Written by Kingsli Kraft | November 29th, 2019

Now that we’ve all had a chance to enjoy our Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends, we are officially in the thick of the holiday season. We’ve learned from Buddy the Elf that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, and while we agree, here are eleven other ideas if singing isn’t really your thing.

1. Attend the Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade + Tree Lighting after

The Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade and Downtown Tree Lighting is tonight. The parade starts at 5:30pm and runs down Chisholm Street from Ninth Street to Second Avenue. It continues up Second Ave. to Water Street and finishes in the parking lot behind City Hall. The tree lighting is hosted in Culligan Plaza right after the parade finishes.

2. Come Downtown and shop local for Small Business Saturday

Jump start your holiday shopping this year with Downtown Alpena’s lovely merchants. Looking for git ideas? Check out @downtownalpena on Instagram where we’ve been sharing different gift ideas you can purchase right here in Downtown Alpena every day during the month of November. There’s something for everyone in Downtown Alpena and keep track of your gift ideas with our handy free printable Small Business Saturday Shopping List!

3. Pick up a festive wreath or porch pot from Falls Creek Flowers & Produce

Check out Falls Creek Flowers & Produce’s Holiday Market in Culligan Plaza tomorrow morning starting at 10:00am they’re be offering wreaths, paperwhites, swags, garland, porch pots, and more!

4. Get tickets and go see a Christmas Carol at Thunder Bay Theatre

You only have four chances to see this production at Thunder Bay Theatre which opens December 20th and is sure to get you into the holiday spirit with its classic message about the true meaning of Christmas. Check out their website to buy tickets and see official showtimes.

5. Take a holiday themed art class at Art in the Loft

From a holiday cookie decorating class for ages 13 and up to a leather earring workshop where you could learn to make a pair of earrings to gift a friend to a Canvas & Cuisine Holiday Kick-Off for the kiddos or a Creative Companions: Gingerbread Wonderland class, there’s a fun and festive class for all ages this holiday season. Check out their schedule of classes here.

6. Drink a glass of warm spiced cherry wine with friends at Thunder Bay Winery

Nothing get me more in the mood for the holidays than having a glass of the warm spiced cherry wine at dusk with twinkle lights on as snow drifts down among the decorations outside surrounded by my favorite people at Thunder Bay Winery as Christmas music plays.

7. Build your own paperwhite arrangement at Classic Designs by Doreen’s Bulb Bar

And visit Classic Design by Doreen’s Pop-up Shop on the 29th or 30th in her space at 106 Water Street where she’ll be offering a Bulb Bar. You can create your own paperwhite arrangement as well as choose from a selection of wreaths, entry way containers, centerpieces, succulents, air plants, and more! Follow along on her Facebook page for more opportunities to create your own holiday wreath, swags, centerpieces and more at Doreen’s workshops!

8. Check out Suite Salon Spa’s Holiday Extravaganza

Stop in to Suite Salon Spa on December 5th, 2019 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm for a holiday open house featuring thirteen local pop-up shops and vendors and all 9 of Suite Salon Spa’s owners owners offering gift certificate specials, mini services, sales, refreshments and more. For more information check out their Facebook event!

9. Give to your favorite non-profit on Giving Tuesday

After the hustle and bustle of buying and getting this weekend, Giving Tuesday is about giving back to those in need and to causes you believe in. This year Giving Tuesday is on December 3, 2019. Downtown Alpena is home to a few different non-profits, like United Way of Northeast Michigan, Thunder Bay Theatre, Friends Together, Thunder Bay Arts Council, Art in the Loft, Friends of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and more! You can donate directly to those non-profits or you can donate through the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan’s website.

10. Visit Santa at his summer cottage in Culligan Plaza

We’ve received official correspondence from the North Pole and Santa’s head elf and Santa will be visiting his summer cottage in Culligan Plaza December 14th and December 21st from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Stop in to let Santa know what you’re wishing for and leave your list in his mailbox outside the house.

11. Check out the Gingerbread houses in the Downtown Gingerbread Competition

The Downtown Gingerbread Competition will be running from December 14th to December 21st with gingerbread creations on display in downtown businesses. The winners of the competition are determined by popular vote from the public! The final list of locations and entries will be updated on the Facebook event by Monday, December 9th so stay tuned!