The Stafford’s Downtown Petoskey Holiday Parade will take place on Saturday, November 29 at 10 am. Enjoy family, friends, and fun! The parade will travel the traditional route from the high school, down Mitchell Street, to Petoskey, Lake and Howard, ending at the Perry Hotel where children can have those all-important conversations with Santa and see his reindeer as well.
Stafford’s Hospitality is the title sponsor of the parade. The parade theme this year is “An Old Fashioned Holiday” and businesses, individuals, and organizations are invited to enter floats, musical entries, and walking ensembles to showcase their businesses or timeless holiday celebrations. Enjoy the Petoskey High School Marching Band, sponsored by Reid Furniture. Toys for Tots will again be on hand to begin their toy collection campaign. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to be picked up along the parade route.
Then join the merchants of downtown Petoskey on Friday, December 5 from 6 to 9 pm for the Holiday Open House, the region’s premier holiday season event! This holiday tradition offers the community great music, food, and displays of holiday merchandise in all of the Downtown stores.
The Holiday Open House begins with an appearance by Santa Claus, who flies in to town to light the giant Christmas tree in Pennsylvania Park! After the tree lighting Santa will sit in the Gazebo and listen to children’s holiday wishes. At the tree lighting ceremony the Little Traverse Civic Theater will be performing carols, and the winner of the Treasure Downtown Contest, as well as the winner of the Holiday Window Contest, will be announced. All of this, and an interview with Santa, will be featured live on 9&10 News.
This is the night when the streets close down and the merchants open their doors to offer warm holiday greetings and hospitality. The streets are filled with merry entertainment by carolers and the Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band. This year we’ll have a bonfire on Lake Street and marshmallows ready to roast! And don’t forget to visit the bean pots and enjoy a cup of soup made by the Petoskey Snowmobile Club or the Kiwanis tent for grilled brats.
Come to downtown Petoskey and enjoy some Christmas fun with your family!