The winter doesn’t slow things down in Michigan’s Great Southwest! This winter weekend brings a Chili Tour, St. Joe Winter Beer Fest, live music, trivia nights, arts and crafts workshops and more! Read below to check out all the awesome winter activities.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31
Warm up with us as the annual Chili Tour returns downtown St. Joe from 5:00p-8:00p! Participating locations or "Chili Stops" will play host as you have the opportunity to try their best recipes. Get started at the St. Joe Today Welcome Center (301 State St.) or The Market (301 Main St.)! It’s just $5 per map which includes a Chili Tour Map that doubles as your People's Choice Voting Ballot. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen. Visit stjoetoday.com/chili for a list of participants!
INSIDER TIP: Chili Tour maps are available for purchase on the
day of from 12:00p-7:45p at the Welcome Center and from
5:00p-7:45p at The Market!
Head to the Krasl Art Center for their Preview Party for A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard from 6:00p-8:00p! This event is free and open to the public. Kira Dominguez Hultgren will kick off the event with opening remarks at 6:15p. Cash bar and lite bites provided!
Join Vineyard 2121 as they host Music Bingo weekly on Fridays from 6:30p-8:30p! Listen to some great tunes and fill your Bingo Card when a song is played that matches one on your card. Get ready to sing along!
Sarett Nature Center hosts an Owl Prowl from 6:30p-8:30p! Join Sarett naturalists to learn about owls at Sarett and meet their owl ambassador. This event includes a trail walk to look, listen and call for owls. Space is limited!
Enjoy a tasty beverage and live music at Watermark Brewing from 7:00p-10:00p featuring Daniel Deitrich a singer/songwriter based in South Bend! Attendees will also enjoy Table Magic with Dipan starting at 8:00p.
INSIDER TIP: Don’t miss the Cousins Maine Lobster food
truck on Sunday from 12:00p-7:00p!
Club Acorn presents: The 1985 from 8:00p-11:00p Attendees will enjoy a dance party, club vibe (standing room, with limited seating available) with the Midwest’s raddest retro dance party band. Attendees will enjoy a tribute to the of 80s rock, pop, new wave, rap and metal with covers of artists like Prince, Journey, Madonna, Michael Jackson and more!
INSIDER TIP: On Saturday, The Acorn hosts an Open House
for Art The Acorn: A Retrospective from 12:00p-2:00p!
Take in some live music from the Watershed Ramblers at The Livery at 8:00p! Sip on some tasty brews and grab a snack from their delicious menu while you enjoy a night of bluegrass, rock, funk and RnB.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Craft beer enthusiasts will enjoy sampling from local and regional Michigan breweries during the St. Joe Winer Beer Fest from 12:00p-4:00p in downtown St. Joe! Tickets are SOLD OUT for the 2025 event.
INSIDER TIP: Mark your calendars for December 1 when tickets
go on sale for the 2026 event!
Want to make a pretzel necklace before you head to the St. Joe Winter Beer Fest? St. Joe Community Taproom will open early to host a DIY Pretzel Necklace Bar from 10:30a-12:00p! Enjoy Bloody Marys, Giant Mimossas and a Build Your Own Pretzel Necklace Bar ($15) from The Cheese Lady using her signature meats, cheeses, pretzels and more! Full menu available starting at 10:30a.
INSIDER TIP: While you’re at The Market grab a coffee or tea
(Infusco Coffee, The Tea Annex) or a delicious breakfast
sandwich from Dad’s Farm & Cafe.
Enjoy a creative morning with JLN Studio as they host a Kids Heart Painting Class from 10:00a-11:30a! No experience necessary; all painting supplies and instructions are included. Recommended for ages 5+.
INSIDER TIP: Head over to Peat’s Cider for another great kids are
opportunity this weekend! Join watercolor artist and educator,
Alexandra Hibshman for a watercolor workshop from
12:00p-2:00p.
On Saturdays and Sundays, diners will enjoy a Vino & Flatbread Special at Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant! For just $20, you get a delicious flatbread and two glasses of wine.
Watermark Brewing hosts the 2025 SWMI Polar Plunge! Registration/Check-In opens at 10:00a and the first plunge is at 12:00p. Brave the cold to raise funds and support the Special Olympics Michigan athletes and programs!
INSIDER TIP: Join them for an After Splash Bash as Watermark’s
Solarium at 1:30p!
Get hands on with the Krasl Art Center at their Artist in Conversation + Interactive Demo with Kira Dominguez Hutlgren form 11:00a-12:30p! Free and open to the public.
Lazy Ballerina Winery hosts two days of Wine & Girl Scout Cookie Pairing on Saturday from 12:00p-5:30p and Sunday from 12:00p-4:30p! Cost: $19.99/flight and includes 4 different Girl Scout cookies paired with 4 different Lazy Ballerina wines. Space is limited and reservations are requested!
Join O&Co. for a Fiber Art Car Diffuser Workshop from 12:00p-1:30p! Art instructor Kelsey Vollrath will lead attendees through a beginner fiber art workshop. Class includes instruction and all materials needed! Ages 10+; Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Livery hosts the one-man band, Jaik Willis at 8:00p! Willis plays an 11-piece drum set with his feet while playing the guitar, bass, harps + singing and beatboxing at the same time! Grab a tasty brew and some delicious food and get ready for a night of great music.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Test out your trivia skills during the weekly Sunday Trivia at Round Barn Brewery from 1:00p-3:00p. Gather your friends, form a team (max team of 6) and compete for prizes while sipping on tasty brews. Each week enjoy four trivia rounds and five questions - reservations are recommended!
The Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen will host its annual Euchre Tournament at The Livery! This event will feature free pizza from The Livery + great prizes and a partner format. Sign up with a partner, or they’ll find you one day of! Cost $40/team. All proceeds feed the hungry in our SWMI community. Doors open at 12:00p; play starts at 1:00p.
Join River Saint Joe the greenhouse for Farm Pickin’s, a monthly acoustic music jam from 1:00p-3:00p! This jam is for all skill levels but is for acoustic instruments only (guitars, banjos, fiddles, mandolins, etc.) and vocalists are also welcome.
Dablon Vineyards hosts Snowshoeing/Hiking it the Vineyard from 1:00p-2:00p! Join them for a guided nature tour of the vineyards with Sarett Nature Center. Snowshoes provided! If there is no snow, the tour will be guided on foot. Reservations required!
Test out your candle-making skills this Sunday with The Lilac Loft as they host a Candle Making Workshops from 2:00p-3:15p! Attendees get to choose their own container, scent and toppings to decorate their candle + you get to take your candle home that day! Check out their website for all of their upcoming classes and workshops.
The Benton Harbor Arts Association hosts BHAA Open Stage with Host Hannah Shane at The Livery from 5:00p-8:00p. Sign-ups start at 4:30p and performatnaces start at 5:00p. This is an evening for local talent to shine - BHAA welcomes all singers, instrumentalists, dancers, ensembles, comedians, magicians and more!
Find your new favorite wine at the St. Joe Wine Shoppe! Every Sunday, they open a variety of wines, all different styles, during Wine Sample Sundays from 10:00a-5:00p!
