hours 5p-9p - we will be serving delicious hot & fresh donuts! 

Picture perfect holiday fun is available weekends in December in downtown St. Joseph. Santa's house will be located on the corner of State and Pleasant Streets - outside of the St. Joe Today Welcome Center.

Photography is not provided. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own camera!

Santa’s House Hours: December 6-23
December 6 | 4:00p-7:00p
December 7 | 1:00p-5:00p
December 11 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 12 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 13 | 12:00p-5:00p
December 14 | 1:00p-5:00p
December 18 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 19 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 20 | 12:00p-5:00p
December 21 | 1:00p-5:00p
December 22 | 12:00p-5:00p
December 22 | 12:00p-5:00p

The annual Reindog Parade is a great time for all. This event features dressed up pets and their owners in a variety of holiday garb. Be prepared to see all kinds of costumes from “Santa Bernards” to “Reindeer Rottweilers” – definitely a must-see event! The event also marks the arrival of Santa. After the parade, children can share their wish lists with Santa at Santa’s House.

PARTICIPANT INFO:
Those who wish to participate in the parade MUST register in advance at stjoetoday.com/reindog or day of at the Welcome Center. Cost: $5/pet - additional pets $3 each. If you’re looking to take home a prize, judging begins at 1:00p and ends at 2:45p right outside the Welcome Center. The parade will kick off at 3:00p, participants are asked to line up at the corner of Elm & State Streets by 2:50p.

Day-Of-Registration: 12:00p-2:45p (Welcome Center)
Judging: 1:00p-2:45p (Outside of Welcome Center)
Parade Start: 3:00p (Corner of State & Elm) 

2025 FAQ's

Pre-registration is available online until 5:00p on Friday, December 5!

Register

Merry & Bright Weekend hosts a number of festive events to put you in the holiday mood! From holiday stories to magically lit wonderland strolls, open houses, holiday shopping and last-minute wish lists, we’ve got you covered. Celebrate the holiday season here in Michigan’s Great Southwest!

Getting into the holiday spirit is easy when you visit downtown St. Joe! On Friday, November 21, kick off the holiday season with two great community events - Luminary and Countdown to New Year. This night will also feature sneak peeks of specials, one-of-a-kind gifts, free gift wrapping, live music, new merchandise, events and festive fun throughout Southwest Michigan! 

Double, double toil and trouble. We’re on the search for all things spooky in Southwest Michigan! It’s been a fun-packed fall with even more to come through the end of the month. With everything from trick-or-treating and spooky-themed classes to Halloween parties, activities for the whole family and more! Keep reading for festive events leading up to Halloween. 

The third weekend of the month, May through September, celebrate all things Southwest Michigan (SWMI) during the Love Local weekends! This month, attendees will enjoy sidewalk sales, live music, a Farmers Market, Fall Fest, special offers throughout SWMI and more. Read on for a complete weekend guide! 

Love Local is sponsored by The Boulevard Inn & Bistro and Silver Harbor Brewing.

Summer’s not over in Michigan’s Great Southwest! Keep reading to maximize your holiday weekend plans. This holiday weekend features everything from business anniversaries and sales to sun-filled beach days, a tri-state Regatta, a Farmers Market, Lighthouse Tours, and an Artisan Fair!