Luminaria Festival

On Friday November 16th, celebrate the beginning of the holiday season strolling through the beautiful candlelit streets as over 800 candles illuminate downtown St. Joseph. The Luminaria Festival is sponsored by AEP Cook Nuclear Plant and Indiana Michigan Power. Enjoy shopping, dining, and the "Mouse Hunt" Merchant Scavenger Hunt. Shops will be open late to entice you with wonderful gift ideas and festive holiday decor. Many stores and merchants will provide refreshments for you to enjoy. Free Merchant Coupon Books are available at most participating stores and the Welcome Center.

Find the hidden mice in the "Mouse Hunt" Window Scavenger Hunt. Participating stores will have a special mouse hidden in their window. To play, simply write the color of the mouse next to the store name on the "Mouse Hunt" form. After you have found all the mice, enter the drawing at the Welcome Center for a chance to win a suprise gift from participating stores and restaurants! Forms will be available at the Welcome Center.

The evening will be further enhanced by Free Horse Drawn Trolley Rides, sponsored by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation. Hours of the Luminary Festival are dusk until 9:00 pm.

ADDITIONAL LUMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Qdoba Mexican Grill will be sampling their Mexican Gumbo! Naked Burrito meets Tortilla Soup! Mexican Gumbo is Tortilla Soup with rice, beans, choice of meat or vegetable, salsa, cheese, sour cream and crispy tortilla strips. Be sure to visit Qdoba's booth on the corner of State Street and Pleasant Street.

Warm up at The Whitcomb Open House from, 5pm - 8pm. Refreshments & Tours will be available.. Bring a friend! 509 Ship Street, 983-2513.

Gallery on Alley: 15% OFF STOREWIDE; only dusk til 9pm. Vickie will be serving refreshments as well.!


Store Window Decorating Contest

Downtown Merchants will have transformed their windows into festive delights. With the poles on the streets decked out in pine garlands, wreaths, and twinkling lights, the Holiday windows add to the ambiance of Christmas past and creates a "Winter Wonderland" in downtown St. Joseph. To vote for your favorite Holiday window, stop in at the St. Joseph Today Welcome Center, 120 State Street. By voting you have a chance to win a St. Joseph Today Gift Certificate, valid at over one hundred businesses! You will have until December 5th to cast your vote. Winners will by notified Friday, December 8th.

Photos courtesy of Pat Moody