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Upcoming Events

2024 Countdown to New Year

Fri. November 22, 2024
- Sun. December 15, 2024
Start time not specified.

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 22 - December 15, 2024

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:

EATstjoetoday.com/eat

SHOPstjoetoday.com/shop

STAY stjoetoday.com/stay

PLAYstjoetoday.com/play

 

PRIZES:

Prize winners will be drawn daily, December 1-15.

Winners for December 16-31 will be drawn and announced on December 16 to allow more time to use gift cards!

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

2024 Small Business Saturday

Sat. November 30, 2024
9:00am - 5:00pm

Celebrate small businesses in Southwest Michigan! Local businesses are excited to welcome the community into their stores to find unique, one-of-a-kind merchandise. Small Business Saturday promotes shopping small to support your neighbors, family, friends and local economy.

  

2024 PARTICIPANTS 

1232 Broad St Mercantile - Special savings throughout the store!

Affinity Salon & Spa - Enter to win a gift basket worth $300, Giveaways and 25% off all Aveda, Kevin Murphy and ELEVEN products. 

Box Factory for the Arts - Makers Market at the Box Factory (9a-5p) Come shop 40+ artists and makers selling unique handcrafted items, food and cocktails available for purchase.

Caffe Tosi - Giveaways while supplies last!

Chartreuse Art Co-op - Stop in Chartreuse for a "Meet the Makers" event. Meet the local artists who create all of the beautiful offerings at our gallery. Watch as they create and see their process of art making. 

DK Boutique - 30% Off all regular priced items!

Edgewater Gifts - Special Sales!

Forever Books - Book Signing with Author Tobin Buhk from 1:00p-3:00p. Free Book (advance reader's copy) with $20 purchase!

Forever Clean Soap Works - Open extended hours, multiple sales throughout the store and Customer Appreciation day with snacks and refreshments.

G & M Variety - 10% Off purchase - Show ad on phone or bring in the coupon from MailMax!

Gallery on the Alley - 15% off storewide, sweet treats!

Glik's - 20% off entire store. Some exclusions apply.

Grins of St. Joseph - Open until 8:00p. 40% off jewelry by Rain, 25% off most regular priced women's clothing (see store for exclusions); 10% off Night Scope hats and head lamps and other store specials.

Harbor Town Interiors - 30-50% off the entire store, 10% off custom orders, and 30% off design services!

House of Colour - Southwest Michigan - Receive 15% off All Makeup Sales on 11/30; Receive a $10 Gift Card for Every $100 spent in Gift Cards or New Service Bookings on 11/30.

Jewelfire Diamond Center - Select merchandise 10-20% off and complimentary gift wrapping!

KT's Rasoi - 5% discount for bill above $30!

Lazy Ballerina Winery - Special Red Wine Menu all weekend. Saturday - Mystery Wine Day - Pick a mystery wine for only $10 for a fun surprise! Assorted wines all valued between $13-$45.

Lee & Birch - 25% off everything + free tote when you spend $75. 

Little Things Play Cafe 

Lumberjax Urban Axe Throwing - 30% Off Gift Card Purchases (min $50) & 50% Off gift cards with purchase of axes/knives

Maxwell Boutique - 20% off Full Price Items, 30% off Clearance Items & Extended Hours

Oh My Darlings - Complimentary snacks + refreshments. Free gift with all purchases. 10% off all purchases $100 and over!

Olive Cart - 10% off if you mention Small Business Saturday in-store!

O & Co. - Gift Card Special and Holiday DIY Crafts!

Perennial Accents - Fabulous deals on our favorite things! Come check out staff picks and enjoy a gift with purchase, yummy samples and a drawing for a free gift every 30 minutes!

Plank's Tavern - Plank’s Tavern will offer 20% off meals for guests who mention the promotion. We’re also excited to launch our holiday drink menu that day, featuring festive seasonal offerings.

Spa at Harbor Shores - At the spa, we’re celebrating Small Business Saturday with two special promotions. Guests who purchase any Farmhouse Fresh product will receive a complimentary promotional gift item. Additionally, for every $100 gift card purchased, guests will receive a $20 gift certificate. The gift certificate promotion runs until the end of December.

St. Joe Community Taproom  - A weekend-long celebration! Black Friday, November 29: Get $10 for every $50 spent on gift card purchases...save for yourself or use for gifting, it's your choice! Small Business Saturday, November 30: Complimentary holiday gift bags and gift envelopes with any merchandise purchase, gift card purchase, or mug club membership + every purchase gets an entry to win a Market Gift Basket stuffed with awesome small business products! Small Brewery Sunday, December 1: Small brewery features on tap all day, $2 off all 4-packs to go, and for every new Mug Club Membership, we'll donate $10 to Brave Noise: a global collaborative effort to provide inclusive and safe environments in the brewing industry.

St. Joe Today - Pick up SBS swag; Live remote with The Coast from 11:00a-1:00p!

Sweet Haven - We will be offering specials on our handmade fudge and salt water taffy, plus more specials throughout the store. Enter our raffle for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

The Christmas Tree - Register to win! Two lucky people will each win a $50 shopping spree and a shop small business gift bag of goodies to enjoy. Shoppers will enjoy 10% off all items in the room of good things to eat + receive a packet of Christmas Cocoa Amore! Specially marked items on sale throughout the store.

The Heritage Museum & Cultural Center - Local artisan pop-up!

Urban Found - Free tote of gifts with any $40 purchase or more! 20% Off Everything! Snacks!

Vineyard 2121 - We will be open from 11:00a-10:00p. Loaded Bloody Mary Bar until 3p. 25% off all bottles of Wine and 30% off Cases of Wine. Happy Hour from 5p-7p: half off your first 2 drinks! Live Music by the Angry Napkins from 6p-9p. 

Water Street Glassworks - Water Street Glassworks is having a special Winter Open House on Friday, November 29th and November 30th for Small Business Saturday. We will be launching our Special Edition Goblet inspired Ornaments, Snowmen and Penguins for 2024. We are also hosting ornament experiences in both the Fused Glass and the Glass Blowing Studios. 

Waterfront House of Framing & Fashion - Buy one apparel item, get a second piece of equal or lesser value 1/2 off. (A few exclusions). Free gift with qualifying purchase.

White Pine Winery - 10% off 4 bottles; 15% off 6 bottles and 20% off 12 or more bottles of wine, mix and match. We will also have warm mulled wine by the glass all weekend!

Wolf's Marine - Free coffee and doughnuts!

Yoga Life Studio - Extended Boutique Hours: Open from 11a-2p. Retail Discounts on Yoga gear and wellness items. New Students: 2 weeks UNLIMITED for only $25!

Yours Truly, Elizabeth - With every purchase, customers will scratch off a card and win a thank you prize!

 

 

2024 Merry & Bright Weekend

Fri. December 06, 2024
- Sun. December 08, 2024
Start time not specified.

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

SUNDAY
      Holiday Artisan Fair | 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

 

2024 MERRY & BRIGHT PARTICIPANTS: TBA

2024 Santa's House

Sat. December 07, 2024
4:00pm - 7:00pm

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 7-23
December 7 | 4:00p-7:00p
December 8 | 1:00p-5:00p
December 12 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 13 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 14 | 12:00p-5:00p
December 15 | 1:00p-5:00p
December 19 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 20 | 4:00p-6:00p
December 21 | 12:00p-5:00p
December 22 | 1:00p-5:00p
December 23 | 12:00p-5:00p

2024 Reindog Parade

Sat. December 07, 2024
3:00pm

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) 

 

2024 FAQ's

 

REGISTRATION is open for 2024!

Register

 

 

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In & Around St. Joseph Blog

2024 Luminary | November 22

November 18th, 2024

Getting into the holiday spirit is easy when you visit downtown St. Joe! On Friday, November 22 kick off the holiday season with three great community events - Luminary, Window Wonderland and Countdown to New Year. This night will also feature sneak peeks of specials, one-of-a-kind gifts, free gift wrapping, new merchandise, events and festive fun throughout Southwest Michigan! 

2024 Spooktacular SWMI | October 8-31

October 7th, 2024

Double, double toil and trouble. We’re on the search for all things spooky in Michigan’s Great Southwest! 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.

2024 Fall Bucket List

September 30th, 2024

Fall is here in Michigan’s Great Southwest! Check out our bucket list to make the most of this autumn.

2024 September Love Local Weekend | September 20-22

September 17th, 2024

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, and other area events in addition to extended shopping hours and special offers throughout SWMI. Read on for a complete weekend guide! 

Love Local is sponsored by The Boulevard Inn & Bistro

2024 Labor Day Weekend in SWMI | August 30-September 2

August 27th, 2024

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, an Artisan Fair and Antiques on the Bluff!

Get ready for some frosty fun in St. Joseph! The 16th Annual Magical Ice Fest returns bigger and better than ever and packed full of family fun, ice competitions and even some frozen fish. Crowd favorites the Frozen Fish Toss, Ice Bowling and the Magical Ice Throne are back this year with a new interactive to try, Frosty Tic-Tac-Toe!

Get ready for some frosty fun in St. Joseph! The 16th Annual Magical Ice Fest returns bigger and better than ever and is packed full of family fun, ice competitions and even some frozen fish. Crowd favorites the Frozen Fish Toss, Ice Bowling and the Magical Ice Throne are back this year with a new interactive to try, Frosty Tic-Tac-Toe!

The Magical Ice Fest runs from Friday, January 31-Sunday, February 2 and is a great way to explore this charming lakeside town and celebrate the winter season!

 

A WEEKEND GUIDE FOR THE MAGICAL ICE FEST

All weekend long, there's a scavenger hunt, making for a frozen adventure! Participants will be on the lookout for items that have been frozen into blocks placed around town (pick up a map at the St. Joseph Today Welcome Center, located at 301 State Street). This SnowBiz Scavenger Hunt is fun for all ages and has its rewards too - turn in the form at the end and be entered to win a St. Joseph Gift Certificate.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

Kick off the weekend with The Silver Beach Carousel! Enjoy $1 rides during their Family Fun Night "Let's Flamingle!" from 4:00-8:30pm. FREE hourly drawings for bendable Flamingos and funky pink Drink Cups for ages 3-13.

Love fresh oyster? Head over to Silver Harbor Brewing as they host Oyster Night from 6:00-10:00pm! Attendees will enjoy the freshest oysters SHBC could find, hand crafted specialty sauces and live shucking with varieties from the East and West coasts.

Trivia lovers unite! Sister Lakes Brewing hosts their Team Trivia every THursday night from 7:00-9:00pm. The Buck Burgers & Brew hosts Soundcheck Music Match Bingo weekly on Thursdays at 7:00pm.

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

Ice Carvers begin revving their chainsaws for the Individual Competition on Friday at 5:30pm. Along Pleasant Street blocks of ice will be transformed into all sorts of awesome. The carvers will finish their icy creations at 7:30pm, when the attention turns to warming up...

At 7:30pm, guests are in for a treat with a downtown Fire & Ice Tower. To make this happen, a large tower of ice is packed with firewood. We light it, and it becomes a unique site for all - a breathtaking bonfire (a little bit of ice and fire magic).

Things heat up below the bluff at the Fire & Ice Party held at Shadowland on Silver Beach. This event begins at 8:00pm and goes until midnight, and features an ice martini luge and dance performance with literal flames! Guests 18 and older are welcome. A $10 ticket covers entry, pizza from Silver Beach Pizza, Zick's Sticks and entertainment. Bring cash for drinks!

INSIDER TIP: This event sell out, get your ticket early!

The Livery hosts Toxic Trivia, an adult themed version of their popular team trivia! Grab some delectable food and tasty brews as you settle in for a night of fun.

Twin City Players presents Savannah Sipping Society, January 31 through February 16. Catch this laugh-a-minute comedy about four unique Southern women all needing to escape the day-to-day routines. Shows will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

 

 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Ice Teams assemble! The Team Competition for ice carvers begins at 8:00am and State Street will come alive with icy fun. This carving and creating will go on until 4:00pm and involves an epic eight blocks of ice for each sculpture. It's awesome to watch the progress of the teams throughout the day.

The fun continues downtown throughout the day!

For active ice-seekers, start your day off with the 7th Annual Ice Fest Chocolate 5k Walk/Run, beginning at 9:00am! This timed run is the perfect way to explore downtown St. Joseph (and warm up a little, too!). 

After your run, challenge your friends and family to the Frozen Fish Toss, Ice Bowling or NEW for 2020 - Frosty Tic-Tac-Toe! For just $1, toss three frozen fish at a cornhole board or $1 for two tries to knock down 10 pins, or $1 for game of tic-tac-toe. All three interactives are open from 11:00am-4:00pm.

If you're look for a toastier fun, there's a lot for families to do indoors. Bring your flip-flops for a Hula-Hoopla below the bluff at the Silver Beach Carousel! It's Waikiki Weekend at the Silver Beach Center. The spin of the carousel evokes balmy breezes for riders, and there's even a free hula show at both 1:30pm and 3:00pm.

Above the bluff, it's a great time to explore our shops and restaurants. From unique Michigan-made goods to kitchen essentials to boutique clothing to handcrafted treats, there's something for everyone in downtown St. Joe!

Catch the Magic Tour (putting the "Magical" in Ice Fest!) throughout downtown St. Joseph on Saturday, too. John Dudley will be at the St. Joseph Library at 11:30am, outside St. Joseph Today at 1:00pm, at Curious Kids' Museum at 2:30pm and at Shadowland on Silver Beach at 4:00pm! All shows are free.

INSIDER TIP: Curious Kids' Museum hosts their weekly
Super Saturday, this week's theme "Magical Ice Fest". 

Attendees can enjoy winter themed crafts before and
after the magic show!

Take the Berrien County Polar Plunge Saturday afternoon at Watermark Brewing in Stevensville, MI. Plungers will jump into a pool of ice cold water to raise funds for Special Olympics Michigan. Registration begins at Noon followed by the plunge at Noon!

To round out the day, an event not to be missed is Ice Wars. This exciting competition is located at State and Pleasant Streets and kicks off at 4:30pm. Ice Wars features pro-carvers dueling it out in 15 minute bouts of ice-carving chaos, judged by the crowd. Chainsaws and a crowd vote - what could be better?!

INSIDER TIP: Arrive on the scene early as this event gets
packed and those up front will have the best views.

 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

If cold conditions remin through the weekend, Sunday offers a great opportunity to enjoy downtown St. Joseph and all the sculptures created during the festival. Many stores and restaurants will be offering the perfect place to warm up while enjoying the icy art. (Great way to get out before Super Bowl activities start later in the day)

INSIDER TIP: There's still time to complete the SnowBiz Scavenger
Hunt, so swing by the Welcome Center to pick up a form and

drop it off at the Welcome Center by 5:00pm! 

Tapistry Brewing in Bridgman, MI hosts their annual Chili Cook-Off and Super Bowl Watch Party from 5:00-11:00pm! $5 suggested donation for a tasting bowl and one ticket to vote for your favorite. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society.

Bowling fans will have the chance to show off their skills during Kelley's Bowl Super Bowl Trios Bowling Tournament from Noon-3:00pm! Entries sell quickly so make sure to reserve your spot today.

Join Lazy Ballerina Winery for their 5th Annual Wine & Girl Scout Cookie Pairing from Noon-4:00pm. Enjoy four different classic Girl Scout cookies paired with four different Lazy Ballerina wines! Open to the public; no reservations required but please note there are limited quantities. 

INSIDER TIP: The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana
will be onsite selling cookies all day long - while supplies last!

Southwest Michigan offers some great opportunities to see live music at local wineries, breweries and coffee shops! Check out these spots for live music this Sunday:

Dablon Winery - Mark Ficks from 2:30-5:30pm
Forté Coffee - Twin City String Band at 3:00pm
Vineyard 2121 - The Backsliders at 2:00pm

We hope you find all the frosty fun this weekend! Learn more about upcoming events in Southwest Michigan at stjoetoday.com/events or follow St. Jospeh Today on Facebook.

 

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