One of the best ways to enjoy the holiday season is to visit downtown Alpena! All the stores are decorated, the garland and lights are up throughout downtown and there’s many fun and festive events going on!

Very Merry Weekend – Friday November 28th and Saturday November 29th celebrate the Christmas season by coming downtown and checking out the many different holiday events and things to do during the Very Merry Weekend!

• To kick off the Very Merry Weekend head over to the Water Street Commons (corner of Water St & 2nd Ave bridge) and enjoy the opening weekend of the Holiday Market at the Commons! 11/28 and 11/29 from 11am-6pm and 11/30 from 11am-4pm check out all of the new holiday vendors! Knaebe’s and Birch Hill Grocery will still be there along with our new vendors; Briar Hill Bakehouse, Falls Creek Produce & Flowers, The Art Nook and Choucas Hats. The hours through December at the Commons will be Saturdays 11am-6pm & Sundays 11am-4pm.

• Falls Creek Produce & Flowers will also be having their 8th Annual Falls Creek Holiday Market at their new location at the Commons on 11/28 and 11/29 from 11am-6pm! This will be their largest release of holiday inventory! You can even preorder items here.

• Next up is the Wolverine State Credit Union Holiday Parade Watch Party on 11/28 from 4-7pm! Gather at their Chisholm branch at 4pm with Truck Your Pizza food truck, music by DJ Cliff and a warming tent with tables/seating and bleachers for parade watching. They will also have heaters and fires for warming up.

• The Bay Athletic Club is also hosting their first ever Holiday Parade Tailgate in the parking lot of their new downtown location (200 W Chisholm St)! Enjoy hot cocoa, warm cider, and donuts while we gather as a community to celebrate the season and watch the parade together. Bring your family, your friends, and your holiday spirit. All are welcome!

• To end the first day of the Very Merry Weekend, bring the entire fam and enjoy the Annual Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade on Friday 11/28 in Downtown Alpena! The parade is staged in the County Annex building parking lot at the corner of Chisholm and Ninth Street. The parade route begins by turning left onto Chisholm, then continues left onto Second Avenue, right onto Water Street, and ends in the parking lot behind City Hall. Be sure to stick around afterward for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Culligan Plaza shortly after the parade ends!

• On Saturday 11/29 from 10am to 2pm check out the Mistletoe Market in Culligan Plaza! Join Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas CF with special guests Wind Dancer Farm & Studios and Cosmic Corn for their annual market to get your porch pots, wreaths, and garland!

• To finish up your Very Merry Weekend, enjoy Small Business Saturday on 11/29 in downtown Alpena. Show your support to small businesses and shop at all of your favorite local stores and find one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts for your loved ones. For a full list of downtown shops click here!

Christmas at the Commons – On Saturday December 13th come down to the Water Street Commons and check out this brand-new event! Check out our holiday vendors and the magical holiday garland and decor. There will be lots of fun Christmas themed things to do and more for the whole family! Stay tuned and be sure to check the Commons Facebook as well as downtown Alpena’s Facebook for more updates!

New Years Eve – Last but most certainly not least for holiday celebrations is the 2nd Annual New Years Eve celebration from 8pm-1am, hosted by HPC Credit Union and the Alpena DDA. New this year, you can enjoy the fireworks display thanks to Mango’s Tequila Bar! There will also be food and drink specials throughout downtown, warming stations and lineup of live music from 8pm-1am in the parking lot on the corner of 3rd Ave and River St (behind Mango’s). Just like last year we also have a “sunrise” celebration in the parking lot followed by the fireworks display! For more info and full schedule of events click here!

For more events and things to do this holiday season be sure to check our Facebook and website!