Story provided by Visit Stillwater
The holidays are going to look a little differently in Stillwater this year – in a very bright and colorful manner!
Saturday, November 14 through Sunday, January 10, Stillwater businesses are encouraged to celebrate the holidays with lights, decorations, and window paintings.
By combining community-wide holiday spirit, with retail and restaurant specials, activities, and events, the Visit Stillwater team will encourage residents to do their shopping locally, while also motivating visitors to make plans to head this direction.
Nicole Horn, Visit Stillwater director of sales, said, “We look forward to seeing more lights, window decorations, and holiday spirit throughout the business districts and residential areas to direct visitors to enjoy from mid-November through after Christmas sales—the first part of January.”
The Visit Stillwater team has developed a website at VisitStillwater.org/Holidays to outline all of the events and activities taking place over the holidays throughout the community. The information spotlighted will include specials, product demonstrations, fashion shows, promotions, free goodies, and other activities that will appeal to families and shoppers of all ages who are out for some fun while preparing for the holidays.
“We have created a Stillwater Holidays 2020 microsite to enable residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about all of the holiday events, shopping, and dining opportunities in our community for almost two solid months”, said Michelle Helm, Visit Stillwater director of marketing.
Merry Main Street will be the featured event based in the heart of the community in downtown Stillwater. Because it is not possible to safely social distance in the geometric domes that were unveiled last year, efforts will be redirected into a traditional and high-tech light display spanning Main Street from 4th beyond the roundabout to 14th Street. Chris Salmon Plaza and ProValue.net will be the hub for a forty-minute display of over 150,000 lights set to music.
Free carriage rides will also be provided for couples and families on Saturdays as a part of the Merry Main Street activities. Downtown will be an excellent location for family photos, a delicious meal, and to pick up something special to decorate for the holidays or to put under the tree.
Alane Zannotti, Merry Main Street co-founder, stated, “Shannon Williams, the other half of the Merry Main Street team, and I are thrilled to be able to work with Drew Beverage and the technical geniuses at ProValue.net to create and display holiday lighting in downtown Stillwater. Lights just have a way of giving us that feeling of HOPE, and we all need a little of that after this year. This incredible light display will be unveiled on November 14th.”
This year the Christmas Parade of Lights – Lights, Camera, Action! “Christmas at the Movies” – will take place on Saturday, November 14th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. However, rather than a parade in downtown Stillwater, it will be formatted as a reverse parade of lights. Therefore, commercial and community organizations are encouraged to participate by decorating their place of business.
If a group or organization wants to decorate a float as in the past, there are businesses who are happy to serve as a host location to park a float to participate in the parade competition. A map will be developed for the lighted drive through the community and Santa will make a quick trip to Stillwater in a special location.
“We have learned there are businesses that will participate this year because they will be decorating their place of business and can leave it up throughout the first of the year. We are also encouraging businesses to use a lot of lights to enhance the holiday spirit,” said Collett Campbell.
To include information about commercial districts and residential areas that will be decorated for the holidays, and events or activities that will take place in your retail district, boutique, or restaurant, please provide details to the Visit Stillwater team to include and feature at VisitStillwater.org/Holidays.
“Every year we receive numerous calls asking whether we have Christmas lighting displays worth a trip to Stillwater. We are beyond excited to be able to promote the Merry Main Street display, in addition to any other areas that really go all out this year,” said Cristy Morrison, Visit Stillwater President and CEO.
Provide Stillwater Holidays 2020 information at VisitStillwater.org/Holidays, or by contacting Michelle Helm, Visit Stillwater director of marketing, at [email protected] or 405-743-3697.
